Report Hanoi Claims Top Spot in Vietnam's National English Exam

[snoop1130]

Photo courtesy of VN Express

 

Hanoi has surged past Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam’s national high school graduation English exam for the first time in eight years.

 

In the latest assessment, nearly 352,000 students sat for the English test as part of the national high school graduation exam, conducted last month. This exam also featured compulsory Math and Literature tests, while students selected two additional subjects according to their preferences.

 

The national average for English saw a dip, falling to 5.38 out of 10 from last year's 5.51. Out of all candidates, only 141 achieved a perfect score of 10, a noticeable drop from 2024's 565 top scorers. Meanwhile, 28 students scored 1 or lower, highlighting the exam’s challenging nature.

 

Hanoi emerged at the forefront with an impressive average score of 5.78, narrowly surpassing Ho Chi Minh City, which is now grouped with Binh Duong and Ba Ria-Vung Tau as a single unit, achieving a score of 5.66. Coming in third was Quang Ninh with a score of 5.46.

 

Also featuring in the top 10 were regions such as Dien Bien, Phu Tho, Hai Phong, Nghe An, Ninh Binh, Ha Tinh, and Thanh Hoa. Hanoi not only led in average scores but also in the number of perfect scores, with 56 students earning a 10 out of 10, followed by Ho Chi Minh City and Bac Ninh.

 

However, experts urge caution, suggesting that the rankings might not accurately represent performance due to disparities in the number of candidates. Ho Chi Minh City had over 61,900 students participating, compared to Hanoi's nearly 59,600, while Dien Bien had a mere 554 candidates.

 

The examination took place on 26-27 June, involving over 1.16 million students across the nation. English was the top elective choice alongside subjects in both the natural and social sciences. The test comprised 40 multiple-choice questions to be completed in 50 minutes. Many students voiced concerns over the difficulty level, citing the extensive use of academic vocabulary exceeding expectations for high school learners. Even those with International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores of 7.0-7.5 struggled to foresee achieving more than 7 points in this exam.

 

Teachers echoed these sentiments, remarking that many questions were pegged at a B2-C2 level, significantly higher than the B1 proficiency standard aimed at 12th graders. The results play a crucial role in university admissions processes.

 

Students have until 25 July to request a regrade and to complete university applications by 5 p.m. on 28 July, with unlimited opportunities for adjustments. Final university admission scores are scheduled for release by 22 August.

 

This development not only marks a shift in educational standings but also reflects the evolving dynamics in Vietnam's education system as it responds to shifting demands and standards.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from VN Express 2025-07-17

 

 

[FlorC]

That's a headline you won't see about Thailand's national English exam.

 

Shouldn't the Vietnamese be learning more Chinese than English ?

[newbee2022]

19 minutes ago, FlorC said:

That's a headline you won't see about Thailand's national English exam.

 

Shouldn't the Vietnamese be learning more Chinese than English ?

Thailand seems for me to be on a crossroad. Go for Thai, English or Chinese language.

If they look at the Philippines with a lot of English speaking foreigners they would go for it.

However, depending on tourism, preferably Chinese tourists, they should go for learning Mandarin.

I reckon they will stick to Thai, with some rudimentary knowledge of English basics only.