151 students exempted from high school graduation exam and granted direct university admission

The number of 12th-grade students exempted from the graduation exam and prioritized for direct admission to universities and colleges this year is the highest since 2021.

The Ministry of Education and Training announced on 4/5 that 151 students were selected for the national teams competing in international and regional Olympiads across 5 subjects. This marks the highest number since 2021 for students receiving exemptions and direct university admission. Mathematics had the largest group with 37 students, followed by Informatics with 30. Biology, Chemistry, and Physics each had 27-29 students.

To qualify for these exemptions and direct university admission, students must meet specific criteria. According to regulations, this group must have achieved good conduct and a fair academic performance or higher throughout their 12th grade year. Meeting these conditions allows them to be exempted from all high school graduation exam subjects and receive prioritized admission to universities.

This year's figure of 151 students surpasses previous years. During the 2021-2025 period, the number of students in this category ranged from 133 to 146 annually.

The list of students selected for Mathematics, who are eligible for high school graduation exam exemption in 2026, is as follows:

Candidates in TP HCM taking the 2025 high school graduation exam. *Photo: Quynh Tran*

List of students in other subjects exempted from the 2026 high school graduation exam

The 2026 high school graduation exam is scheduled to take place on 11-12/6, involving over 1,2 million candidates. This represents the largest number of participants to date. Candidates will undertake 4 tests, with mathematics and literature being mandatory. For the remaining two subjects, students will choose from those they studied at school, including: chemistry, physics, biology, geography, history, economics and law education, informatics, technology, and foreign language.

The graduation score calculation formula allocates 50% to exam scores. The remaining 50% is derived from 10th, 11th, and 12th-grade academic transcripts, with additional priority points applied if applicable.

In addition to the Olympiad participants, other candidates can also qualify for exemptions. Students holding foreign language certificates equivalent to IELTS 4,0 or higher are eligible to register for exemption from the foreign language exam. As of 3/5, over 8,000 students had already registered for this exemption.

22 certificates eligible for foreign language exemption in the 2026 high school graduation exam