This prediction comes after the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training released the entrance exam scores for over 76,000 students on 23/6.
Looking at the score distribution, Lam Vu Cong Chinh, a math teacher at Nguyen Du High School in District 10, noted that math scores were relatively good compared to previous years, mostly clustering around 6.5-7.5. Due to the differentiating nature of two geometry questions (6b and 7c), scores begin to diverge from the 8.5 mark. Meanwhile, literature scores remained largely unchanged from the previous year. Therefore, he predicts a 1.5-2 point increase in the entrance scores for top-tier schools.
While agreeing with this general assessment, some teachers predict a smaller increase.
Dang Huu Tri, a math teacher at Nguyen Du Secondary School in District 1, believes the increase will be around 0.5-1.5 points at highly competitive schools: Tran Dai Nghia Secondary-High School, Nguyen Thuong Hien High School, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai High School, Gia Dinh High School, Nguyen Huu Huan High School, Tran Phu High School, Le Quy Don High School, Mac Dinh Chi High School, Bui Thi Xuan High School, and the High School for Gifted Students, University of Pedagogy, Ho Chi Minh City.
"Mid-tier schools will likely see stable scores, with any increases remaining within the 0.25-0.5 range," Tri said.
Dinh Phu Cuong, principal of Nguyen Van Luong Secondary School in District 6, predicts a slight increase of only 0.5-1 point for top-tier schools. This is due to a significant drop in high scores for English compared to last year.
He also assesses that entrance scores for mid-tier and lower-tier schools may remain the same or decrease slightly. Schools in suburban areas may face a shortage of applicants and require supplementary admissions.
Fluctuation in Ho Chi Minh City's 10th-grade entrance exam scores over the past three years
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Candidates take the public 10th-grade entrance exam at Trung Vuong High School, District 1, june/2025. Photo: Quynh Tran |
Conversely, Hoang Cong Phu, vice principal of Vinh Loc B High School in Binh Chanh District, believes the entrance scores will increase for mid-tier schools. He suggests that schools with previous entrance scores of 18-19 will see an increase to 19-20. Top-tier schools are unlikely to see an increase due to the significant drop in high English scores. Lower-tier schools' scores will likely remain unchanged.
"While the score distribution for all three subjects shows a considerable number of students in the 6-8 range, the majority still fall within 4.5-6. Meanwhile, the number of available spots has increased, while the number of applicants is lower than last year," the vice principal of Vinh Loc B High School observed.
The Department of Education and Training is accepting appeals from now until 25/6. Phu advises students and parents to consider appealing if their scores differ significantly from their expectations.
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Candidates take the public 10th-grade entrance exam at Trung Vuong High School, District 1, june/2025. Photo: Quynh Tran
This year, Ho Chi Minh City has approximately 76,400 10th-grade exam takers, compared to over 98,000 last year. Public schools offer 70,000 places, resulting in a record high passing rate of 91%. Among 109 schools, Tran Dai Nghia Secondary-High School has the highest competition rate (1/2.9), with one out of every three applicants being admitted. Conversely, over 40 schools have a competition rate below 1, meaning the number of applicants is less than the number of available spots.
In recent years, the entrance score for Nguyen Thuong Hien High School has consistently been the highest, at 24 points or above. Familiar names in the top 10 typically have entrance scores above 22, such as Nguyen Huu Huan High School, Gia Dinh High School, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai High School, Phu Nhuan High School, Mac Dinh Chi High School, Le Quy Don High School, and Nguyen Huu Cau High School.
The lowest scores in the city are found in the two outlying districts of Can Gio and Binh Chanh, with many schools remaining at 10.5.
Le Nguyen
