Hanoi for the first time allows temporary residents to take public 10th-grade entrance exam

Instead of needing permanent residency, students only need temporary residency in Hanoi to be eligible for the public 10th-grade entrance exam, a policy applied for the first time.

The city announced this significant change on the afternoon of 12/3, as part of its 10th-grade entrance exam plan for 2026.

According to the Department of Education and Training, candidates now only need to reside in the city to be eligible for the 10th-grade exam. This includes both permanent residency, defined as a stable and long-term place of residence, and temporary residency, which refers to short-term stays.

Previously, only those with household registration in Hanoi, categorized as permanent residents, were eligible for the 10th-grade exam. The temporary residency group typically comprises children of workers and laborers from other provinces who move to Hanoi for work and do not yet possess household registration. To qualify for the exam, individuals in this group must complete the necessary procedures and obtain temporary residency confirmation from the local police.

The Department did not specify the number of temporary resident students in the area. However, it stated that the new policy aims for non-administrative boundary admissions, increasing educational opportunities for students in the area, and promoting equal and fair education.

The 10th-grade exam in Hanoi is scheduled for two days, 30/5 and 31/5, and will cover three subjects: Mathematics, Literature, and Foreign Language, primarily English. Students applying to one of the four specialized schools – Hanoi - Amsterdam, Nguyen Hue, Chu Van An, Son Tay – will take an additional specialized subject exam on 1/6. This year's exam schedule is approximately two weeks earlier than in previous years.

For the general admission system, the admission score is the total of the three subjects, without weighting, with a maximum score of 30. For specialized schools, the admission score is the total of four subjects, with the specialized subject weighted by two, for a maximum score of 50.

Students can now register for a maximum of three preferences at any three public high schools. This marks a new approach compared to previous years, when candidates' registration preferences were restricted based on their residential area. However, students cannot change the order of their preferences after registration. The admission scores for the second and third preferences are 0,5 and 1 point higher than the first preference, respectively, which is half the difference compared to before. This change has led to mixed reactions among parents, who are both relieved by the increased flexibility and concerned about the implications of abolishing regional divisions for the 10th-grade exam.

The 10th-grade exam schedule for Hanoi students in 2026 is as follows:

Students taking the public 10th-grade exam in Hanoi, June 2025. Photo: Tung Dinh

This year, Hanoi has approximately 147,000 students graduating from lower secondary school. According to the Department of Education and Training's estimates, about 88,000 students will secure spots in public high schools, vocational education and continuing education centers, or vocational schools; 59,000 will attend private schools.

Considering only the high school group, the pass rate in previous years was only about 64% of the total 9th-grade students, making it the most competitive nationwide.