Vietnam proposes reducing grade 10 entrance exam subjects

The Ministry of Education and Training is proposing a new draft regulation for high school admissions that would reduce the number of subjects in the grade 10 entrance exam for non-specialized public schools. The proposal suggests testing only two subjects—Mathematics and Literature—effectively removing the third subject, which is typically English, from the competitive entrance exam.

The proposal has sparked debate regarding its impact on student development and language proficiency. Critics express concern that removing English from the exam might lead students to neglect foreign language studies. However, supporters and experts argue that the primary purpose of the entrance exam is to manage the supply and demand of students seeking limited spots in public schools, rather than to provide a comprehensive assessment of a student’s entire nine-year educational journey.

Experts note that no exam, whether involving two, three, or more subjects, can fully measure a student’s comprehensive abilities, such as creativity, teamwork, or practical skills. Furthermore, some educators suggest that including English in entrance exams often leads to a narrow focus on grammar and vocabulary for testing purposes rather than fostering actual communicative competence.