Candidates at the examination site of Nguyễn Đức Cảnh High School in the northern province of Thái Bình on Wednesday morning. —VNA/VNS Photo Thế Duyệt

 HÀ NỘI — Many candidates and parents across the country came to examination sites early yesterday morning to enter the first day of the 2023 high school graduation exams.

The candidates sat for a two-hour literature exam in the morning and a 90-minute math exam yesterday afternoon.

It was raining hard yesterday morning in Hà Nội, but candidates still arrived early to prepare for the important day ahead.

Cù Thế Vinh, a student of Lương Thế Vinh High School in Cầu Giấy District, who came to the examination site at 6am said “I do not worry much, because I know my ability. My goal is to enter the National Economics University.”

Trần Huyền Mai, another candidate, who also came to the examination site in Cầu Giấy District at 6am, said plans to study abroad after graduating from high school. 

The pressure of the high school graduation exam for students in recent years is no longer heavy like before, she said.

"How much pressure one feels depends on the candidate's goal, the candidate is free to choose his or her future school to determine the scores necessary for the graduation exam," she added.

In HCM City, many candidates came to an examination site in Thủ Đức City at 6am.

Anh Thi, a student of Dương Văn Thì High School, said the literature test result would not be used for her university admission, so she wasn't too worried about the result.

Thu Hiền, a student of Nguyễn Hữu Huân High School, said she expects to get a high score on the literature test.

“I went to bed early last night and ate a full breakfast this morning to prepare for the exam,” she said.

Parents’ companionship

A mother holds her child tight to encourage her before the literature test at an examination site in Hà Nội on Wednesday morning.— VNA/VNS Photo Hoàng Hiếu

Đào Bình Yên, the father of a candidate in Cầu Giấy District, Hà Nội, said his whole family has worried about the high school graduation exam of his daughter.

“However, it does not mean that we put pressure on her, we always encourage her, take care of every meal and make sure she gets a good night's sleep.”

“I just hope my daughter can take the test smoothly,” he added.

Nguyễn Thị Hương Lan, the mother of a student at Hà Nội-Amsterdam High School for the Gifted, said “My child has always studied hard over the past years, she often sleeps late to do homework and prepare for the exams.”

“I always tell my daughter to keep healthy,” Lan said.

“I hope she will do the test as best as she can,” Lan said.

Waiting for her son in front of the gate of Nguyễn Trãi High School in Thường Tín District, Hà Nội, Trần Thị Hồng Phương said worries and feels pressure because her son applied to the School of Social Sciences and Humanities under the Việt Nam National University, Hà Nội.

The school is believed to have a high admission score every year, she said.

“My son and I got up very early this morning and prepared necessary things for the exam carefully before leaving our house," she said.

Hữu Thanh, the father of a candidate in District 4, HCM City, who waited at the gate of an examination site, said “My family has one child, so, this is the first time I have taken my child to participate in the high school exam.”

“The night before my son’s exam, I could not sleep because I was so nervous and worried,” he said.

Youth volunteer support

Nguyễn Huy Đức, a third-year student at the University of Labour and Social Affairs, head of a youth volunteer group at an examination site in Cầu Giấy District, Hà Nội, said 25 members of the group arrived at the examination site at 5:30am to support the candidates.

The group was divided into two teams to take candidates to the examination room with umbrellas because this morning it rained heavily, he said.

In the northern Thanh Hóa Province, dozens of youth volunteers arrived early despite the showers on Wednesday morning.

Chu Phương Anh, a volunteer at an examination site of Đào Duy Từ High School in the province, said although it was raining this morning, she and her teammates came very early to support candidates and their relatives with free drinks and fans.

The team also helped the police to adjust traffic to avoid congestion at the examination site, she said.

The volunteers also provided free pick-up and drop-off for candidates with special circumstances, as well as those living in remote and isolated areas, and candidates with disabilities.

Minister visits exam sites

Minister of Education and Training Nguyễn Kim Sơn encouraged young volunteers in the northern province of Hưng Yên on Wednesday morning.— VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Tùng

In a related move, the Minister of Education and Training Nguyễn Kim Sơn visited some examination sites for the 2023 high school graduation exam in the northern province of Hưng Yên and Hải Phòng City on Wednesday morning.

He said the organisation of the examination was in accordance with regulations, and noted that support for candidates was well organised.

In Hưng Yên Province, he told exam supervisors to remind candidates that they are not required to wear masks during the examination room.

Examination rooms, located in the campus area, should open windows to let in fresh air, he said.

He also talked to and encouraged police forces and youth volunteer groups, who are supporting the candidates at the examination sites.

In Hải Phòng City, he ordered the local Department of Education and Training to continue to closely coordinate with relevant units, especially the police force, to strengthen inspections to prevent students from bringing devices to cheat in the exam.

The exam board needs to continue directing relevant staff not to neglect their duties in transporting the test papers, and to effectively organise the marking stage to ensure safety and compliance with regulations.

“I hope all the candidates can show their ability and get the best results," he said.

11 violations found

Statistics from the Ministry of Education and Training showed that on the first morning of the 2023 high school graduation exam, the whole country had 1,008,502 candidates taking the literature test, reaching 99.65 per cent of the total eligible candidates.

The exam took place in a safe and strictly regulated manner, the ministry said.

At 63 exam boards across the country, 11 candidates were found to have violated exam regulations.

Regarding an image of the literature test that appeared on social networks on Wednesday morning before the exam had ended, the ministry said that it had captured the information and transferred it to the Ministry of Public Security to verify.

If any violation is detected, it will be strictly handled according to regulations, the education ministry said.

The 2023 high school graduation exams are scheduled to take place on Wednesday and Thursday in 63 provinces and cities across the country.

The results of these tests will be used to determine graduation and university admissions. 

This year’s candidates will take three compulsory independent tests in mathematics, literature, and foreign languages and one of two optional combined tests in natural sciences (physics, chemistry, biology) and social sciences (history, geography, and citizen education).

The results are scheduled to be announced on July 18. The certificates of results will be sent to students by July 24.

The high school graduation exam is considered the most important event so far in a student's lifetime, after completing 12 years in school. — VNS