The new exam structure for high school graduation in Vietnam, effective from the year 2025, introduces a more diverse range of question types in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Geography, Economics and Law, Informatics, and Technology. These subjects will feature multiple-choice questions designed to assess students’ abilities and also facilitate better differentiation.
In addition to the traditional multiple-choice format, two new question types will be introduced: true/false questions and short answer questions.
The new exam format for the high school graduation exam in 2025 will feature innovative question types and a departure from the uniform point allocation used from 2008 until now. (Image source: TL)
In the true/false question format, the point allocation is not evenly distributed. Each question consists of four statements, and students must select whether each statement is true or false. Choosing one correct statement within a question earns 0.1 points, two correct statements earn 0.25 points, three correct statements earn 0.5 points, and selecting all four correct statements earns a full mark of 1 point. This format requires students to possess a comprehensive set of skills, knowledge, and abilities to achieve the maximum score. The probability of randomly guessing the correct answers and attaining the full mark is 1/16, which is four times lower than the current multiple-choice format.
The short answer questions resemble essay-style questions and are evaluated based on the final responses that students provide. Each correct answer is awarded 0.25 to 0.5 points.
Both of these new question types demand a solid foundation of knowledge and skills from students and reduce the likelihood of relying on tricks or choosing answers from distracting options, as is possible in the multiple-choice format.
Prior to 2025, high school graduation exam questions in Vietnam exclusively featured a single type of question for the multiple-choice format, and the point allocation was evenly distributed across the number of questions in each exam. Regardless of the difficulty level or the depth of understanding required, each question carried the same weight.
From 2025 onwards, high school students will take graduation exams in four subjects. Mathematics and Literature are mandatory, and students can choose the remaining two subjects from the following: Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Geography, History, Economics and Law, Informatics, Technology, and Foreign Languages (including English, German, Russian, Japanese, French, Chinese, and Korean).
The Ministry of Education and Training has previously released sample exam structures and questions for the upcoming exams, which have been pilot-tested in select provinces and cities. Experts have praised the new scoring method for true/false questions as being in line with modern examination theories. Each question carries a different weight, with more challenging questions being awarded higher points. Consequently, a question that most students can answer correctly only contributes 0.1 points to the total score. The more difficult questions that follow are worth progressively more points, with the most challenging question earning 0.5 points. This approach helps differentiate between students of varying abilities, distinguishing those who are gifted, average, or below average.
This scoring method draws inspiration from renowned international exams such as the SAT and PISA, ensuring fairness and equity. The Ministry has carefully designed the questions so that the four statements within each true/false question increase in difficulty. Correctly answering any one of these statements earns the student 0.1 points. This discourages random guessing as the statements are interconnected, and answering the easier questions correctly is often a prerequisite for tackling the more challenging ones, unless one is extremely lucky.
Many experts concur that the probability of randomly achieving the maximum score in the true/false section is 1/16, which is four times lower than the current multiple-choice format. This reduced probability aligns with the goal of preventing an excessive number of perfect scores. To attain a perfect score, students must demonstrate a comprehensive set of skills, knowledge, and abilities.
