High-school students and parents see lists of examinees publicised at Le Hong Phong high school in HCM City.

The fail rate was 16.2 per cent, which was “a satisfactory result, because it was a decrease of 7.8 per cent from last year”, said Deputy director of the General Department for Testing and Education Quality Accreditation Tran Van Nghia.

Le Ngoc Linh, a student at Dong Da High School in Ha Noi, said that the questions for all six subjects on the exam were basic knowledge and any student who studied should easily get a 5 mark in each subject. Students must get at least 30 marks in total to pass the exam.

Hoang Van Binh, a student from Tran Hung Dao High School in Ha Noi, said, “I failed the exam because I did not study well during the academic year. I will continue studying and take the exam again next year.”

Principal of the school, Nguyen Thanh Tam, said: “Only 0.5 per cent of students in my school failed the exam. The students who failed either did not work hard or had a low capacity for studying.”

The national pass rate this year was 83.8 per cent, with the northern province of Nam Dinh leading this list with 98 per cent. Northern Son La province had the fewest students pass the exam, only 39 per cent.

The pass rate rose 25, 23 and 23 per cent in Nghe An, Cao Bang and Hoa Binh provinces, respectively, experts from the ministry said.

Thirteen provinces had lower pass rate than last year. Central Ha Tinh Province fell the furthest, with a 16 per cent drop.

In continuing education, the pass rate was nearly 40 per cent, a decrease of 3 per cent compared to last year. Soc Trang, Kon Tum and Hau Giang provinces had the lowest pass rate: 3.9, 4 and 4.65 per cent, respectively.

This year the country had more than 1 million students sit for the graduation exam, according to the ministry.

“This year all 12th grade students will be issued certificates for completing the 12th grade curriculum, whether they passed the graduation exam or not. With the certificate they can take entrance exams to vocational schools or work in export processing and industrial zones.” Nghia said.

Students who failed can retake the exam next year, said Nghia.

VietNamNet/VNS