The Vietnamese capital recently experienced one of the busiest academic days of its educational calendar. Thousands of young people took the entrance exam for upper secondary education, an event that this year was marked by several changes due to the implementation of a new curriculum framework which seeks to move away from the purely rote learning that has characterized the system for decades. This transition is not just a change of roles, but a complete shift in how boys and girls must demonstrate what they know.
The atmosphere around the schools was a mixture of nerves and hope, with entire families supporting the candidates from the early hours of the morning. It's curious to observe how an exam can mobilize an entire city, especially when it concerns a subject as fundamental as literature, which on this occasion has served to measuring analytical capacity and connection of teenagers with the problems of their immediate environment.
Innovation in format and abandonment of rote learning
One of the biggest surprises for students has been the complete absence of excerpts from standard textbooks within the exam questions. Following the guidelines of the most recent general education program, examiners have opted for external texts, which means that It's no use trying to guess anymore. Which chapter to include or cram the analyses in the official manuals from top to bottom. What matters now is knowing how to read, interpret, and write with your own judgment.
This decision aims to ensure that students are able to approach any literary work independently. During the 120-minute test, candidates had to grapple with a structure that, while familiar in its basic framework, posed deeper intellectual challenges. encourage the expression of personal viewpoints properly argued. Industry experts agree that this approach is much more useful for adult life than simply repeating paragraphs like parrots.
The role of contemporary poetry and social commitment
The central focus of the reading comprehension section was the poem "The Moon in the Forest and the Children" by Thanh Thảo, a piece that stands out for its evocative richness and apparent simplicity. Based on these verses, the candidates were asked to identify rhetorical devices and, most importantly, to reflect on the need to explore new horizons In the face of conformity, it's refreshing to see how lyricism is being used to open debates about the life attitude of new generations.
On the other hand, the writing section was equally demanding, requiring a social critique essay addressing the disconnection many young people experience today. The students had to take a stand and propose... solutions for creating positive relationships in an increasingly digital and, at times, isolated society. Ultimately, what was sought was coherent writing, with a logical structure and handwriting that wouldn't cause proofreaders any trouble.
massive logistics and feelings after the test
For an event of this magnitude to run smoothly, the organizers had to deploy an impressive operation. With over 125.000 students competing for a place in public schools, hundreds of exam centers and thousands of classrooms were set up, with the support of volunteers, police officers and medical personnel to ensure that everything ran smoothly. Despite the increased competition, the overall atmosphere was one of civility and personal achievement.
As they left the classrooms, the prevailing feeling among the students was one of relief. Many commented that the questions were "manageable" and that, because the topics were so close to reality, they didn't feel as lost as they had expected. The teachers, for their part, emphasized that the most common mistakes continue to be... poor time management between sectionswhich sometimes leaves the final rehearsal feeling a bit incomplete. Even so, the overall level seems to have lived up to the expectations placed on this graduating class.
This evaluation process in Hanoi reflects an effort to modernize teaching and adapt it to the skills required in the 21st century. By moving away from rote memorization and introducing topics that encourage social reflection, the education system seeks to better prepare its students for the challenges that will come after high school. The day concluded with a clear commitment to quality education and an organization that, despite the volume of participants, managed to maintain order and security at all times.
