English is the top choice for Ho Chi Minh City students in high school graduation exam

Over 45% of 12th graders in Ho Chi Minh City choose a foreign language (primarily English) for the high school graduation exam, while nearly half of candidates nationwide select history.

Nearly 143,000 candidates from Ho Chi Minh City, including nearly 8,000 private candidates, have registered for the 2026 high school graduation exam. This was announced by the Department of Education and Training (DOET) on the afternoon of 13/5.

Beyond the two compulsory subjects, Math and Literature, nearly 65,500 students, representing 45.8% of candidates, opted for English. The next most chosen subjects were: Physics with over 64,000 registrations, History with over 41,000, Chemistry with over 38,000, and Geography with nearly 33,600.

This trend in Ho Chi Minh City contrasts with the national pattern. Across the country, History was the most popular choice, attracting nearly 570,000 candidates, followed by Geography with over 449,000. Physics then came next with over 389,600 registrations, with English trailing at nearly 347,500.

Leaders from the DOET noted that Ho Chi Minh City students traditionally favor English and natural science subjects, a preference maintained for many years. English, in particular, is a strong subject for the city's students. Last year, Ho Chi Minh City's average English score of 5.65 points ranked second nationally, just behind Hanoi's 5.78. However, before the merger with Ba Ria - Vung Tau and Binh Duong, students from the former Ho Chi Minh City area led the nation for 8 consecutive years.

The natural sciences group recorded over 113,300 registrations, surpassing the social sciences group, which had nearly 97,750 candidates. This indicates a strong inclination towards technology and engineering fields, aligning with the city's dynamic economic structure.

The 2026 high school graduation exam is scheduled to take place on 11-12/6. The country expects a record high of over 1.22 million candidates, with Ho Chi Minh City accounting for the largest number of participants.