The following article is shared by newly retired teacher Nguyen Van Luc (in Dien Khanh, Khanh Hoa):

According to the school year plan, middle and high schools will organize the final exam of the second semester from May 5 to May 10 (week 33). However, some schools have organized the exam from April 21 (week 31), with the reason that students have a long holiday (from April 30 to May 4), to help them relax and not worry about studying for exams during the holiday. So, should the second semester exam be held early before the April 30 and May 1 holidays?

As a teacher with 38 years of experience working at a secondary school, I would like to share some opinions as follows:

First of all, regarding the periodic testing plan (mid-term and final), schools need to base on the school year time plan framework issued by the Ministry of Education and Training. Accordingly, in the 2024-2025 school year, preschool, general education and continuing education levels nationwide must: End semester I before January 18, 2025 and complete the program, end the school year before May 31, 2025.

Thus, the fact that some schools organized the second semester exam from April 21 to May 3 is too early compared to the school year schedule. According to regulations, the program must be completed and ended around the end of May, ensuring 35 weeks of actual study (semester I has 18 weeks, semester 3 has 17 weeks). The exam 2 weeks early makes students after the exam almost only have to go to class to "wait for summer vacation"!

On the teachers' side, after the second semester exam, they are busy with grading papers, entering scores, classifying conduct, approving report cards, preparing for the school year summary... to keep up with the general schedule. During this time, to be honest, teachers pay less attention to investing in teaching, especially for subjects that are not part of the 10th grade entrance exam for 9th grade students. Most of the lessons are just to "clear the curriculum" to avoid being criticized for cutting content.

On the students’ side, after the second semester exam, they often “close their books and notebooks” for the subjects they have taken. They understand that teachers are busy summarizing scores and will not check regularly, so they no longer take notes or study thoroughly, especially for subjects that are not included in the 10th grade entrance exam.

Personally, when I taught History and Civics in grade 9, although I tried my best to integrate current events, tell historical stories, and organize group discussions to attract students, the results were not as expected. A student frankly said: "There is no entrance exam for History and Geography in grade 10 , so please don't take notes and study your lessons, teacher."

So what do students do after the second semester exam? Based on personal experience and the opinions of many colleagues, in reality, students mainly come to class to "wait for summer vacation", very few of them copy and study. Except for grade 9 students who are still actively reviewing the three subjects of Math, Literature and English for the entrance exam to grade 10.

Ms. NTTT, a Natural Science teacher at a secondary school in Dien Khanh (Khanh Hoa) shared: "Many students are lazy to study, partly because they are no longer 'afraid' of being held back. In fact, staying back in a grade is now more difficult than being promoted, so after the second semester test, students become even more inattentive."

She also added: "I gave the review outline close to the Natural Science test for grades 6 and 7 (about 90% correct), but nearly half of the class still got less than 5 points, because they didn't study, not because the test was difficult."

The early second semester test also forced schools to push review periods and final exams to week 33. After the test, in weeks 34-35, all that remained was "teaching to clear the curriculum". Teachers had to complete paperwork while also struggling to keep an eye on the class because students were "relaxed" after the test.

Based on the above facts, I think that schools should not conduct the second semester test early. If the test is conducted early, students will easily neglect their studies, and teachers will also be under more pressure, leading to the quality of teaching and learning being affected. Conducting the second semester test in week 35 as per the school year schedule of the Ministry of Education and Training is the most reasonable: It both ensures the content of the program and avoids knowledge gaps when students move up to the next grade.

Official 2025 summer vacation schedule for students in 63 provinces and cities nationwide. Most localities will organize the closing ceremony of the 2024-2025 school year before May 31 and let students have summer vacation starting from June 1.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/day-kiem-tra-hoc-ky-2-truoc-nghi-le-30-4-sau-hoc-sinh-den-lop-nhu-doi-nghi-he-2395806.html