Although the exam room is not called until 6:30, many candidates still choose the safe solution of arriving 45 minutes, or even an hour and a half early. And if they finish the afternoon exam, they will be allowed to leave the exam site at the earliest at 5:20 p.m. And for many candidates, passing or failing will be decided in these first 12 hours.
Of the three subjects in the C block, Geography is considered the easiest by candidates, followed by Literature and the most difficult is History. This year, the change in the order of the subjects, with the “easiest” subject being tested first, seems to have helped candidates somewhat reduce the pressure during the nearly 12 hours at the testing site.
Early in the morning of July 9, Hanoi had light showers, however the amount of rain was insignificant so it did not affect the candidates' travel much. Present at the exam site from 5:30 am, volunteers from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities quickly deployed their teams at 7 exam sites of the Hanoi exam cluster.
At 6:15 a.m., “tiny candidate” Nguyen Thi Hai Yen (Hai Duong, registered for the Journalism major) ran up the stairs of the AB building. Yen said that due to her family’s difficult circumstances, she had to sneak away to take the university entrance exam. After learning about Yen’s situation, the school’s volunteer students introduced her to Me Tri Dormitory for free during the exam period.
An invigilator of the examination board of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (AB building area) is marking the registration number before calling the candidates into the examination room. According to regulations of VNU, the registration number written at the candidate's seat must include both the letters and numbers.
In front of examination room number 99, 3 minutes before the signal to call candidates into the examination room.
Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Van Kim (Vice Principal, Chairman of the Admissions Council) inspected the examination rooms and encouraged the candidates before the first exam.
Room 101 supervisor compares the photo on the exam card with the photo saved in the album and the candidate comes to take the exam.
The steering committee of the G building exam site, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, sealed the extra exam papers before submitting them to the Admissions Council.
Candidate Dinh Tu Phuc (Ninh Binh) was the first to leave the Kindergarten High School exam site, welcomed by volunteer students. Phuc said the Geography exam was not difficult and he submitted his paper after 2/3 of the test time had passed.
Candidates' relatives wait in front of Khuong Dinh Secondary School exam site.
A candidate who submitted his test early is waiting for his family to pick him up at the Phan Dinh Giot Secondary School exam site.
At 10:15 a.m., Mr. Ton Quang Cuong (Phan Dinh Giot Secondary School Exam Steering Committee) beat the drum three times to signal the end of the Geography exam.
According to regulations, candidates who submit their papers after the deadline will have to stay until the invigilators have finished checking the number and format of the papers.
After the Geography exam, a candidate made a personal statement due to differences between the photos he submitted for his application and his exam card.
Ms. Le Dieu Ngoc Linh (former student of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities) organized to provide free lunch for parents and candidates at the exam site in Khuong Dinh area.
After the morning Geography test, many candidates took a nap in the exam room while waiting for the History test.
Supervisor Ta Bich Ngoc showed the candidates and confirmed the sealed condition of the exam bag.
Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Thi Minh Hoa (right, Vice President of the Admissions Council) inspects the exam site of Khuong Dinh Secondary School.
At the Hanoi Kindergarten High School exam site, a candidate with high blood pressure is being cared for by medical staff. It is known that before the exam, this candidate went to the hospital for a check-up and to receive medicine. At the end of the exam, this candidate returned to the room to hand in the unfinished exam and will continue to take the Literature exam tomorrow morning.
A candidate was suspended for bringing documents into the exam room. After being cited, the candidate was moved to a separate room and allowed to leave the exam area after 2/3 of the exam time had passed.
Right after 2/3 of the History exam time was up, dozens of candidates handed in their papers early. When asked, many of these candidates said that this year's exam was easier than last year's.
From the middle of the History exam, it continued to rain lightly with insignificant rainfall, helping the candidates feel more comfortable in the July heat.
At 5:25 p.m., one of the last candidates left the gate of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities with a bright smile.