Ho Chi Minh City school explains doubled 10th grade admission scores

Chau Thanh High School's 10th grade admission score more than doubled, which the principal attributes to the school's consistent performance and changes in admissions policy after a merger.

On the morning of 30/6, the Department of Education and Training announced the 10th grade admission scores for 170 public high schools. These scores represent the total points for three subjects: mathematics, literature, and English, without any weighted coefficients.

Among the 128 schools with increased scores, Chau Thanh High School in the Ba Ria - Vung Tau area attracted attention as its admission score surged from 9 to 18,5 points. This marks the highest increase in Ho Chi Minh City in many years.

Speaking to VnExpress on the afternoon of 30/6, Ms. Tran Ngoc Xuan, Principal of Chau Thanh High School, stated that the school's 10th grade admission score rose sharply but was "not surprising".

"An admission score of 18,5 means an average of more than 6 points per subject to pass, which aligns with the school's previous performance and standing," Ms. Xuan said.

She explained that Chau Thanh High School had consistently been among the top 6 schools with the highest 10th grade admission scores in the former Ba Ria - Vung Tau region for many years, except for last year. Specifically, from 2022 to 2024, when admission scores were calculated on a 50-point scale with mathematics and literature weighted by a factor of 2, the school typically required around 29,75-34 points, equivalent to 5,95-6,8 points per subject.

In 2025, Ba Ria - Vung Tau changed its calculation method, with all three subjects weighted equally and a maximum score of 30. The school's admission score unexpectedly dropped to 9 points. This was due to a decrease in the number of junior high school graduates in the area, and many students, fearing high admission scores, did not apply. The number of applications the school received was only comparable to its allocated quota of 480.

"The admission score is the score of the last admitted candidate. Last year, only 5 students achieved the 9-point mark, while the rest scored higher," Ms. Xuan added.

According to the principal, several changes in admissions policy and student psychology contributed to this year's increased admission scores. Previously, Ba Ria - Vung Tau allowed students to register for two general 10th grade enrollment preferences within specific zones. This year, however, under Ho Chi Minh City's general policy, students could register for three preferences, without geographical distinction, provided the school was within 13 km. Consequently, many students from neighboring areas such as Long Dien and Chau Duc applied to Chau Thanh High School.

Additionally, last year's significant drop in admission scores and an increase in the quota from 480 to 540 made applicants more confident in applying. The school received 770 applications, resulting in a competition ratio of 1:4.

The 10th grade entrance exam concluded on 2/6. In the first year after the merger (Ho Chi Minh City, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Binh Duong), the city had more than 151.000 candidates, the largest number in the country. The overall admission rate was about 78%.