2025 High School Graduation Exam Score Distribution: Dispelling Worries

However, the score distribution announced by the Ministry of Education and Training showed surprise, erasing previous concerns.

Good differentiation, most suitable in recent years

The English score distribution is approximately standard, with the peak falling between 5.0 and 5.5 points, in line with the average and median scores (~5.25). This, according to teacher Trang Minh Thien - Nguyen Viet Dung High School (Cai Rang, Can Tho ), shows that the average and above average scores are the main ones. Only 141 students achieved a perfect score, showing that the test was well-classified at a high level, and it was not too easy to achieve the maximum score.

“It can be said that the English score distribution in 2025 meets the core objectives of the High School Graduation Exam, which is to accurately assess students' abilities; has the ability to differentiate for admission purposes; is not too easy to saturate high scores, and not too difficult to cause many failing scores,” said Mr. Trang Minh Thien.

Regarding the subject of Industrial Technology - appearing for the first time in the High School Graduation Exam, according to teacher Trang Minh Thien, the score distribution has a right-skewed bell shape, the peak falls at 4.5 - 5.5 points, showing a high concentration of scores at the average ability level. The percentage of students achieving a score of 8 or higher is there, but not too much. The whole country has 4 scores of 10, clearly reflecting the differentiation; no candidate has a failing score (below 1 point), showing that the exam is suitable for the level of general students.

The score distribution also shows a clear stratification between groups of weak, average, good and excellent students. Thus, the exam has correctly assessed students' abilities, creating a reliable basis for graduation and university admission. Compared to the goals set by the exam, this score distribution has accurately reflected the abilities of students after 3 years of studying the new program. The first exam under the 2018 General Education Program was organized stably, seriously and with high reliability with the exam covering all cognitive levels, not too easy or too difficult.

Regarding Math, Ms. Nguyen Thi Yen - Phenikaa Secondary School - High School ( Hanoi ) said that the score spectrum is left-skewed, distributed normally, with a peak at around 4.5 - 5.0 points, showing that the test has a relatively high level of difficulty but is still well classified, not "skewed to the right" (a lot of high scores). The percentage of students scoring above 5 points is large enough (although not too high), ensuring the conditions for high school graduation.

The test differentiates well from 6 points and above, the number of candidates scoring 8, 9, 10 points is not too much, helping universities to easily filter out students with real ability. The whole country only has 513 candidates scoring 10 points, clearly reflecting the high classification, consistent with the role of Math in the admission combinations of blocks A, A1, D.

Teaching English at Phenikaa Secondary and High School, Mr. Dong Quang Thuan assessed that the English score distribution in 2025 shows a positive change in test design with a trend towards standardization and increased classification. With an average score of 5.38 and a median of 5.25, the score distribution is close to standard, slightly skewed to the left, showing that most candidates achieved average results, while a small group pulled up the average score.

The standard deviation of only 1.45 (a sharp decrease from 1.88 in 2024) together with the median absolute deviation (MAD) of 1.16 reflects the clear convergence of scores around the center, helping to assess capacity in a stable and fair manner.

Notably, the number of candidates scoring 7 or higher is only 15.13% (compared to 25.2% in 2024), and the number of candidates scoring 10 is only 141 (down 75%). This is a clear sign that the exam has tightened the "score ceiling", increasing the ability to classify good and excellent candidates, serving the goal of university admission.

Overall, the 2025 score spectrum reflects a test with a reasonably regulated level of difficulty, rich in classification capabilities and consistent with the direction of assessment innovation; not only serving graduation consideration but also effectively supporting university admission goals and improving the quality of foreign language teaching and learning nationwide.

Candidates taking the 2025 high school graduation exam. Photo: Van Anh

Correctly reflect the new program objectives

Analyzing the score distribution, Mr. Nguyen Vinh San - Head of Administration Department, University of Education, University of Danang said: The average score of high school exam subjects this year mainly decreased slightly compared to 2024 and is still higher than 2023, with Math being the subject with the sharpest decrease. If looking at the score distribution, we can see that there are some improvements compared to previous years, especially in English, Economic and Legal Education.

Specifically, the Math exam has a higher level of difficulty, however, in 2025 there will be 513 10s (compared to 2024 where there were no 10s); admission combinations with Math may decrease this year by 1-3 points. In Literature, the average score decreased slightly, basically the score distribution is the same as the previous 2 years, less skewed to the right so the level of differentiation is also better.

In English, the average score decreased slightly but was still higher than in 2023; especially this year, the score distribution was evenly distributed and "beautiful", with high differentiation, suitable for universities and colleges to consider admission (there is no longer the situation of 2 "peaks" like last year).

Physics has an average score that has increased compared to 2024, but the score spectrum is also less skewed to the right, helping to increase the differentiation of candidates. Chemistry has a significantly reduced average score (-0.67), the peak of the score spectrum is more skewed to the left but is "full" to the right, the differentiation is also better than last year.

Biology, the average score decreased (-0.5) but still maintained a good score spectrum and had good differentiation, the score distribution was quite similar to Chemistry.

In History, the average score has not decreased significantly, however the peak score spectrum has shifted to the right, so the group of candidates with high scores in History will also be larger than in previous years.

In Geography, the average score decreased (-0.56) but still shifted to the right, the group of high-scoring candidates also increased.

The average score of the subject of Economic and Legal Education decreased but was still skewed to the right, the level of differentiation increased slightly.

“The new exams have a small number of candidates, so it takes time to compare and evaluate; however, in general, they are similar to other exams. In general, this year's exam score distribution shows better differentiation than previous years. Universities will have a large difference in admission scores.

The top schools are expected to have no significant changes in their benchmark scores (except for the combination of Maths which may decrease slightly). For the lower group schools, this year’s benchmark scores will decrease significantly (2-3 points, or more),” said Mr. Nguyen Vinh San.

Also from the perspective of higher education institutions, Mr. Pham Kim Thu - Vice Principal of the University of Technology and Management (Hanoi) assessed: The change in the score distribution of this year's exams shows a trend of high differentiation in the exam questions. This is a clear sign of the change in the way the exam questions are constructed according to the 2018 General Education Program, with stronger differentiation, reduced model-based skills and increased requirements for synthetic and analytical thinking.

Regarding the impact on university admissions, Mr. Pham Kim Thu said that 2025 has advantages, but also certain difficulties. Combinations with Physics may have an easier time in admissions when the Physics score distribution has clearly improved and the number of candidates achieving 10 points has increased sharply (from 55 to 3,929). Geography also recorded a significant increase in 10 points (from 3,175 to 6,907), while Information Technology has a fairly high score distribution and the rate of 10 points per 1,000 candidates is at 7.89, creating favorable conditions for related industries.

According to Mr. Nguyen The Luc - Vice Principal of Hanoi College of Pharmacy, 2025 is the first year of implementing the 2018 General Education Program. Although the exam structure has changed a bit, in general, the score distribution this year is basically good. The average score of most subjects is lower than last year. In particular, although the Math subject has a score of 10 higher than in 2024 (513 compared to 0), this is also the subject with the lowest average score among the subjects.

This year's score distribution reflects the goal of the new program, which is to help students master general knowledge, effectively apply the knowledge and skills they have learned to life and self-study for life, have a suitable career orientation, know how to build and develop harmonious social relationships, have a rich personality, character and spiritual life. Thanks to that, they have a meaningful life, contributing positively to the development of the country and humanity.

Regarding university admissions, with this year's score distribution, Mr. Nguyen The Luc said that it will be favorable for universities to recruit students. It is predicted that schools with a benchmark score of 25 or more will still be stable and have few adjustments. Schools with scores below 25 will slightly reduce their benchmark scores to ensure the number of candidates for admission.

“In 2025, there will be a good differentiation of scores, with scores shifting more towards the middle and balancing both sides of the score spectrum. It can be said that this is the most suitable score spectrum in recent years for an exam whose results are used to consider high school graduation and provide reliable data for universities and vocational training institutions to use in enrollment in the spirit of autonomy.

Better differentiation helps universities group candidates and select students with suitable abilities to enter the school, especially in schools with high entrance requirements and top schools." - Mr. Nguyen Vinh San

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/pho-diem-thi-tot-nghiep-thpt-2025-xua-tan-nhung-au-lo-post739943.html