There are different opinions on the number of compulsory subjects in the high school graduation exam from 2025.

At this point, the Ministry of Education and Training is urgently seeking opinions from ministries, sectors, localities and the whole society to come up with the best solution to reduce pressure on candidates as well as to be consistent with the innovation roadmap. However, the issue that is still controversial with many different opinions is the number of compulsory exam subjects.

According to the draft plan for the high school graduation exam from 2025 of the Ministry of Education and Training, two options have been put forward for comments. Option 1: Candidates studying the high school program must take 6 subjects, including 4 compulsory subjects (Literature, Mathematics, Foreign Language, History) and 2 subjects that candidates choose from the remaining subjects studied in grade 12. Option 2: Candidates take 5 subjects, including 3 compulsory subjects (Literature, Mathematics, Foreign Language) and 2 subjects that candidates choose from the remaining subjects studied in grade 12 (including History).

According to the survey results of the Ministry of Education and Training nationwide with over 130,000 officials and teachers participating, 26.41% chose option 1 and 73.59% chose option 2. According to the survey at the Conference on quality management with 205 delegates who are leaders of the Department of Education and Training, leaders of specialized departments under the Department of Education and Training, 31.2% agreed with option 1 and 68.8% agreed with option 2.

However, during the survey, many experts and localities proposed an additional option: Candidates only take 4 subjects, including two compulsory subjects (Math, Literature) and two subjects candidates choose from the remaining subjects studied in grade 12.

Thus, there are currently 3 proposed options for the High School Graduation Exam from 2025.

The Ministry of Education and Training assessed that the advantage of option 3 with two compulsory subjects and two elective subjects is to reduce the pressure of exams for students and reduce costs for students' families as well as society (candidates only take 4 subjects, currently 6 subjects). This option does not cause an imbalance between admission combinations, suitable for students' career orientation. At the same time, it creates conditions for students to spend time studying elective subjects suitable for their career orientation. However, the disadvantage of this option is that it affects the teaching and learning of History and Foreign Languages, these two subjects are currently compulsory subjects in the high school curriculum.

On the student side, with the trend of more and more universities having their own admission plans, they want to take only 4 subjects in the graduation exam (with two compulsory subjects and two elective subjects) to save time to review and participate in separate exams for university admission.

Pham Phuong Linh, a student at Viet Duc High School, Hanoi, shared: With the 2 + 2 option, I will be able to choose the subjects I love, thereby being more interested in studying and reducing the pressure of reviewing and taking exams.

However, on the other hand, many teachers are concerned that if only 4 subjects are tested, it will affect the teaching and learning of History and Foreign Languages. At Viet Duc High School, Hanoi, teachers have different opinions, with options 1 and 2.

Ms. Phan Vu Diem Hang believes that: You are a generation of global citizens, and knowing a foreign language is the key to confidently embarking on a new journey. Therefore, learning a foreign language is very important for today's students. She chose the option of taking three compulsory subjects: Math, Literature, Foreign Language and two elective subjects from the subject group that you have chosen to study in the High School program.

Ms. Luong Thi Thu Ha supports the plan of taking 4 compulsory subjects and 2 elective subjects. Because History provides knowledge and necessary spiritual baggage for students, especially to foster national pride in them, if they do not take the exam, students will neglect their study of this subject. Besides, the new high school program students have registered and chosen the subjects they love from the beginning, so these two elective subjects are not too big of a challenge for them.

Some teachers expressed their opinion: The new general education program aims to evaluate students' abilities and qualities, and the evaluation is a process, not only in the graduation exam scores but also in the component scores throughout the school year. Therefore, it is not necessary to study for the exam, but students should choose according to their abilities.

Mr. Dinh Duc Hien, a teacher at FPT Education System, shared: The choice of study and exam combinations must be consistent with the career orientation of students. Therefore, the exam plan should aim to reduce the burden on students, families and society. Making History a compulsory subject will unintentionally create great pressure on students and go against the career orientation at the high school level.

Dr. Nguyen Tung Lam, Vice President of the Vietnam Association of Educational Psychology, is leaning towards the 2 + 2 option, with two compulsory subjects being Literature and Mathematics. According to Mr. Lam, this option should be researched and boldly implemented to reduce pressure on students and teachers, while not causing an imbalance between admission combinations. By reducing the number of subjects, students will have more time to study subjects of their choice that suit their career orientation.

Faced with many current controversies, students and teachers across the country hope that the Ministry of Education and Training will soon announce the plan for selecting exam subjects so that schools can proactively develop plans to organize teaching, review and exam orientation for students according to the 2018 General Education Program.