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The High School Graduation Exam and University Admissions: Navigating the 2023 Landscape.

The University Entrance Examination (National High School Graduation) regulations and the University Admissions process for 2023 have been released by the Ministry of Education and Training, outlined in Circular No. 06/2023/TT-BGDĐT. This comprehensive guide details the latest policies and procedures for university admissions, providing essential information for both students and educational institutions alike.

Administrator

18 July, 2024

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The official regulations for the 2023 National High School Graduation Exam have been released, and with the important dates fast approaching on June 28-29, it’s crucial for students and parents to be well-prepared. Aside from mastering the academic knowledge, having a clear understanding of the exam regulations is essential to avoid any violations and ensure a smooth exam experience. So, let’s dive into the details and ensure we’re all on the same page!

1 New Changes in the 2023 High School Graduation and University Entrance Exam Regulations

The Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) has issued Circular No. 06/2023/TT-BGDĐT dated March 24, 2023, amending certain articles of the High School Graduation Exam Regulations issued together with Circular No. 15/2020/TT-BGDĐT. The new regulations introduce the following key differences:

Amended rules on items allowed in the examination room:

Students are only permitted to bring the following items into the examination room: Writing utensils (pens, pencils, erasers, rulers), non-programmable pocket calculators without memory cards, and the Atlat Dia Ly Viet Nam (Vietnamese Geography Atlas) for the Geography exam.

In contrast, the previous regulations, as per Circular No. 15/2020/TT-BGDĐT, allowed students to bring audio and video recording devices that could only record information but could not play or transmit it without additional equipment.

Modified requirements for the 2023 High School Graduation Exam registration dossier:

The dossier for students who have completed the high school program in the year of the exam organization and are registering for the 2023 High School Graduation Exam includes the following:

02 identical registration forms;
Original or certified true copy of the high school transcript, or equivalent for General Education;
Valid certificates for preferential treatment or incentives (if any);
Digital or printed photos (4×6 cm) in the style of a citizen ID card, taken within six months before the submission of the application.

Notably, the new regulations no longer require a copy of the household registration book for preferential treatment related to the registered place of residence.

Additionally, the new regulations add a requirement for digital or printed photos in the style of a citizen ID card, taken within six months before the submission of the application, for those registering directly at the high school where they attended 12th grade.

High School Graduation Exam registration options for 2023 candidates:

According to Clause 3, Article 1 of Circular No. 06/2023/TT-BGDĐT, which amends Point a, Clause 1, Article 13 of the High School Graduation Exam Regulations issued together with Circular No. 15/2020/TT-BGDĐT, students who have completed the high school program in the year of the exam organization can choose to register online or directly at the high school where they attended 12th grade.

This change offers greater convenience to students, allowing them to register from the comfort of their homes. However, proper guidance is necessary to avoid any registration errors.

New Changes in the Exam Regulations

Revised regulations on bonus points for High School Graduation consideration in 2023:

Regarding bonus points for High School Graduation consideration, the MoET has issued Circular No. 06/2023/TT-BGDĐT, which amends Point d, Clause 2 and Point a, Clause 3, Article 39 of the High School Graduation Exam Regulations issued together with Circular No. 15/2020/TT-BGDĐT. The specific regulations are as follows:

For Kinh people and foreign nationals residing in Vietnam (Category 2), a bonus of 0.25 points is awarded if they meet the following criteria:

– They have a permanent residence for at least three years during their high school studies in a particularly difficult commune, a border commune, or a security zone under the Program 135 as per the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 135/QD-TTg dated July 31, 1998 (calculated from the time these communes complete the Program 135 onwards).

– They reside in a particularly difficult commune in the coastal and island areas, or in a commune classified as Zone I, II, or III, or a commune with particularly difficult villages in ethnic minority and mountainous areas as per the current regulations of the Prime Minister or the Minister-Chairman of the Ethnic Minorities Committee. Additionally, they must have attended a general education high school or a boarding school for ethnic minorities, or a non-boarding high school that is not located in the districts of centrally-run cities.

For ethnic minorities (Category 3), a bonus of 0.5 points is awarded if they meet the following criteria:

– They have a permanent residence for at least three years during their high school studies in a particularly difficult commune, a border commune, or a security zone under the Program 135 as per Decision 135/QD-TTg dated July 31, 1998 (calculated from the time these communes complete the Program 135 onwards), or in a particularly difficult commune in the coastal and island areas.

– They reside in a commune classified as Zone I, II, or III, or a commune with particularly difficult villages in ethnic minority and mountainous areas as per the current regulations of the Prime Minister or the Minister-Chairman of the Ethnic Minorities Committee. Additionally, they must have attended a boarding high school for ethnic minorities or a non-boarding high school that is not located in the districts of centrally-run cities.

Absence of inspection by inspectors during the re-grading process for essay exams:

Regarding the re-grading process for essay exams in the 2023 High School Graduation Exam, Circular No. 06/2023/TT-BGDĐT stipulates the following:

Each essay exam will be re-graded by two graders as per the regulations in Article 27 of the High School Graduation Exam Regulations issued together with Circular No. 15/2020/TT-BGDĐT. The re-grading must be done using ink of a different color from the one used in the initial grading.

During the re-grading process, there must be at least two members of the Essay Exam Re-grading Board present.

Compared to the regulations in Circular No. 15/2020/TT-BGDĐT, there is no longer a provision for the presence of inspectors to supervise the re-grading process.

Expansion of the Question Setting Board for the 2023 High School Graduation Exam:

According to Circular No. 06/2023/TT-BGDĐT, which amends Points c and d, Clause 2, Article 17 of the High School Graduation Exam Regulations issued together with Circular No. 15/2020/TT-BGDĐT, the Question Setting Board now includes:

– Members, secretaries, and IT-technical staff who are civil servants or public employees of units under the MoET. Among them, the permanent member is a civil servant of the Quality Management Department.

(Compared to the previous regulations, the new regulations allow employees of units under the MoET to be part of the Question Setting Board.)

– Question drafters and reviewers who are civil servants or public employees in the education sector, researchers at research institutes, or full-time lecturers and teachers at educational institutions. Each exam/subject has a Question Setting Group consisting of a Group Leader and question drafters and reviewers.

2 University Entrance and High School Graduation Exam Regulations for 2023

To fully understand the University Entrance and High School Graduation Exam Regulations for 2023, students should refer to Circular No. 15/2020/TT-BGDĐT and Circular No. 06/2023/TT-BGDĐT, which are available on the official website of the Ministry of Education and Training.

Regulations on Exam Structure

Starting in 2023, the High School Graduation Exam will consist of five tests, including:

03 independent tests: Mathematics, Literature, and Foreign Language;
01 combined test in Natural Sciences, including Physics, Chemistry, and Biology as sub-tests;
01 combined test in Social Sciences, including History, Geography, and Civic Education as sub-tests for students studying the general education program, or History and Geography for students studying the basic education and training program.

Regulations on Exam Dates, Content, Schedule, Format, and Time Allocation

Exam dates and schedules will be specified in the annual guidelines for organizing the High School Graduation Exam issued by the Ministry of Education and Training. The independent tests of Mathematics, Literature, and Foreign Language will be held separately, while the combined tests of Natural Sciences and Social Sciences will include the sub-tests conducted on the same day.

Exam content will be based on the general education curriculum for high school, focusing primarily on the 12th-grade curriculum.

Exam format: The independent tests of Mathematics, Foreign Language, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences will be in a multiple-choice format, while the independent test of Literature will be in an essay format.

Time allocation for each exam will vary:

Literature: 120 minutes
Mathematics: 90 minutes
Foreign Language: 60 minutes
50 minutes for each sub-test within the combined tests of Natural Sciences and Social Sciences.

Regulations on Examinee Eligibility

In 2023, the following categories of candidates are eligible for the University Entrance and High School Graduation Exam:

Individuals who have completed the high school program in the year of the exam organization;
Individuals who have completed the high school program but have not yet passed the High School Graduation Exam or have passed but have not yet received their High School Graduation Certificate from previous years;
Individuals who already hold a High School Graduation Certificate or a Secondary School Graduation Certificate and wish to take the exam for university admission purposes;
Other special cases decided by the Minister of Education and Training.

Regulations on Exam Registration

For High School Graduation consideration: Students in the general education program, as specified in Points a and b of Clause 1 of this Regulation, must take four tests, including three independent tests (Mathematics, Literature, and Foreign Language) and one combined test of their choice. Students in the basic education and training program, as specified in Points a and b of Clause 1 of this Regulation, must take three tests, including two independent tests (Mathematics and Literature) and one combined test of their choice. They may also choose to take the Foreign Language test to be considered for university admission.

Students specified in Point c of Clause 1 of this Regulation may choose to take independent tests, combined tests, or sub-tests of the combined tests according to their preferences.

Examinee Responsibilities

Regulations on Examinee Responsibilities

According to the regulations, examinees must fulfill the following responsibilities:

Register for the exam in accordance with the provisions of Article 13 of these Regulations and the annual guidelines for organizing the High School Graduation Exam issued by the Ministry of Education and Training;

On the day of the exam, arrive at the examination room at the specified time as indicated on the Exam Entry Card to complete the pre-exam procedures, including:

Presenting their citizen ID card or citizen identification card (commonly referred to as a citizen identification card) and receiving their Exam Card;
Reporting any discrepancies in their name, middle name, surname, date of birth, preferential treatment category, or preferential area to the exam proctor or the person in charge at the Exam Center immediately;
In case of loss of the citizen identification card or other necessary documents, report it immediately to the Head of the Exam Center for consideration and resolution.
For each exam session, arrive at the examination room at the specified time, comply with the instructions of the Exam Proctor Board, and follow the instructions of the exam proctor. Students who arrive more than 15 minutes after the start of the exam will not be allowed to take that session’s exam.

During the exam, adhere to the following regulations:

Present the Exam Card to the exam proctor;
Sit in the assigned seat with the corresponding exam number;
Before starting the exam, fill in the required information, including the exam number and personal details, on the exam paper, answer sheet, Multiple-Choice Answer Sheet, and scratch paper;
Upon receiving the exam paper, carefully check the number of pages and print quality. If there are any issues, such as missing pages or damaged, blurred, or faded print, report it immediately to the exam proctor in the examination room, no later than 5 (five) minutes from the start of the exam;
Do not exchange or copy answers from others, use unauthorized materials, or engage in any gestures or actions that may be considered cheating. If you have any questions, raise your hand and wait for permission from the exam proctor before standing up and presenting your query publicly to the exam proctor;
Do not make any marks or personal signs, and