More than 116,000 ninth graders in Hanoi take three tests in their high school entrance exams for the 2023-2024 school year on June 10 and 11.

The Hanoi Education Department has prepared nearly 5,000 examination rooms in 201 venues while mobilizing some 20,000 officials, teachers, and staff to supervise the exams.

The municipal People's Committee has asked those in charge of all 201 examination venues to ensure the availability of disinfectants, provide guidance to students, and maintain contact with parents on exam days.

Students will be tested in mathematics, literature, and foreign language, with a choice of either English, French, German, Japanese, or South Korean.

The math and literature tests are written in 120 minutes, while the foreign language test is a combination of multiple choice and writing in 60 minutes.

The citys government-run schools are expected to admit an estimated 62% of the 116,000 examinees in the next school year. Those who fail the entrance exam can opt for private schools, international institutes, continuing education centers, and the like. However, public schools are always the first choice because of their affordable tuition fees and strict curricula.

Students applying to specialized high schools for gifted students, including Hanoi-Amsterdam, Nguyen Hue, Chu Van An and Son Tay, must take another test in a subject of their choice.

Earlier, the Hanoi People's Committee asked teachers and parents about the possibility of holding three- or four-subject exams this year.

Cao Ngoc Hoai, mother of ninth-grader Nguyen Cao Duc Vinh at Lomonosov My Dinh High School in Hanoi's inner district of Nam Tu Liem, told The Hanoi Times that they supported the three-subject exam to reduce pressure on their children. "It was so good that the Hanoi People's Committee approved the three-subject exam," Hoai said.

Hanoi's previous method of holding four-subject exams was met with public backlash because three subjects (math, literature, and a foreign language) were announced in advance, while the fourth subject was not disclosed until the days before the exam.

The entrance exam for high school in Hanoi is notoriously stressful, as Hanoi's public schools only admit about 60% of ninth graders, while parents always have high expectations of their children and their first choices are the leading public schools.

This morning, nearly 115,000 students in Hanoi took the first entrance exam for literature.

Nguyen Cao Duc Vinh, who took the exam at Lomonosov My Dinh High School, told The Hanoi Times: "Among the three subjects, I spent the most time on literature because it's not my strong point." Meanwhile, Chu Ngo Bao Tran, Vinh's classmate, said: "Literature is a subject with very high requirements for thinking and social understanding. I am very ready to take the first exam."

The followings are photos taken at some exam sites in Hanoi by The Hanoi Times reporters:

Director of the Hanoi's Department of Education Tran The Cuong sends his best wishes to the candidates before the exam when he inspects the preparation for the 10th-grade entrance exam for the 2023-2024 school year at Kim Lien and Quang Trung High Schools. Photo: Quang Tan

From early in the morning, the venues are crowded with students and parents, who are guided by functional forces. Photo: Ngoc Tu

At the examination site of Ngo Si Lien Secondary School in Dong Da District, young volunteers and electricity workers support the candidates. Photo: Diep Quyen

Candidates at the exam site of Minh Quang High School in the outskirt district of Ba Vi. Photo: Ngoc Tu

Volunteer youth support candidates in Ba Vi District. Photo: Ngoc Tu

Outside and inside the test site, young volunteers are available to assist candidates and their parents. Photo: Ngoc Tu

Volunteers support candidates in Me Linh District. Photo: Pham Hung

At the exam site of Chu Van An High School in Tay Ho District, candidates are given free drinking water. Photo: Duy Khanh

Medical staff are available to help candidates at Chu Van An High School if they have health problems. Photo: Duy Khanh

Candidates take Literature exam at Tu Lap High School venue in Me Linh District. Photo: Pham Hung

In general, the candidates are quite confident and comfortable when taking the first exam on June 10. Photo: Pham Hung

Many candidates take photos to save their memory of the exam season. Photo: Ngoc Tu