Will there be a high school graduation exam in 2026?

(Dan Tri) - The Ministry of Education and Training said it is necessary to maintain the High School Graduation Exam to assess the level of general education standards, providing national data for research, development, and adjustment of general education policies.

High school graduation exam room 2025 (Photo: Manh Quan).

At the beginning of the new school year 2025-2026, the Ministry of Education and Training informed about notable points about the high school graduation exam.

According to the Ministry, the organization of high school graduation exams for graduation recognition currently has very specific goals.

Firstly, assess the learners' level according to the requirements for developing qualities and capacities of the General Education Program, and use exam results to consider recognition of high school graduation.

Second, the exam results are used as one of the bases to evaluate the teaching quality of general education institutions and the direction of educational management agencies.

Third, provide reliable data for universities and vocational education institutions to use in enrollment.

“At present, this is the only national exam for all students to assess the general output of high school, with a common assessment scale nationwide,” said the Ministry of Education and Training.

Therefore, the Ministry emphasized: "It is necessary to maintain the organization to assess the level of general education standards, provide national data for research, construction and adjustment of general education policies. At the same time, evaluate the quality of education in regions across the country."

The exam results are the output of high school and a source of reference information for universities and vocational training institutions to organize enrollment.

To prepare for the pilot high school graduation exam on computers from 2027 under the direction of the Prime Minister , the Ministry of Education and Training is focusing on implementing a number of key tasks, such as: developing a project to organize the high school graduation exam on computers, submitting it to the Prime Minister for approval in 2026.

At the same time, the Ministry mobilized experts to build a standardized test question bank (expected to be applied from 2027); and develop procedures and regulations for organizing computer-based exams, organize training and seminars nationwide; continue to coordinate with the Government Cipher Committee in transferring and receiving test questions and other security aspects related to the exam.

Currently, the Ministry of Education and Training is preparing software systems to organize computer-based exams and testing computer-based exams in localities. It is expected that this school year, the testing will be implemented for more than 100,000 students.

The current Law on Education stipulates that students who have completed the high school program and meet the requirements prescribed by the Minister of Education and Training are eligible to take the exam. If they meet the requirements, they will be awarded a high school diploma by the head of the specialized education agency under the provincial People's Committee.

However, regarding the draft Law on Amendments and Supplements to a number of Articles of the Law on Education, the examining agency has two opinions regarding the high school graduation exam. One is to still organize the high school graduation exam, the other is to only consider admission.

The first group of opinions suggests that the high school graduation exam should still be held. According to this group, the organization of the exam to grant high school graduation certificates is necessary to assess the level of general education standards of students, provide national data for research, development, and adjustment of education policies, and serve as a source of reference information for universities and vocational training institutions to organize enrollment.

This group of opinions believes that the high school graduation exam also has the meaning of granting a high school graduation certificate or a certificate of completion of the general education program for the purpose of connecting and integrating into the international education system.

However, according to this group of opinions, it is also necessary to design regulations in the law in the direction of assigning the authority to set exam questions for the high school graduation exam to the Minister of Education and Training; assigning localities to organize the exam to ensure seriousness and quality because this is a national exam to analyze score distribution, evaluate student quality and the quality of educational institutions.

These opinions also suggest studying the separation of the high school graduation exam from university admissions.

The second opinion suggests not to organize exams but to consider high school graduation to suit the goals and nature of this level of education; compatible with the trend of innovation in process-based assessment. This option also reduces pressure and costs due to exams. Admissions to secondary schools, colleges, and universities should be assigned to higher education and vocational training institutions to organize admissions.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/co-to-chuc-thi-tot-nghiep-thpt-2026-hay-khong-20250904120207364.htm