Early publication of sample questions has many benefits
This move has attracted public attention because according to the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training, the deadline for localities to announce the third exam subject for grade 10 is March 31 every year. Thus, Ho Chi Minh City has moved nearly half a year ahead of the general time frame.
This is not the first time Ho Chi Minh City has been ahead in the recruitment process. For many years, the city has always proactively announced the recruitment plan, exam structure and recruitment plan early. This plan is publicly sent to schools and the press to proactively inform, helping parents and students have enough time to prepare, review and practice.
Sharing with VietNamNet reporter , an admissions expert said that early announcement of exam subjects and sample questions will have 6 huge benefits:
First , reduce pressure, help 9th grade students have the right learning orientation.
Second , when students understand the structure and format of the questions, they don't have to guess the subject, guess the questions, nor do they need to memorize or study lopsidedly.
Third , students can build a long-term, scientific review plan.
Fourth , teachers have the basis to adjust teaching progress and design review lessons in accordance with the exam orientation of the Department of Education and Training.
Fifth , not only students and teachers, but also parents are relieved of some pressure when they know clearly the exam schedule. Proactively informing early is considered a way to "cool down" the exam season, which is always stressful in big cities like Ho Chi Minh City.
Ho Chi Minh City students at the opening ceremony of the new school year 2025-2026. Photo: Nguyen Hue
Sixth , because the 10th grade entrance exam in 2026 is the first time taking place after Ho Chi Minh City merged with Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau , the early announcement helps students in the newly merged localities have more time to get acquainted and not be surprised by the exam format of Ho Chi Minh City.
Special exam after merger
The 2026 10th grade entrance exam is the first exam to take place after Ho Chi Minh City merged with Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau. The exam scale is expected to expand, the number of candidates will increase significantly compared to previous years.
After the administrative boundary arrangement, Ho Chi Minh City has 490 public and non-public secondary schools, with a total of over 750,000 students. According to statistics, Ho Chi Minh City currently has about 150,000 grade 9 students - the highest number ever. This shows that the competitive pressure to enter public grade 10 in 2026 is likely to be greater. Therefore, the early announcement of the plan and sample questions is considered a reasonable step, helping schools, students and parents quickly adapt to the new scale.
On the other hand, enrollment is an annual plan. In the summary of the school year and the plan for the new school year, the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City identified enrollment at the beginning of the school year, especially the 10th grade exam, as one of the key tasks. Thus, the early announcement not only demonstrates the proactive spirit of the city's education sector but also reflects the management orientation of "going one step ahead", preparing carefully for the new stage after the merger.
“Announcing sample questions early is not only beneficial for students but also increases transparency and fairness in the admission process. When sample questions are made public, all students - whether studying in the city center or in the suburbs - have equal access to information. This is completely appropriate when Ho Chi Minh City expands its administrative boundaries this year, including suburban, rural, coastal, and special economic zones... For students in the old Ho Chi Minh City, the structure of the questions may not change much, but for students in the two old provinces of Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau, taking the same test for the first time with Ho Chi Minh City, it will certainly take time to get used to it. Therefore, announcing the questions early also helps limit the situation of 'question shock' for students", a teacher in Ho Chi Minh City commented.
Mr. Cao Duc Khoa, Principal of Nguyen Du Secondary School (old District 1), said that Ho Chi Minh City's early announcement of the third subject and sample exam questions for grade 10 is a reasonable step, in line with the spirit of the 2018 General Education Program.
“In principle, when teaching students, teachers must clearly inform learners about the content that will be tested and evaluated. The early announcement of the sample exam questions by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training helps 9th grade students grasp many benefits such as the structure and scope of the exam; thereby having a suitable study plan. When they clearly understand the focus and how the questions are set, students will be more proactive, reducing pressure and anxiety before the exam,” said Mr. Khoa.
Mr. Khoa also commented that 2026 is the first exam after Ho Chi Minh City merged with Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau, so the early announcement will help students in the newly merged localities have more time to get acquainted and not be surprised by the exam format of Ho Chi Minh City. This is the spirit of proactiveness, transparency and accompanying students of the Ho Chi Minh City Education sector. In the context of education reform and urban expansion, such early preparation is the key for all subjects from students, parents to schools, to enter the exam season with a more confident mindset.
Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/6-loi-ich-tu-viec-tphcm-cong-bo-som-de-mau-thi-lop-10-nam-2026-2455253.html
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