Over 1.2 million candidates register for graduation exam, a record high

With two days left for registration for the 2026 national high school graduation exam, over 1.2 million candidates have registered, the highest number since the exam began being used for both graduation and university admissions.

Professor Huynh Van Chuong, Director of the Quality Management Department under the Ministry of Education and Training, announced on the afternoon of 3/5 that as of 5 p.m., the total number of registered candidates exceeded 1.2 million. Of these, over 1.15 million, or 95,24%, are current 12th-grade students, while more than 57,300, accounting for 4,76%, are independent candidates.

This year's registration marks the highest number since 2015, when the national high school graduation exam (then the national high school exam) replaced the "3 chung" university entrance exam (common exam questions, common exam period, and common results) for both graduation and university admissions. Previously, annual registrations ranged from over 800,000 to more than 1.15 million candidates. The Quality Management Department noted that this figure is "almost the highest in years."

Candidates can continue to register, review, and adjust their exam subjects and information until 5 p.m. on 5/5.

The 2026 national high school graduation exam is scheduled for 11-12/6. Mr. Chuong emphasized that this year, regardless of the university admission method, candidates must achieve at least 15 points across three subjects from the graduation exam. Therefore, candidates should adhere to their school's study plans and take mock exams to gain experience, enabling them to identify areas for more focused review.

"Students need to be confident in their knowledge and abilities, avoiding unnecessary self-imposed pressure", Mr. Chuong stated.

While specific candidate numbers for each subject have not been released, the Quality Management Department noted that for the foreign language exam, over 8,000 candidates (0,67%) registered for exemption, a significantly lower percentage than in previous periods. Currently, nearly 350,000 candidates have registered to take the foreign language exam.

22 certificates qualify for foreign language exam exemption in the 2026 national high school graduation exam