TheMinistry of Education and Training organised a rollout of the exam overfour days, from July 1 to 4, and instituted a massive change for thefirst time. This year, students take only one national exam instead ofseparate high school graduation and university entrance exams.
Exam results will be a consideration in both high school graduation and university admissions.
Studentsare tested in four subjects, three of which are compulsory subjects ofmathematics, literature and a foreign language. The fourth is anoptional subject- students can choose from physics, chemistry, biology,history and geography.
The students are allowed to take extratests in other subjects for better chances of getting admission to theuniversity or college of their choice.
Students have three hoursto write well-composed answers in the mathematics, literature, historyand geography tests. There will be 90-minute multiple-choice tests forphysics, chemistry, biology and foreign languages.
Earlier, theeducation ministry's inspection teams visited localities in thecountryside to check preparations. The reports were positive, sayinglocalities carefully prepared for the exam.
Inspectors said theyactively arranged accommodation and means of transport as well ascreated favourable conditions for a smooth exam experience.
Ahuge force of university volunteers, estimated over 60,000, were presentat testing centres, bus stations and in surrounding streets to helpcandidates get to their exam centres.
Ho Xuan Luong from Ha NamProvince brought his daughter to the Hanoi University of Culture'stesting centre for the exam. He said that he worried he would not knowhow to find the school, but university volunteers took him and hisdaughter to the school for free.
In Ho Chi Minh City, Nguyen DucThuan, head of a university volunteer team at Le Hong Phong HighSchool's testing centre, said that the team had reserved 50 rooms atcheap prices near the testing centre for candidates.
Quach DatHai, director of HCM City's Student Assistance Centre, said that thecentre arranged 10,000 rooms, 60,000 meals, 2,000 noodle packages and200,000 city maps to give to candidates for free.
In Ha Giangprovince, ethnic-minority students testing at Tan Trao University'scentre each received financial support of 1.1 million VND (50 USD) formeals, accommodation and travel.
In the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai, traffic police are present to ensure smooth traffic flows during the exam period.
Provincialauthorities ordered owners of hostels, hotels, room rentals,restaurants and food courts to refrain from increasing prices during theexam.
Colonel Phan Thanh Tam, head of the Pleiku City's Police,said that 300 police would be on duty day and night until the exam endedto ensure security.
The latest update from the National Centrefor Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting warned that students in northernand central regions could suffer from extreme hot weather during thefour days.
The highest temperatures forecast are 40 degrees Celsius at 1-3pm in Hanoi, and 39 degrees Celsius in Da Nang.
Theweather is expected to be more pleasant in central highlands andsouthern regions. The highest temperature forecast is 33 in the CentralHighlands and 35 down in the South.
In HCM City, the daily temperature is likely range from 30 to 35 degrees Celsius with showers at night.-VNA