As Vietnam approaches the 2025 High School Graduation Exam, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has underscored the critical importance of differentiated, high-quality exam questions to fairly assess students from diverse educational backgrounds. This directive came during a nationwide online conference on June 23, 2025, where the Prime Minister addressed the unique challenges facing this year’s exam, which will be administered amid significant administrative and educational transitions.
The 2025 exam is set against the backdrop of a major governmental restructuring. Starting July 1, Vietnam’s local government system will shift from three tiers to two, complicating the logistics of exam organization. The exam itself will be organized under the outgoing three-tier system, but grading and result announcements will transition to the new two-tier structure. This overlap demands meticulous coordination to avoid confusion or mismanagement.
Adding to the complexity, the exam will serve two distinct groups of students: those following the new general education program and those still enrolled in the 2006 curriculum. This dual-track approach necessitates exam questions that appropriately differentiate and reflect the core knowledge of both programs. Prime Minister Chinh emphasized that the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) must ensure the exam questions are not only of high quality but also balanced to fairly evaluate students from these different educational paths.
Moreover, the number of candidates has surged by nearly 100,000 compared to 2024, intensifying the demands on the education system and local authorities. In response, the Prime Minister warned against complacency, urging all involved to prepare for unexpected challenges and to maintain strict vigilance against any form of cheating or irregularities throughout the exam process.
"The organization of the exam must be absolutely safe, serious, objective, streamlined, reliable, and effective," he said. "It should reduce pressure and costs while creating the most favorable conditions for each candidate to demonstrate their abilities." This comprehensive directive covers everything from infrastructure and staffing to health, security, and transportation support, ensuring no student is unfairly excluded due to avoidable logistical failures.
In the northern province of Yen Bai, preparations are already underway. From June 18 to 22, inspection teams from the Steering Committee for the 2025 High School Graduation Exam conducted thorough checks at exam sites and schools across the province. These inspections aim to guarantee that facilities meet the necessary standards and that all procedural requirements are in place for a smooth exam experience.
On June 19, Yen Bai’s Provincial Youth Union and Department of Science and Technology co-hosted the 20th Provincial Young Informatics Competition. This event serves as a platform to nurture young talents passionate about information technology, aligning with broader goals to foster a skilled workforce in science and technology to support regional development.
That same afternoon, the Provincial Red Cross, in partnership with the Women’s Union, Provincial Police, and Nguyen Hue High School, organized a program to provide gifts to students facing difficult circumstances who will participate in the 2025 exam. Such initiatives highlight the community’s commitment to supporting vulnerable students, ensuring equitable access to the exam.
Back at the national level, the Prime Minister also tasked the MoET with developing a pilot plan for computer-based exams, aiming to introduce this format in select localities starting in 2027. The goal is to transition to fully computer-based testing as soon as possible, modernizing the examination system and potentially enhancing security and efficiency.
To combat cheating, especially with the rising sophistication of technology, the MoET must work closely with the Ministry of Public Security. They are to provide training and guidance to local authorities on preventing misconduct, particularly the misuse of high-tech devices and artificial intelligence tools for fraudulent purposes.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister called on provincial and city People’s Committees to exercise full decentralization and flexibility in organizing the exam. These local governments bear the responsibility for the comprehensive preparation and management of the exam within their jurisdictions, ensuring a coordinated, effective approach that aligns with national standards but accommodates local circumstances.
Minister of Education Nguyen Kim Son echoed the sentiment that educational institutions must be safe, supportive environments. "We, those working in education, more than anyone else, are deeply concerned that every school should be a happy school, a place free of violence," he stated. Yet, he acknowledged the reality that schools are inextricably linked to society at large, implying that broader social challenges inevitably impact educational settings.
As Vietnam gears up for this pivotal exam, the combination of increased candidate numbers, educational reforms, and government restructuring presents a formidable challenge. However, the concerted efforts of national leaders, local authorities, educators, and community organizations aim to ensure the 2025 High School Graduation Exam is conducted with integrity, fairness, and a forward-looking vision for the country’s educational future.
