The Hanoi Department of Education and Training announced on the afternoon of 12/3/2026 that it will hold the public 10th-grade entrance exam on 30/5 and 31/5. This schedule is nearly two weeks earlier than in previous years and one month ahead of initial projections made at the start of the school year. The adjustment aims to prevent a clash with the high school graduation exam, which is scheduled for 10-11/6.

The exam will cover three core subjects: Math, Literature, and Foreign Language, primarily English. For students aspiring to specialized institutions, an additional subject exam will be held on 1/6. These specialized schools include: Hanoi - Amsterdam, Nguyen Hue, Chu Van An, and Son Tay.

Admission scores for the general enrollment system are based on the total of the three subjects, without any multiplier, with a maximum of 30 points. For specialized schools, the admission score considers the total of four subjects, with the specialized subject score multiplied by two, for a maximum of 50 points.

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

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

Each candidate can register for a maximum of three preferences at three public high schools, without regional distinction. Students are not allowed to change the order of their preferences after registration.

A new policy states that students not admitted to their first preference will be considered for their second and third preferences, requiring cut-off scores higher by 0.5 and 1 point respectively. This represents a reduction by one-half compared to previous years' requirements for subsequent preferences.

Hanoi's decision aligns with other major cities; Ho Chi Minh City also moved its 10th-grade exam to late May. Da Nang, Dong Nai, Bac Ninh, and Tuyen Quang expect to adopt a similar timeline. Conversely, some provinces, such as Can Tho, Quang Ngai, Lam Dong, and Vinh Long, have opted for exams in late June or early July to accommodate their local academic calendars.

With over 100,000 students participating annually, Hanoi's 10th-grade entrance exam is one of the most competitive nationwide. Approximately 64% of these candidates ultimately secure spots in public high schools.

Thanh Hang