Although they weren't called into the exam room until 6:30 AM, many candidates chose the safer option of arriving 45 minutes, or even an hour and a half, early. If they completed the afternoon exam, they could leave the exam site as early as 5:20 PM. For many candidates, passing or failing would be decided within these first 12 hours.
Of the three subjects in the C-block exam, Geography was considered the easiest by candidates, followed by Literature, and History was the most difficult. This year, the change in the order of the subjects, with the "easiest" subject being tested first, seems to have helped to alleviate some of the pressure on candidates during their nearly 12 hours at the exam site.
Early on the morning of July 9th, Hanoi experienced light rain showers; however, the amount of rain was insignificant and did not greatly affect the travel of exam candidates. Present at the exam sites from 5:30 AM, volunteers from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities quickly deployed their teams at the 7 exam locations in the Hanoi exam cluster.
At 6:15 AM, "tiny candidate" Nguyen Thi Hai Yen (from Hai Duong, registered to take the Journalism exam) ran up the stairs connecting building AB. Yen said that due to difficult family circumstances, she had to sneak out to take the university entrance exam. After learning about Yen's situation, the university's volunteer students introduced her to the Me Tri Dormitory so she could stay for free during the exam period.
An invigilator at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (AB building area) is assigning registration numbers before calling candidates into the examination room. According to the regulations of Vietnam National University, Hanoi, the registration number written at the candidate's seat must include both letters and numbers.
Outside examination room number 99, 3 minutes before the signal to call candidates into the examination room.
Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Kim (Vice Rector, Chairman of the Admissions Council) inspects the examination rooms and encourages the candidates before they begin the first exam.
The invigilator in room 101 compares the photo on the exam card with the photo stored in the album and with the photo of the candidate attending the exam.
The exam steering committee for building G at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities sealed the surplus exam papers before returning them to the Admissions Council.
Candidate Dinh Tu Phuc (Ninh Binh) was the first to leave the exam site at the Kindergarten Teacher Training School, greeted by volunteer students. Phuc said the Geography exam was not difficult and he submitted his paper after 2/3 of the time had elapsed.
Family members of candidates sit waiting in front of the Khuong Dinh Secondary School examination center.
A candidate who submitted their paper early is waiting for a family member to pick them up at the Phan Dinh Giot Secondary School examination site.
At 10:15 AM, Mr. Ton Quang Cuong (Head of the exam steering committee at Phan Dinh Giot Secondary School) beat the drum three times to signal the end of the Geography exam.
According to regulations, candidates who submit their papers after the time limit has expired must remain until the invigilators have checked the number and format of the exam papers.
After the Geography exam, a candidate submitted a statement regarding their identity due to discrepancies between the photos they submitted for their application and their exam card.
Ms. Le Dieu Ngoc Linh (a former student of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities) organized the provision of free lunch meals for parents and candidates at the exam site in Khuong Dinh area.
After taking the Geography exam in the morning, many candidates took advantage of the time to take a nap right in the exam room while waiting for the History exam to begin.
Invigilator Ta Bich Ngoc showed the candidates the sealed condition of the exam paper bags and confirmed their authenticity.
Associate Professor Dr. Tran Thi Minh Hoa (right, Vice Chairperson of the Admissions Council) inspects the examination site at Khuong Dinh Secondary School.
At the Hanoi Kindergarten Teacher Training College exam center, a student with high blood pressure is being cared for by medical staff. It is understood that before the exam, this student had gone to the hospital for a check-up and received medication. At the end of the exam, the student returned to the room to submit their unfinished exam paper and will continue taking the Literature exam tomorrow morning.
A candidate was suspended for bringing unauthorized materials into the examination room. After being reprimanded, the candidate was moved to a separate room and allowed to leave the examination area after two-thirds of the allotted time had elapsed.
Immediately after two-thirds of the time allotted for the History exam had elapsed, dozens of candidates submitted 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 started to rain lightly again, with insignificant amounts of rain, helping the candidates feel more comfortable in the July heat.
At 5:25 PM, one of the last candidates left the gate of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities with a radiant smile.