Deputy Minister of Education and Training Pham Ngoc Thuong has instructed the Departments of Education and Training in all 63 provinces and cities to organize mock national high school graduation exams for 100% of students ahead of the official 2025 exam.

At a recent training conference on regulations and operations for the 2025 national high school graduation exam, Deputy Minister Thuong emphasized the importance of strong preparation through both teaching and learning. He stressed that high-quality instruction throughout the school year is key to reducing exam pressure.

"If teachers consistently teach well throughout the year, then the final exam will no longer be a burden," he said. He also called for a nationwide mock exam involving every student, especially as 2025 will be the first year implementing the General Education Program 2018.

The mock exam will be conducted with the same rigor as the actual test, including realistic administration, genuine assessment, and formal grading. The results will be used to classify students and guide further instruction. The mock test will also help teachers become familiar with the new testing format and processes.

This year, over 1.1 million students are expected to take the national high school graduation exam - an increase of 40,000 candidates compared to 2024. All students will register online using personal identification codes via the VNeID system, eliminating the need for additional documentation. Official registration will run from April 21 to 28, with a four-day trial period before the official registration window.

In 2025, the exam will be held across three sessions instead of four as in previous years. The exam will be competency-based, aligned with the 2018 curriculum, and will include new subject requirements. For instance, the Vietnamese Literature test may feature texts outside of the textbook.

The Ministry of Education and Training will also increase the weight of students' continuous assessment scores in determining graduation eligibility - from 30% to 50%. Changes will be introduced regarding certificates and bonus points for foreign languages, Vietnamese, and vocational skills.

Deputy Minister Thuong also revealed that starting in 2026, the graduation exam will be held earlier - immediately after the academic program concludes - to avoid prolonged revision periods for students.

Le Huyen