Gifted math student's graduation exam scores canceled for phone use

A male student, a former provincial math olympiad team member, had his graduation exam results canceled for using a phone in the exam room.

On 20/7, Nguyen Van Nguyen, Director of the Ca Mau Department of Education and Training, announced that this action was based on exam regulations.

The Ca Mau Department of Education and Training confirmed that the student admitted to using a phone during the math exam. This admission came during an investigation initiated by the department after reports surfaced.

The incident came to light following several social media posts alleging that a student from Ho Thi Ky High School used a phone during the literature and math exams. Many other candidates reportedly witnessed the phone use but were afraid to inform the proctors. Subsequently, someone reported the matter to the school, leading to the student's phone being confiscated the following day.

The student's academic record shows strong performance in math, with scores of 8,5, 9,3, and 9 in grades 10, 11, and 12 respectively. He was also a member of the school's provincial-level math olympiad team.

The social media posts also claimed the student achieved a 10 in math, 6 in literature, 4,1 in physics, and 5,85 in chemistry.

Regarding exam organization, reports from the school principal, vice principal, and proctors at the exam center indicated no irregularities as reflected on social media.

The Ca Mau Department of Education and Training has not yet announced the student's official exam scores. Department leaders stated they would report the incident to the provincial People's Committee, addressing the student's violation of exam regulations, and holding proctors and related personnel accountable for failing their duties.

The 2026 high school graduation exam took place on 11-12/6/2026. The organization of the exam was decentralized to provincial and city People's Committees, including proctoring and grading.