Vietnam's Ministry of Education: High Pass Rates Don't Justify Abolishing Graduation Exams

The Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) has explained its stance on the high school graduation exam (THPT) in response to public discussion, emphasizing its necessity even with high pass rates. The ministry stated that abolishing the exam is not an option, even if 99% of students pass, as it serves crucial functions for educational quality assurance and maintaining student motivation. MOET noted that since the reform of the graduation exam in 2015, questions about the necessity of a "national standardized exam" have been repeatedly raised. Citing the views of many experts, the ministry affirmed that the exam remains essential. Without it, many teachers and students would cease to teach and learn effectively, and reliable data on the quality of general education nationwide and in specific localities would be lacking. The ministry countered the notion that a 99% pass rate makes the exam redundant, comparing it to a production line where even if 99% of products meet standards, the final inspection cannot be skipped. It highlighted that the detection of anomalies in exam results in some areas is a direct outcome of data analysis and the transparency of the exam process, a rare achievement among current examination systems. Furthermore, to meet the requirements of Resolution 71 on breakthrough development in education, a unified, objective, and reliable evaluation mechanism for learning outcomes is needed nationwide. The ministry concluded that maintaining the graduation exam aligns with the Party's policies and the law. MOET clarified that since 2020, the graduation exam has not been a "two-in-one" test for both graduation and university admission. Currently, its primary role is to certify graduation and assess the broad learning attainment of students. University admissions are the autonomy of higher education institutions, but graduation exam results remain a valuable data source for them. Many universities employ multiple admission methods, combining graduation exam scores with academic records and other criteria. In the past year, approximately 50.3% of admitted students enrolled using the high school graduation exam scores. The remainder were admitted based on academic records (29.2%), a combination of exam scores and other criteria (16.3%), and other methods. Moving forward, the ministry plans to improve the exam by standardizing the question bank, analyzing difficulty and reliability, and integrating AI to expedite analysis and anomaly detection. Strict penalties will be imposed on intentional interference. The possibility of multiple exam sittings per year or subject-specific exams is also under consideration. While enhancing university admission autonomy, MOET also aims to "tighten control" to prevent a chaotic "hundred flowers blooming" scenario that could cause difficulties, expenses, pressure, and inequality for candidates and society. The ministry intends to issue minimum standards for independent exams, equivalent conversion methods, score distribution disclosures, data management, and complaint resolution mechanisms. Students taking the graduation exam in Ho Chi Minh City, June 2026. Photo: Quynh Tran Thanh Hang Information source: VnExpress