The mock exam for the high-school graduation test omits the question type on pronunciation and stress, adds requirements to summarize paragraphs, insert sentences into suitable positions, and asks about real-life situations.
In 2025, the first cohort following the 2018 Education Program will sit for the National High School Graduation Exam. Therefore, the English exam will feature new content and structure.
Ms. Phạm Thị Mai Hương, Deputy Head of English, Foreign Language Specialized High School, University of Languages and International Studies, VNU; and Ms. Hoàng Xuân, teacher at the Tuyensinh247 Online Learning System, both point out the changes in the exam and suggest effective review methods.
Comparison of the old vs. new English National High School Graduation Exam format:
| Comparison criterion | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions | – 50 multiple-choice questions (0.2 points each) | – 40 multiple-choice questions (0.25 points each) |
| Difficulty level | – Stable compared to previous years, most scores between 5–7 | – Many easy and average questions, few differentiating ones Overall similar but increased cognitive demands in some reading comprehension and logic questions |
| Question types | – Phonetics (pronunciation, stress) – Grammar, vocabulary – Functional communication – Error detection, synonyms/antonyms – Sentence rewriting – Cloze with word insertion – Reading comprehension | – Reading and inserting short words/phrases to complete texts (12 questions) – Reading and inserting longer words/phrases to complete texts (5 questions) – Arranging sentences into dialogues/letters/passages (5 questions) – Reading comprehension (one 8-question passage and one 10-question passage) |
| Cognitive levels | – Recall: ~30% – Understanding: ~40% – Application: 30% | – Recall: ~25% – Understanding: ~35% – Application: ~40% |
| Time allowed | 60 minutes | 50 minutes |
| Knowledge distribution | – Language knowledge (phonetics, grammar, vocabulary…): ~50% – Reading comprehension and logical thinking: ~50% | – Language knowledge: ~40% – Reading comprehension and logical thinking: ~60% |
According to the two teachers, the exam structure has changed completely compared to previous years. The 2025 mock exam focuses on assessing reading comprehension and analysis of English texts (understanding the main idea and details of short texts, key information in notices, signs…) instead of testing isolated phonetics, vocabulary and grammar knowledge.
Regarding content, the questions in the exam are scientific and tied to real-life contexts. The number of questions from the two reading passages accounts for nearly half of the total exam questions (18/40), showing the weight of this section.
5 new or changed question types in the Reading Comprehension section
– Paragraph summary (replacing title-matching).
Which of the following best summarises paragraph 3?
A. Urbanisation improves the living standards of all urbanites to the detriment of the environment.
B. Urban citizens suffer serious health problems and housing shortages as a result of migration to the city.
C. Rural migration is detrimental to not only the environment but also urbanites’ health and life quality.
D. Low-income urban citizens lack access to public amenities, leading to their poor standards of living.
– Locating the paragraph that mentions/discusses a particular issue.
In which paragraph does the writer explore modern methods for maintaining endangered languages?
A. Paragraph 1 B. Paragraph 2 C. Paragraph 3 D. Paragraph 4
(Question 30, sample for the 2025 exam)
– Sentence insertion into the appropriate position in the passage.
Where in paragraph 1 does the following sentence best fit?
More and more people are moving to the city from the countryside each year.
A. [I] B. [II] C. [III] D. [IV]
Inserted into which position in the following paragraph?
[I] Global urbanisation has increased significantly in recent decades, and one of the main drivers of this growth has been rural migration.
[II] Half of the world’s population already resides in cities, and by 2050, experts predict that number to reach as high as two-thirds.
[III] Many factors contribute to this global phenomenon, which then gives rise to various issues.
[IV] …
(Question 31, sample for the 2025 exam)
– Synonym/antonym questions.
In the old exam, this was a separate question:
Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word CLOSEST in meaning to the underlined word in each of the following questions.
At last, he realised that he had made a mistake when he saw the correct answer on the board.
A. easy B. wrong C. difficult D. right
(Question 20, 2022 exam)
In the new exam, this type is embedded in the reading:
The word extinct in paragraph 1 is OPPOSITE in meaning to _____.
A. existent B. native C. official D. ancient
(Question 24, 2025 sample)
– Functional communication situational questions.
In the old exam, students read a situation and chose the best reply. In the new exam, they must arrange utterances logically.
Example old-style question:
Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the sentence that best completes each of the following exchanges.
Samuel is talking to Lan about volunteer work.
– Samuel: “I think we should do some local volunteer work this summer.”
– Lan: “_________. Some people in our neighbourhood really need help.”
A. You should think of it again B. I quite agree with you C. That’s not a good choice D. I don’t agree with you
(Excerpt from 2022 exam)
New format:
Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best arrangement of utterances or sentences to make a meaningful exchange or text in each of the following questions from 13 to 17.
a. Nam: “Hi, Mark! Long time no see. You look so good!”
b. Nam: “Yes, I have. I exercise every morning and eat more healthy food.”
c. Mark: “Hi, Nam! Thanks. You look so fit, too. Have you worked out a lot lately?”
(Adapted from Global Success)
A. c – a – b B. b – c – a C. c – b – a D. a – c – b
English teachers believe that students need a rich vocabulary across topics like urbanisation and occupations; an understanding of the register of letters or short essays; and strong logical reasoning to excel at this question type.
Ms. Hương suggests students practice reading comprehension daily, prioritise lengthy texts from mock exams and reputable practice books; train skimming/scanning techniques; develop inference skills and the ability to select appropriate words/sentences for gaps. Additionally, they should improve speed through timed practice and analyse errors after each test.
She predicts that under the new format, the number of students scoring above 9 will not be as high as in previous years, mainly limited to top-tier students taking Block D (Math, Literature, English) or specialised English exams.
Candidates completed the procedures for the 2024 high school graduation exam at Trung Vuong High School, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, on June 26. Photo: Quynh Trần
Source: Binh Minh/https://vnexpress.net
