"The History exam is good, new and creative"

Dr. Nguyen Quang Lieu. (Photo: Thanh Long/USSH)

- Can you share your feelings about this year's History exam?

This year's university entrance exam for History closely followed the high school textbook program, in both Vietnamese history and world history. The knowledge asked in the exam covered important periods of Vietnamese history, from the August Revolution of 1930-1945 to the victory of the resistance war against France in 1954, the victory of the resistance war against America in 1975, and the current development stage of the country. The knowledge content being covered so broadly is very good because it avoids the phenomenon of candidates learning by heart.

This year's History University entrance exam is especially good, new and creative, not focusing on memorizing knowledge but on analyzing and thinking based on understanding the lesson.

For example: Question 1 asks about which uprisings and resistance wars left a strong mark on Vietnam in the 20th century? Students can review the great victories of the nation such as the August Revolution in 1945, the victory of the resistance war against France in 1954, the resistance war against America in 1975... But the second part of Question 1 asks about the role of the masses as one of the important causes in those great victories. This is a good question, students must have broad knowledge and understand the lesson to be able to present this idea.

Question 4 asks about changes reflecting the growth of ASEAN countries, but does not follow the old question pattern: the process of formation, birth, role, function of ASEAN...; but lists typical events to show the development and transformation of Southeast Asian countries since World War II and requires candidates to have general comments and conclusions according to each specific stage.

In particular, the related question: “What should ASEAN do to ensure peace, security and stability in the region?” is a very good question because of the topicality of the issue. The question is related to the reality of the struggle to maintain sovereignty in the East Sea, which is very complicated, as well as the current hot regional security issue. This question is difficult to answer correctly and well if only learned from books, but requires students to collect more information outside of books, grasp current issues to analyze and comment in the lesson. This type of question helps students not only grasp the knowledge in books but also know how to relate and apply what they have learned to practical issues of society and current events.

Candidates take the opportunity to review before entering the History exam room on the afternoon of July 9, 2014. (Photo: Thanh Long/USSH)

- This year's History exam is different from previous years in that there is only one common exam for all candidates. What do you think about this change, Dr.?

The History exam is different from previous years in that it consists of 4 questions for all candidates, there are no optional questions, and there is no distinction between candidates from different departments or not. Since the organization of the 3-level university entrance exam, this year is the year that the History exam has the most obvious difference. This way of setting the exam also has two sides. On the one hand, with a common exam, candidates are treated equally, the questions are clearly set, avoiding unfortunate mistakes during the process. Because in reality, in previous years, there were candidates who were confused and did both questions in the optional part, leading to low scores. But on the other hand, this way of setting the exam makes it less likely for candidates to choose the knowledge content that they have studied the most, or like the most.

- What do you think about the ability to assess candidates' abilities in this year's exam?

The exam questions this year are good, the questions are clear, not confusing and especially help test takers have the opportunity to show their creativity and uniqueness in thinking. This exam is suitable for good students, because they have the opportunity to show their knowledge and broad understanding to get high scores. The exam questions are moderate and sufficient, balancing knowledge with the ability to think and understand the lesson. This type of exam helps stimulate creativity, which is extremely important in today's learning.

- Should this way of setting questions be encouraged in future years?

This time's History exam also sets us a requirement: learning History in high school today needs to change.,not only learn dry, empty knowledge but also integrate and connect with practical issues.History lessons and historical issues are repeated, presented in a fresh and more contemporary perspective. If this can be done, teaching and learning History in high school will be lively, attractive, keeping up with the flow of current events in life, helping to orient and educate the consciousness of young people.

This kind of approach should be encouraged in the coming years, to contribute to improving the current way of learning and teaching History, so that History can truly play its proper role and value in educating basic knowledge, patriotism, humanistic values, and drawing and applying historical lessons to solve life problems. In addition, it also helps to improve the way of teaching and learning in general to be more effective and practical.

- Can you predict the score distribution of History subject this year?

With this test, there will be very few zeros. But if you only study from books, it will be difficult for candidates to get high scores. I think the score range will mainly fall into the 5, 6 and 7 range. A score of 10 will be very difficult and a score of 9 will be less than every year.

- Thank you, Dr., for your comments.