Admission scores for 10th grade specialized classes at Luong Van Chanh High School for the Gifted, announced in late June, recently caused a stir due to remarkably low passing marks in some subjects.

The specialized history class, for instance, required only 15 out of 40 points for admission. This total score is calculated from three compulsory subjects: math, literature, and English, plus the specialized subject score multiplied by two. On average, candidates needed just three points per subject to pass. Similarly, the specialized geography class had an 18,75-point entry requirement, approximately 3,75 points per subject, while the specialized informatics class sought 19,65 points, about 3,95 points per subject.

These admission thresholds are among the lowest recorded for specialized schools across the country this year.

Huynh Tan Chau, principal of Luong Van Chanh High School for the Gifted, explained that this year marked the first time the school offered specialized history and geography classes. Consequently, fewer students applied, resulting in some successful candidates having low admission scores.

The school admitted 350 students this year. The specialized math class enrolled 70 students, while all other specialized classes: literature, history, geography, chemistry, physics, biology, English, and informatics, each admitted 35 students.

Beyond the history, geography, and informatics classes, passing scores for other specialized subjects ranged from 26 to 33,7 out of 50. These figures represent the minimum required for admission; many students achieved higher scores.

According to Pham Huy Van, deputy director of the Dak Lak Department of Education and Training, the province's exam regulations do not set a minimum score for specialized subjects. Instead, admissions are based on total scores, ranked from highest to lowest, until the available quotas are filled.

"It is not unusual for many students admitted to specialized schools to have relatively low specialized subject scores," he stated, adding that the Department would review and re-evaluate the situation early next week.

Entrance gate of Luong Van Chanh High School for the Gifted. Photo: Ngoc Oanh

This year, Dak Lak province conducted entrance exams for Nguyen Du High School for the Gifted, Luong Van Chanh High School for the Gifted, and three ethnic boarding high schools: N'Trang Long, Dam San, and Phu Yen. The issue of low passing scores also affected the French language class at Nguyen Du High School for the Gifted, with an admission score of 19,9 out of 40 points, or 3,98 points per subject.

For other admissions, the province evaluated academic transcripts. This process also drew attention when some students with near-perfect academic scores, 49 out of 50, still failed to secure admission, prompting the Department of Education and Training to increase quotas for several high schools.

Ngoc Oanh