Hanoi students are "sitting on hot coals" waiting for the final exam subjects for grade 10

The 10th grade entrance exam in Hanoi is expected to be held in June 2024. Up to this point, many parents and students are still anxiously waiting for information on the final exam of 3 or 4 subjects.

Previously, the Hanoi Department of Education and Training (DET) said that regarding the method of admission to grade 10 of public high schools in the 2024-2025 school year, Hanoi will apply the entrance exam method, including 3 compulsory subjects: math, literature and foreign language. The 4th subject, if any, will be announced in March 2024.

Mr. Nguyen Hong (Hoang Mai district, Hanoi) said that these days, not only his 9th grade daughter but also his wife and he are "nervously waiting" for information on whether Hanoi will have a fourth subject or not.

“Taking 3 subjects like last year is still okay, but if we add a 4th subject, it will be more difficult for my child, and my husband and I will be more worried.”

Mr. Hong said that he and his wife are worried because the rate of organizing a 4th exam in a subject that is their child's strong point is very low, while the more subjects they take, the heavier the pressure.

“For every additional subject, I have to divide my efforts to review and study more. Not to mention, currently, in class, I still have to complete the curriculum of all subjects.”

Although his daughter is an excellent student at a top school in the district, Mr. Hung is still worried because "no one can predict exams." Although his daughter does not say anything, he understands that she is under a lot of pressure. "She is so worried that she talks less than usual. Every day she studies until 11 or 12 at night."

Now if I take another exam, my study schedule will be very stressful. Because now, in addition to studying at school, I have to go to extra classes every evening, including Saturday and Sunday.

“Nowadays, every day, after school, after dinner, my child goes to extra classes from 7:30 to 9:30. After that, he finishes his homework. Many days, because he stays up late studying, he goes to school late the next morning. That’s only 3 subjects, now if he adds another subject, my family will have to find another place for him to take extra classes,” said the parent.

Mr. Hong calculated that currently, with the additional study of 3 subjects: Math, Literature, English every evening of the week, his family has spent nearly 6 million VND per month. However, he said, this is only the amount spent on general extra study, not "insignificant" compared to some families hiring tutors or studying with famous teachers. Taking extra exams, he and his wife have an additional economic burden.

Just as impatient as Mr. Hong and his wife, Ms. Thuy Linh (Cau Giay district) also shared: "I really don't understand why Hanoi has to announce the number of subjects for the 10th grade entrance exam so late? While other provinces have already announced it."

Similarly, MH (a 9th grader at a Thanh Xuan District Secondary School) is under a lot of pressure and tired from having to attend extra classes every day in addition to studying in class. “Not only me, but my classmates also attend extra classes everywhere, everyone is worried about failing their wish to enter grade 10. Currently, with only 3 subjects, I feel like I don’t have time to rest, adding 1 more subject means we won’t have time to sleep. I hope this period will pass soon,” MH shared.

These days, the topic that parents are discussing enthusiastically on forums, day and night, is: "Should we add a fourth subject to enroll in grade 10 in Hanoi or not?"

Most parents hope that the Hanoi Department of Education and Training can remove the fourth subject to help their children reduce the pressure of exams. Many people share posts and comments on social networks as a way to relieve pressure for themselves and express their feelings to the Hanoi Department of Education and Training.

Besides opinions that want to remove the exam subjects, there are also conflicting opinions, worried that removing the 4th exam subject could cause students to study unbalanced, focusing only on the subjects of the exam and neglecting the remaining subjects.

According to many parents, in case the Hanoi Department of Education and Training still decides to add a fourth subject, it should be announced early so that students have a plan and roadmap to prepare and review.

The principal of a middle school in Dong Da district said that although parents are worried, they also need to stay calm to give their children long-term guidance.

“Each province and city has a different 10th grade admission plan. Hanoi usually announces the number of subjects and which subjects will be tested around March - the mid-semester of 9th grade.”

According to this person, if there is any deviation or neglect of other subjects after the exam subjects are announced, it is only a very small number, not the majority of students who completely neglect other subjects to focus on the exam subjects for grade 10.

However, according to this teacher, even if they take 3 or 4 subjects, parents need to remind and explain to their children that equipping them with comprehensive knowledge is extremely necessary, especially to prepare them for grade 10.

“Parents need to change their perception. Because getting into a public high school is not the only goal. Even if there is no fourth subject, schools and teachers still have the responsibility to enrich students’ knowledge of subjects so that they can complete the secondary school program, and even provide additional knowledge so that when they enter high school, they will have a foundation to choose the groups to continue studying.

Therefore, at this time, parents and students need to have the same point of view, realizing that completing the secondary school curriculum is one of the very important goals and requires students and teachers to carry it out seriously. Because even when they pass the high school entrance exam, they still have to continue studying and in order to continue studying well, they must have both knowledge and skills of the subjects in the combination (not just the exam subjects) that they choose in the following years of study.

Therefore, the principal advised teachers and students to allocate time appropriately, and first of all, to complete the secondary school program. "That does not mean that when students know the number of subjects or which subjects they will take, they should neglect the remaining subjects. That is a very wrong point of view."