The initial purpose was to officially declare a student's completion of high school program and a prerequisite for taking the Universities and Colleges Selection Examination. In 2015, the High School Graduation Examination was merged with the Universities and Colleges Selection Examination and became the National High School Examination (THPTQG). Students took one exam to graduate out of high school and apply to universities, junior colleges. The THPTQG was held annually until 2019.[1][2]
Since 2020, due to COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam and new entrance exams organised by universities and junior colleges, such as the Aptitude Tests [vi] (VNU, VNU-HCM, HNUE, HCMUE, Vietnamese police academies, etc.) and HUST Thinking Skills Assessment [vi] (HUST), the THPTQG has been discontinued, replaced by the High School Graduation Examination which is organised again with the same organisation as the THPTQG and with the main purpose of doing well high school career. Universities may still use this exam's results as a basis for university admissions.
Particularly in 2020 and 2021, due to the complicated development of the epidemic in some localities, the exam was divided into 2 specific phases, the first phase focused on the less affected provinces and the second phase was for the social-isolation regions in phase 1. In 2021, candidates who were in places where social distancing was implemented according to Directive No.16 in both phases would be specially considered for recognition of high school graduation. Since 2022, the high school graduation exam has been held only once a year, with the main purpose of high school graduation and enrollment for a number of universities and junior colleges nationwide.
Contestants
Candidates for the High School Graduation Examination include:
Students in grade 12 are eligible to take the exam (weak academic performance or higher, behaviour average or higher).
Those who have completed the high school program but have not taken the graduation exam or have taken the exam but have not graduated in previous years.
Those who have high school diplomas and intermediate diplomas take the exam to get the results as a basis for admission consideration to junior colleges and universities.
08:00: Meeting of official monitoring the examination.
Afternoon
14:00: Candidates come to the examination room to complete the exam procedures and listen to the regulations of the examination.
2
Morning
Literature
120 mins
07:30
07:35
Afternoon
Mathematics
90 mins
14:20
14:30
3
Morning
Natural Sciences
Physics
50 mins
07:30
07:35
Chemistry
50 mins
08:30
08:35
Biology
50 mins
09:30
09:35
Social Sciences
History
50 mins
07:30
07:35
Geography
50 mins
08:30
08:35
Civics
50 mins
09:30
09:35
Afternoon
Foreign Languages
60 mins
14:20
14:30
4
Contingency
Structure
2001–2013
Each year (2013 and earlier), students tool 6 subjects in the curriculum, in which there were 3 fixed subjects including Mathematics, Literature, Foreign Languages and 3 subjects that were changed each year (choose from Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History and Geography).
The following was a list of examination subjects by year other than 3 subjects of Mathematics, Literature and Foreign Language from 2001. An alternative exam was a subject used to replace Foreign Language for candidates studying Continuing Education or did not complete the current high school program or had difficulties in studying.
In 2014, students had 2 compulsory subjects (Literature, Mathematics) and 2 elective subjects in the remaining 6 subjects (Chemistry, Physics, Geography, History, Biology, Foreign Language). The rate of candidates passing graduation nationwide reached 99.02% in the high school education system, 89.01% in the continuing education system, the overall average is 99.09%.[18]
2020–2024
From 2020 up to present, for high school students, they must take 4 exams, including 3 independent tests of Mathematics, Literature, and Foreign Languages and 1 of 2 combined exams of Natural Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, and Biology) or Social Sciences (History, Geography, Civics).[19] For candidates studying in the continuing education program, they shall take 3 exams, including 2 independent tests in Mathematics, Literature and 1 test in combination of Social Sciences (History, Geography).
For the Foreign Language test, candidates can choose from one of the subjects of English language, Chinese language, Japanese language, French language, German language, Russian language and Korean language.
The Literature exam is in essay format, consisting of two parts: Reading Comprehension (4 points) and Writing (6 points). Candidates will have 120 minutes to complete the exam.
For the other courses, the test will be multiple-choice with three portions. The amount of questions in each segment varies depending on the topic. Section I has multiple-choice questions with four answers, and applicants must choose one right answer. Section II has questions with true/false alternatives. Section III consists of short-answer questions that require applicants to shade in the right answer. The maximum score on the multiple-choice test is ten. The exam length and amount of questions for each topic are as follows:
Test
Duration
Number of questions
Point
Section I
Section II
Section III
Section I
Section II
Section III
Mathematics
90 mins
12
4
6
0.25
4 correct answers: 1
3 correct answers: 0.5
2 correct answers: 0.25
1 correct answer: 0.1
0.5
Physics
50 mins
18
4
6
0.25
Chemistry
18
4
6
Biology
18
4
6
Geography
18
4
6
History
24
4
—
—
Economics and Law Education
24
4
—
Information Technology
24
4
—
Technology
24
4
—
Foreign Language
40
—
—
—
The test will be administered nationally in a consistent format and at the same time as determined by the Ministry of Education and Training. Between 2025 and 2030, the test approach will stay steady with a paper-based structure..[21]
Admission to universities and colleges
Basic blocks
Block A00: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry
Block A01: Mathematics, Physics, English
Block B00: Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology
Block C00: Literature, History, Geography
Block D01: Literature, Mathematics, English
Block D02: Literature, Mathematics, Russian
Block D03: Literature, Mathematics, French
Block D04: Literature, Mathematics, Chinese
Block D05: Literature, Mathematics, German (since 2008)
Block D06: Literature, Mathematics, Japanese (since 2008)
Block D07: Mathematics, Chemistry, English
Block D78: Literature, Social Sciences, English
Block DD2: Literature, Mathematics, Korean (since 2021)
Gifted blocks
Block H: Literature, Gifted Art (graphics and drawing with pencil decorating color)
Block N: Literature, Gifted Music (work evaluation, details, vocals)
Block R: Literature, History, Gifted Subjects
Block S: Literature, Gifted Theatre Arts (dancing, vocals, acting)
Block T: Biology, Mathematics, Gifted Sports (running a short distance, turn on the spot, bent body, required physiquemeasurements)
Block V: Mathematics, Physics, Drawing
Scandal
Leaked Biology exam questions in 2021
After the first round of the 2021 high school graduation exam ended, many people shared information about a teacher in Ha Tinh province. This teacher had solved the Biology exam review questions, and many of the questions in the review questions were the same as the official exam questions. Specifically, up to 80% of the questions in the review questions were the same as the official exam questions.[22][23][24]
In August 2022, the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training reviewed the Biology exam of the 2021 high school graduation exam.[25][26] The review was conducted after there were many complaints about the overlap between the review content and the exam questions.[27][28] After careful consideration, the Ministry of Education and Training confirmed that up to 92.5% of the review content was the same as the official exam questions.[29][30]
On June 10, 2022, the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security initiated a criminal case for "Abuse of power while performing official duties" that occurred at the Ministry of Education and Training.[31][32] The two people charged were Ms. Pham Thi My (born in 1963) and Mr. Bui Van Sam (born in 1949), both former lecturers at Hanoi National University of Education.[33][34] Ms. My and Mr. Sam were accused of abusing their positions to distort the results of the exams, seriously affecting the reputation of the education sector.[35][36][37] On June 29, 2023, the Hanoi People's Court opened a trial for the two defendants.[38] The prosecution determined that the official exam questions for the 2021 high school graduation exam had from 70% to 95% of the questions coinciding with the questions compiled and edited by the two defendants.[39][40] After considering the circumstances, the court sentenced Ms. Pham Thi My to 13 months and 4 days in prison, and Mr. Bui Van Sam to 12 months of non-custodial reform for the above charge.[41][42]
^In 2020 and 2021, due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the TNTHPT was divided into 2 specific phases, the first phase focuses on the less affected provinces and the second phase is for the social-isolation regions in phase 1.
