Ensuring the 2026 High School Graduation Exam and the 2026-2027 High School Entrance Exam Take Place Safely, Seriously, and in Line with Regulations

(DTO) On the afternoon of May 6, at the Provincial Convention Center in My Tho Ward, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Huynh Minh Tuan chaired a meeting of the Provincial Steering Committee for the 2026 High School Graduation Exam and the Steering Committee for the 2026-2027 High School Entrance Exam. 

The meeting was attended by representatives of provincial departments and sectors that are members of the two Steering Committees. It was held in person and connected online to communes and wards across the province. 

The 2026 High School Graduation Exam will take place from June 10 to 12, 2026, about two weeks earlier than in 2025. As of May 5, 2026, the estimated number of registered candidates is 37,254, an increase of 2,572 compared to 2025. 

The province plans to arrange 71 exam sites with 1,583 exam rooms and 52 backup sites. These locations are set up at upper-secondary and lower-secondary schools in communes and wards throughout the province. Notably, several exam sites will be placed in border areas and island communes to facilitate candidates’ participation. 

The 2026 High School Graduation Exam features several new points. This is the first exam organized after the provincial merger. It continues to follow the 2018 General Education Program with two compulsory subjects (Math and Literature) and one elective component consisting of two subjects selected from those studied. It enhances the application of information technology in exam organization. 

The 2026-2027 High School Entrance Exam is scheduled for May 27 and 28, 2026. Candidates will take three subjects: Math, Literature, and English. The scale of the exam has increased compared to last year, with the current number of Grade 9 students at 48,617. 

The Department of Education and Training expects to set up 76 examination councils. For the 2026-2027 academic year, the province plans to admit 45,630 new Grade 10 students. 

New points in the 2026-2027 High School Entrance Exam include high school enrollment no longer restricted by administrative boundaries, online registration, and allowing each student to register up to four preferences, one for the specialized school and three for public high schools. 

During the meeting, Steering Committee members discussed preparations for ensuring secure handling and transportation of exam papers, maintaining security, order, and power supply at exam sites, preventing exam fraud, and supporting disadvantaged candidates so they can reach their exam locations. 

Delivering his directives, Vice Chairman Huynh Minh Tuan, Head of the Provincial Steering Committee for the 2026 High School Graduation Exam and the Steering Committee for the 2026-2027 High School Entrance Exam, requested all sectors and localities involved to continue drawing on their experience, uphold a strong sense of responsibility, and strictly implement the Government’s instructions and the Ministry of Education and Training’s guidelines in organizing the exams. 

He asked the Department of Education and Training to develop exam plans in full compliance with regulations, and to coordinate effectively with relevant agencies to ensure the exams are organized safely, efficiently, and with integrity. 

The department must proactively prepare adequate facilities, equipment, and personnel for printing, duplicating, and grading exam papers. At the same time, high schools should strengthen training on exam regulations for staff, teachers, and students. 

Departments and sectors involved in the Steering Committee, along with local authorities, must actively carry out their assigned tasks; ensure security, traffic safety, and food safety; and provide maximum support to candidates, especially those in difficult circumstances, ensuring no student misses the exam due to an inability to reach the exam site. The 2026 High School Graduation Exam and the 2026-2027 High School Entrance Exam are ensured to take place safely, seriously, and in full compliance with regulations. 

By MY XUYEN
Translated by ANH DUC