National High School Exam: "crash training" is "out of date"

National High School Exam clears up crowded university entrance exam preparation classes

Quiet exam preparation workshop

The entire H1 area of Hanoi National University of Education (130 Xuan Thuy, Cau Giay, Hanoi) used to be the gathering place for university entrance exam preparation centers. Yet this year, Mr. Vu, a retired lecturer at the University of Foreign Languages (Vietnam National University, Hanoi), had to go around the entire area around Hanoi National University of Education twice before finding a signboard with the name of an exam preparation center.

Uncle Vu shared, “I have a nephew who graduated from high school last year but did not take the university entrance exam. This year, he plans to take the A block exam. His family knew that I used to work at the University of Foreign Languages, Hanoi National University in this area, so they asked me to come and apply for him to study. But it took me all morning to find a center. This area used to be crowded with exam preparation centers. Every year around this time, student registration desks are placed on both sides of the road.”

Following Uncle Vu to Duc Phu Knowledge Training Center, located at No. 2, H1 Building, Hanoi Pedagogical University. Here, the uncle and nephew were provided with the schedule and price of each subject. The class that Uncle Vu's nephew will attend is a new intensive exam preparation class that started in early April and will end in June.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan, Director of Duc Phu Knowledge Training Center, said, “Currently, there are more than a dozen students enrolled in the intensive class, most of whom are first and second year students of some universities who wish to transfer to other schools; some students failed the university entrance exam in previous years and some are 12th graders who have studied at the Center.”

Walking around the areas that used to be the gathering places for university entrance exam preparation centers such as Ta Quang Buu Street (around Hanoi University of Science and Technology), Nguyen Trai Street (near the University of Social Sciences and Humanities), you have to strain your eyes to find the signs of the exam preparation centers. Ms. Thanh, a beverage seller at the entrance of alley 336, Nguyen Trai Street, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi, counted and said: "Previously, this alley had 4 exam preparation centers, now only one center is still operating. Another center still has a sign but has rented out the first floor as a coffee shop, so I don't know if it is still operating."

Not only in Hanoi, in provinces and cities, the desolate scene of exam preparation centers is also happening. At the university exam preparation center of teacher Le Thi Ngoc Hoa, a quite prestigious address for many years located on Quang Trung street, Tan Quang ward, Tuyen Quang city, currently, there is not a single university preparation class.

Teacher Hoa said, “At this time last year, the center still had dozens of classes, each with about 30 students studying, but this year only 5 students have registered to study, there are not enough classes so we cannot accept them.” Teacher Le Thi Ngoc Hoa’s university entrance exam preparation center is almost out of operation. Two classrooms in the new center are rented out as accommodation.

Teacher Hoa shared: “I have been in the teaching profession for more than 20 years, and the reason I established this center is to help students have more opportunities to complete the high school graduation exam well and enter university. Therefore, I fully support the reform of the exam to reduce the pressure and burden of exams and assessments for students.”

The school actively reviews, students trust

While exam preparation centers are somewhat quiet, the review atmosphere in schools seems to be hotter than ever. Especially since the Ministry of Education and Training announced 13 sample test questions and answers for 8 subjects.

Two classrooms in the University Entrance Exam Preparation Center of teacher Le Thi Ngoc Hoa (Tan Quang ward, Tuyen Quang city) have been rented out as accommodation.

Ms. Le Thi Xuan Van, Vice Principal of Y La High School, Tuyen Quang City, Tuyen Quang Province, said that “the Ministry’s exam questions have helped the school be more proactive and confident in reviewing, and at the same time, somewhat relieved the students’ psychology. Currently, the school is organizing review classes for grade 12 students in a way that differentiates the students’ levels and has periodic tests and assessments, in order to change the review direction appropriately and effectively. The school has also arranged qualified and dedicated teachers to help students both consolidate their knowledge and have the best test-taking methods. For students with weak scores, the school organizes free review sessions.”

In remote schools, where according to surveys, the percentage of students registering to take the National High School Exam for graduation purposes accounts for an average of over 60%, review work for students is also being promoted by schools.

At Muong Lat High School, Muong Lat District, Thanh Hoa Province, the school has been conducting review work since 3 months ago. The school has received registrations for the National High School Exam for the purpose of graduation and university admission from 22 students (out of a total of 225 students, accounting for less than 10%).

According to Mr. Tran Anh Van, Acting Principal of Muong Lat High School: “The fact that students do not use the scores of this exam to enter university or college does not mean that we can rest assured. Because the high school graduation results also affect the students' choices of continuing their studies or working in the future. Currently, the school is spending time focusing on reviewing for students according to the Ministry's sample exam questions and the textbook program. According to the plan, the review will end at the end of May. After that, the school can discuss and consider, if necessary, continuing to extend the review time."

The innovations of the “two-in-one” exam are both creating pressure and determination for each school to achieve the best results in the first year. Mr. Vu Duong Uyen, Head of the Department of Examination and Educational Quality Assessment, Tuyen Quang Department of Education and Training, said that the sample exam questions announced by the Ministry closely followed the textbooks, mainly grade 12 knowledge and had high differentiation. Therefore, it is necessary for schools to focus on reviewing for students all subjects equally according to high school knowledge at this time. In addition, test-taking methods and reasonable time allocation are also issues that schools need to pay attention to in the review process for students.

In nearly 3 months, the 2015 National High School Exam will take place. There are still concerns and still need for close guidance and inspection so that the exam results truly reflect the quality of education, but from now on, we can see a “new face” of this important exam, a face that is no longer busy with intensive exam preparation, a face of an exam where the factor of “learning talent, passing the exam is fate” is no longer in the minds of both teachers and students.

Minh Thu (Dan Tri)