Many 12th-grade students said they chose the Social Sciences exam for the 2024 High School Graduation Exam because they had already received early admission results to universities through the academic transcript review method, so they chose a less demanding combined exam to fulfill the high school graduation requirements. Many students considered the Social Sciences exam "easier" than the Natural Sciences exam, a safer option to avoid failing grades.
High school teachers also explain that many candidates choose the Social Sciences exam because they believe that the component subjects are close to real life, allowing them to reason about situations and guess the answers. For students who are not yet strong in Natural Sciences subjects, choosing this exam not only achieves the goal of graduation but also gives them more time to invest in compulsory high school subjects (both for high school graduation and university admission, such as Mathematics, Literature, and Foreign Language).
According to Mr. Huynh Thanh Phu, Principal of Bui Thi Xuan High School (District 1, Ho Chi Minh City), the Social Sciences exam is often chosen by high schools in remote, disadvantaged, and suburban areas. In top-tier high schools, students tend to choose the Natural Sciences exam. For example, out of nearly 700 12th-grade students, Bui Thi Xuan High School recorded that over 80% chose the Natural Sciences exam.
"Compared to other localities, students in Ho Chi Minh City mostly choose exams in the Natural Sciences field because they have a tendency towards technology, engineering, and economics... These schools and majors have many subject combinations for admission that are subjects in the Natural Sciences exam, so this choice will give them a wider chance of getting into university," Mr. Phu informed.
The increasing number of candidates choosing the Social Sciences exam, which currently outnumbers those choosing the Natural Sciences exam, is causing many 12th-grade students to worry about their path to university, especially in social science fields. Many teachers predict that the cut-off scores for social science-related majors will be higher than last year, resulting in high competition.
However, according to admissions experts at universities, the increase in the percentage of candidates choosing the Social Sciences exam does not significantly affect university admissions or the level of competition. Mr. Pham Thai Son, Director of the Admissions Center at Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade, offered three reasons for this.
Firstly, the enrollment quotas at universities this year have all increased. For example, Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade increased its quota from 6,300 to 7,000.
Secondly, universities now offer many admission methods, with a large proportion relying on high school academic transcripts and aptitude assessments. Therefore, the level of competition when using these admission combinations (usually based on high school graduation exam scores) has become "saturated"...
Thirdly, the most commonly used subject combinations for university admissions today are A00 (Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry); A01 (Mathematics, Physics, English); B00 (Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology); and D01 (Literature, Mathematics, English). Subjects from the Social Sciences exam, including History, Geography, and Civic Education, rarely appear (except for a few universities that recruit for Social Sciences and Humanities programs).
“Students with average or above-average academic performance tend to register for the Social Sciences exam more often in the high school graduation exam because they are aware of their academic abilities. At the same time, they are less likely to choose top-tier universities, instead opting for universities with average admission scores or vocational colleges… Therefore, the likelihood of intense competition for university admission due to a significant increase in students choosing the Social Sciences exam is negligible,” analyzed Mr. Son.
Dr. Nguyen Trung Nhan - Head of Training Department, Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry, also offered a similar assessment, stating that the 63% of candidates registering for the Social Sciences exam does not necessarily make university admissions more competitive. Conversely, for candidates choosing the Natural Sciences exam combination, the competition ratio is not necessarily any less intense.
Dr. Nhan cited statistics from the Ministry of Education and Training regarding the fields that have attracted the most students to universities in recent years and stated that the engineering sector is showing a downward trend. In addition, fields belonging to the Natural Sciences, Life Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics, Environment, etc. (primarily using the Natural Sciences exam combination for admission) are also among the fields with the most selective admissions.
Meanwhile, the most popular field, chosen by the most candidates currently, is Business and Management, which often uses a combination of subjects including Mathematics, Literature, and English for admission. "Therefore, candidates can rest assured about their exam choices for university admission. The important thing now is for them to prepare for the high school graduation exam to achieve good results and to have the best plan for choosing a university and major," Dr. Nhan advised candidates.
Education and Times Newspaper:The overwhelming number of students choosing Social Sciences for the exam: A fair game.
