Vietnam High School Graduation Exam: Literature Section Surprises Students

The national high school graduation exam in Vietnam is always a high-stakes event, but the 2026 Literature (Ngữ văn) exam has sparked intense debate and surprise among students, educators, and parents alike. Known for its rigorous standards, this year's exam featured highly unconventional essay prompts and analytical questions that challenged rote memorization, shifting the focus toward critical thinking, deep literary analysis, and real-world application. As a result, educational experts predict that achieving a top score of 9 or above will be exceptionally difficult this year.

The Literature exam is a core component of the Vietnamese high school graduation process, acting as a gateway to prestigious universities. This year, the exam developers chose to move away from predictable, classic themes, introducing modern literary critiques and social commentary prompts that caught many candidates off guard. While some students appreciated the creative freedom allowed by the open-ended questions, many struggled to construct cohesive, high-scoring arguments within the strict time limits.

Teachers and academic commentators have noted that the grading rubric for this exam will likely reward originality, structured argumentation, and a genuine understanding of literary theory rather than memorized essay templates. This shift is seen as a positive step toward modernizing Vietnam's educational assessment system, aligning it with global standards that prioritize analytical skills over passive learning. However, for the thousands of anxious students awaiting their results, the unexpected difficulty of the paper has raised concerns about university admission cut-off points. Explore our comprehensive gallery for an in-depth breakdown of the exam questions, student reactions, and expert commentary on this milestone academic event.

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