At 6 a.m., Hong, a 12th-grade student from Le Quy Don High School for the Gifted in Khanh Hoa, arrived at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Education test center with her parents. Her family had arrived in Ho Chi Minh City yesterday afternoon, renting a hotel nearby for convenience.
Hong had practiced all four skills for the specialized English competency assessment. Despite a strong foundation, including a national honorable mention in the subject, she remained diligent. She noted that English pedagogy programs typically have very high admission scores, ranking among the top language majors.
"I'm taking the exam to seize every opportunity," Anh Hong stated.
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Students viewing the exam room map at Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, morning of 26/3. Photo: Le Nguyen |
Ngoc Phung, a 12th-grade student from Bao Loc High School in Lam Dong, lives nearly 200 kilometers from the test center. She took two days off school to travel to Ho Chi Minh City yesterday afternoon. Phung plans to apply for English pedagogy, English language, and other programs at the university.
About a week after this exam, Phung will also take the competency assessment for Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City (VNUHCM), as a backup for non-pedagogy programs.
An Binh, from Duc Hue High School in Tay Ninh, has similar plans. For the Ho Chi Minh City University of Education exam, he self-studied for biology. He is investing more in the VNUHCM exam, having enrolled in a review course since the beginning of the academic year.
"I don't know if universities' plans will change, so I'm taking all the exams to maximize my chances of getting into university," Binh said.
Phung, Xuan, and An are among over 15,000 candidates who took the first specialized competency assessment of Ho Chi Minh City University of Education. The exam was held in Ho Chi Minh City, Tay Ninh, Dak Lak, and Da Nang. This figure represents an increase of about 35% compared to last year. The university uses these exam results in combination with high school academic records for admission.
The exam comprises six separate tests: mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, literature, and English. Questions assess logical thinking and practical problem-solving skills, aligning with the current education curriculum. Each subject test lasts 90 minutes.
Candidates can register for one or multiple subjects based on their chosen major's admission requirements. The entire testing process is conducted on computers, supervised by specialized software and camera systems.
Nationally, about 10 competency and thinking assessment exams are currently organized by universities for admission. Many universities report a sharp, record-breaking increase in candidate numbers. For instance, Vietnam National University, Hanoi's HSA saw 120,000 registered candidates, a 40% increase from last year. Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City's exam attracted over 137,000 participants.
The main reason is that candidates seek to optimize their university admission chances, reducing reliance on high school graduation exam scores scheduled for mid-June.
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Students entering the computer room, preparing to take the test. Photo: Le Nguyen |
Le Nguyen
