Over 1.16 million students nationwide have completed the 2025 high school finals. Of these, nearly 98 percent took the exam under the 2018 new general education program, while the remaining 2 percent followed the 2006 general education program. 

Students under the 2018 program took four subjects, including two mandatory ones (Mathematics, Literature) and two optional among Foreign Language, History, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography, Economics and Legal Education, Informatics, and Technology. Students under the 2006 program took three mandatory subjects (Mathematics, Literature, Foreign Language) and a combined exam in either Natural Sciences or Social Sciences.

Literature: predicted score: 6-7

Nguyen Phuoc Bao Khoi, a lecturer at HCM City University of Education, said that the 2025 Literature exam strongly reflects real-life issues, closely tied to the country’s current context, awakening an appreciation for the past while inspiring a sense of responsibility for the nation’s progress.

The exam aligns well with the 2018 Literature program’s focus on developing qualities and competencies, with a high level of student differentiation. The Reading Comprehension section features an excerpt from a short story by Nguyen Minh Chau, a prominent writer known for his philosophical narrative style. 

The literary essay writing section gives students the opportunity to earn scores. It is not easy to identify the central and extended arguments, but if students stick to the content of the text and make good use of the answers in the reading comprehension questions, they will easily "pass". Khoi predicted an average score for Literature of 6-7 points.

Maths predicted score: 5-7

Tran Tuan Anh, a teacher at Thu Duc High School (HCM City), the Mathematics exam has a certain level of difficulty, with questions worded differently (no longer concise but more verbose) and a limited time to complete. 

Even for easier questions, reading and summarizing the requirements takes considerable time, not to mention processing the information. The most difficult questions include true-false and short-answer questions, with the most challenging ones related to combinations.

Anh believes that the 2025 Mathematics exam has a high level of student differentiation as it includes questions with high demands (e.g., mathematical modeling, applying mathematics to real-life situations, and perseverance). 

Additionally, the exam incorporates real-world scenarios such as advertising messages, charity fundraising, business profits, and coded messages. This reflects the 2018 program’s emphasis on encouraging students to apply mathematical knowledge to real-life problem-solving, helping them see the practical significance of Mathematics. 

English: Predicted score: 5.5-6.5

Vu Ha Thanh Luan, a teacher of English at M.V. Lomonosov Secondary and High School (Hanoi), said the English exam structure has completely changed compared to previous years. 

The exam meets the goal of assessing competency, with questions focusing primarily on students’ reading comprehension skills. The reading topics align with the 2018 program, covering themes like environmental protection, financial management, festivals, and technology. Meanwhile, the grammar is straightforward and not tricky.

Notably, many vocabulary words in the longer reading passages are at an advanced level, posing challenges for students aiming for scores of 8.5 or higher. Students need a strong vocabulary, reading comprehension skills, paraphrasing abilities, and contextual reasoning to achieve high scores. 

This is a quality exam, and completing 40 questions in 50 minutes is a challenge for competent students. The exam serves the dual purposes of high school graduation and university admission. 

Chemistry: Predicted score range: 6-7

Huynh Thanh Phu, Principal of Bui Thi Xuan High School (HCM City), said the exam adheres to the innovation spirit of the 2018 General Education Program, ensuring reasonable differentiation of students and emphasizing critical thinking and practical application over mere memorization.

Part 1 consists of 18 multiple-choice questions. The questions are reasonable, and not tricky, allowing average students to solve 50-60 percent questions. Part 2 is a highlight with four true-false questions, each with four options requiring careful analysis. Part 3 includes six questions, mainly testing basic understanding and problem-solving in chemistry.

Overall, the questions are not too difficult but challenging enough. Students with solid knowledge and good test-taking strategies can easily achieve 8 points or higher. Average students can secure safe scores if they avoid carelessness and have studied diligently. 

History: Common scores around 5, many 8s, and possibly more 10s than expected

Nguyen Viet Dang Du, a teacher at Le Quy Don High School (HCM City), observed that History covers all grade-12 topics and two grade-11 topics. For those taking History solely for graduation, Part 1 is manageable. Part 2, with true-false questions, requires students to apply critical thinking and historical understanding.

Thuy Nga