Leaving the exam room on 4/3, Thuc Nhi, a student at Vinh Loc B High School in Tan Vinh Loc commune, quickly sought out her teammates to discuss the test.

“I froze when I read the first lines of the exam, it felt like I was reading a command when accessing a website,” Nhi shared.

"It's me, a human!

(Knock, knock, knock,.../ - Who's there?/ - I am human/ - If you are human, ...?)

The 12th-grade city-level gifted literature exam is computer-based. To access the system and begin, you must prove you are not a robot. Please enter the characters in the box below.

☐ I am not a robot (with captcha image)

You have just experienced a hypothetical situation involving solving a captcha - passing verification steps to log into a website (commercial, entertainment, educational,...). Having to "prove you are human" to a machine might seem like a simple action, but it prompts much reflection on the value of humanity."

The exam then provided two text excerpts, asking candidates to identify the values that constitute "authentic human beings"; to select one value, discuss it, and relate it to the meaning of "the pride of being human".

The 12th-grade gifted literature exam in Ho Chi Minh City, held on 4/3. Photo: Lam Thanh

Thuc Nhi stated she had never encountered this type of question before. She found the social commentary question to be current, profound, and inspiring. However, due to the relatively lengthy text, she spent considerable time reading and analyzing.

“I had many ideas after a quick read, but when I started writing, I was unsure how to arrange the points logically,” Nhi said.

“Startlingly unexpected” was the initial reaction of Nguyen Tran Hanh Nguyen, Head of the Literature Department at Trung Vuong High School in Sai Gon ward, upon reading the exam.

According to her, Ho Chi Minh City is known for its creative and thought-provoking exam questions. However, this year's gifted literature exam presented a groundbreaking and interesting approach, both in its format and content.

Ho Le Thanh Ha, Head of the Literature Department at Phu Nhuan High School in Duc Nhuan ward, observed that both exam requirements were linked to human values. In a changing world, with the development of information technology and artificial intelligence, the question of how humans can master technology without losing their identity is a relatable issue, prompting much reflection for students.

“This is an excellent and profound literature question, reflecting the pulse of life and offering high differentiation,” Ha commented.

According to her, to excel on this exam, students must understand current affairs, possess literary aptitude, and demonstrate creative thinking to connect with reality. The question is highly open-ended within the 120-minute time limit, requiring students to carefully select ideas, arrange their structure, and provide logical evidence.

Nguyen believed the exam setters were "brave and unconventional" in the city's first gifted student competition after the merger. This encourages teachers to rethink and innovate their teaching and assessment methods at school, not just for gifted students.

Candidates discussing after the 12th-grade gifted student exam in Ho Chi Minh City, 4/3. Photo: Lam Thanh

This year's 12th-grade city-level gifted student competition saw over 9,000 students participate across 11 subjects. English had the highest number of participants, with 1,200 students. Math and Literature followed, each with over 1,000 students.

For each subject, the proportions for first, second, and third prizes were 5%, 20%, and 35% of the total participants, respectively. Those who achieved first prize received a 12 million VND award from the city.

Le Nguyen