International University

Vietnam National University - HCMC

CRITICAL THINKING FINAL

From the academic year of 2015, the Ministry of Education and Training has decided to
merge the graduation exam and the university entrance exam. Under the new regulation, the new
national exam will be organized in mid-June annually, and both graduation and university
admission will use the results of this exam. According to Nguyen Vinh Hien - the Deputy
Minister of Education and Training, this decision was made to radically overhaul education and
training.

With the Education Ministry's decision, what should be taken into consideration when the
two current exams are merged into one? What is the best method to be applied in the present
situation? To answer these two questions, it is necessary to take a look at the benefits and
drawbacks of each option:

The first option is the traditionally separated exams. Until recently (2014), Vietnamese
students took two tests after completing 12 years in school: one was for high school graduation,
and the next was for university entrance. Both were high stakes tests that created pressure on
students and their families.

Benefits:

First, it was easier to classify the learning capacity of a student with 2 separated exams.
The high school graduation exam tested for basic concepts, general knowledge while the
university entrance exams related to implications and specific, advanced knowledge. In several
Asian countries like Vietnam, Korea, Japan and China, this university entrance exam is a national
one that takes place once a year after high school graduation examination. Only the highest
scorers are selected to fill limited seats in universities and colleges.

Second, the high school graduation exam helped students to stay focused and be more
confident since it was commonly regarded as a practice test for the university entrance exam.
Organizing two examinations will benefit for students who want to take part in University more
because students will have time to study and focus more on the subjects that they choose for
University and avoid the one that they are not good at. For example, students who take group A
as their University entrances will only focus to study for group A, which consists of 3 subjects:
Mathematics, Chemistry, and Physics. Hence, they can gain higher results because students tend
to gain higher scores on subjects they are good at.

Third, high school graduation exam evaluated essential knowledge in high school
programs to ensure high-school graduate students had the abilities of reading, writing and
solving mathematics required problems while university entrance exam specified on just three
subjects relating most to the field students are going to study. In other words, two exams had
different natures to help test the knowledge of students in the most efficient way: the graduation
exam ensured students achieve curriculum standards for graduation, the university entrance exam
aimed to choose students who have competent ability to enter higher education programs.

Finally, the two separated exams method had been held for a long time. Therefore, it was
very easy for teachers and students to access the scoring structures and test banks, then
appropriate teaching and studying strategies could be developed.

Drawbacks:

The results of the high school graduation exam were not highly appreciated by the public
for several reasons: students' abilities were not precisely and accurately evaluated by the
graduation exam. Moreover, the high school certification could only be used to apply for low-
paid jobs (cashiers, securities), low-quality private community colleges,... Also, there was a
distinct contrast between the results of the graduation exams and the university entrance exams
(reports throughout many years have shown that almost 100% students can pass the graduation
exams while it is the opposite considering the results of much exams).

Much money, time, and efforts were required for the two separated exams. To be more
specific in some aspects, here are the examples:

Putting much pressure on 12th-grade students:

Until recently (2014), students who had finished 12th grade had to take two adjoining
exams: High school Graduation Exam and University Entrance Exam. The number of exam
papers each student had to take was overwhelmed: students had to do 13 exam papers if they
undertake the graduation exam, the university and college entrance exams. The high school
graduation exam subject depends on the choice of the MOET, not the students, so students have
to study the subjects they do not like. This fact leads to the pressure of students. Therefore, some
of them overreacted. In 2013, students of Nguyen Hien high school in Ho Chi Minh city torn out
the History documents and scattered pieces of paper in school because they knew they did not
have to seat the History exam.

Great expense:

Students had to spend three days on High school graduation exam, three days for every
turn in University Entrance Exam. Therefore, much time and money were spent on transportation
and accommodation.

In former time, Ministry of Education and Training had to set up much exam papers as
well as manage two different exams in just one month. It required much time of the authorities as
well as a significant amount of expense for transportation and data security. Besides, billions
were spent annually by the government to hold two separated exams.

Traffic pressure:

Students taking the University Entrance Exam had to go to universities, colleges in Ha

The second option, which is the national exam, has been established recently and will be
applied for the first time in June 2015. As it replaces the two separated exams, many tangible
benefits can be seen.

Benefits:

Firstly, holding one national exam reduces exam pressure for students. They only need to
take 4-6 tests this year, compared to 4-13 tests in the previous year. Therefore, students can
devote themselves to accomplish the best results. Organizing only one National Exam also
reduces pressure on teachers, schools and universities that take part in holding the exam since the
amount of students participates in an exam at each place are less than each year and the exam
only takes place once in a year.

Secondly, conducting only one examination saves an enormous amount of money, time,
and labor-force. In particular, when there is no longer a high school graduation exam as before,
about 600 billion VND of organizing can be saved per year. Moreover, it cuts off the time and
efforts spent by the proctors and teachers to grade such papers that over 95% students can pass.

Thirdly, students have to take this exam in another province, so their scores are more
objective, which is a solid base for the university admission. Furthermore, the national exam
offers great convenience for students in transportation and accommodation. By this way, those
wishing to take the university entrance exam do not need to travel too far from their hometown,
which also saves them much time and money. Before National High School Exam was approved,
there were only 4 clusters which were assigned to organize the exams. After National High
School Exam had been approved, there were 38 clusters in 2015 and this year 2016 there are 120
ones. Before National High School Exam was approved, students used to move times to times
from their hometown to the places where exams were organized because there were two
separated examinations. Now there is only one exam; student do not have to move much and
since there are many clusters, they do not have to go so far to attend the exam. Therefore, one
examination reduces cost on moving and accommodation expenses for student and also saves
time for them.
 Fourth of all, national exam offers a broad range of exam content levels (from easy to
difficult). Examinees that have the basic understanding of those subjects can easily get high
scores at simple questions. Besides, there are also complex issues to recognize excellent students
who wish to acquire higher knowledge at a university. Thus, average students can also have the
qualification degree that is used nationwide to apply for jobs.

Fifth, the new method of exam also lets the candidates know the result before choosing
which university to apply. This provides more chances to attend the appropriate college and
increases the ability of success. At the same time, universities can admit more suitable students
than before; since students are more confident when they know their scores instead of, in the
years before, applying to lower-band universities to avoid competition.

Finally, one more benefit of one Nation High School exam is that it reduces congestion in
the time near exam and on exam days since there is an increase in the number of clusters and the
exam takes place only once a year. According to the decision of the Ministry of Education and
Training (MOET), National High School Exam in 2016, Hanoi will have 5 clusters held by the
Universities and one local cluster held by the Department of Education and Training Hanoi in
collaboration with the Universities in Hanoi. Accordingly, the number of students for the exam in
2016 will drop by nearly half comparing to last year, so the preparation for the exam is no longer
face hard problems like in the past. This year, MOET has some changes in the national high
school competition Regulation. Accordingly, local students will take an exam in their locals.
Thus, if in 2015, in Hanoi there were more than 111,000 high school students to attend the
national competition, this year, there will be around 63,000 students, down by nearly half
compared to 2015. Therefore, traffic congestion will reduce.

According to Dr. Thai Huy Vinh - Vice President of the Nghe An Ministry of Education
and Training: I totally support applying one national common examination because of these 7
advantages: The government can save budget; student deal with less pressure; workload of
schools is reduced and schools admission become more flexible; student perform more seriously;
family can well oriented their children. It also reduces the risks for students in choosing the
schools and evaluate the quality of teaching.

On the other hand, there are some drawbacks in this evaluating method as well.

Drawbacks:

First and foremost, this method was applied for the first time in 2015, which has only
been officially announced to teachers and students for about a year. Because of this sudden
change, students and teachers might not have enough time and experience for the exam.
 Secondly, due to the change against the separate traditional exams, teachers had to
change their entire teaching materials and methods. In such a short time, whether teachers could
fulfill the mission of providing better-qualification teaching or not was a heated debate; and this
might bring some unaffordable results since the teachers partially play a crucial role in helping
the students in this high time. However, in this year, they have got enough time.

Finally, according to the MOET, the freedom of choosing school had brought chaos. In
the interview of Associate Professor Vn Nh Cng, he stated that students were not oriented
clearly or directly like expected, but seemed to take a risk in gambling in which all the things
they know are only their scores, number of students having higher score, number of universities
they can apply but do not know for sure if they are accepted or not. Besides, the university
authorities prove to be confused to answer the question from students and their families about the
passing score as well as other related questions. It is said that both students and schools are in a
race of submitting and withdrawal without any direction. Some students even have to use
ambulances to get to the submitting place to make sure that they will not miss their chances to
have a place in a university.

Last but not least, our education system is still relying solely on tests aimed at measuring
past achievement and learning. Other high-quality assessment methods such as evidence of
students' performances, exhibits and portfolios should be employed to determine students' skills,
knowledge, and disposition that are valued in university and employment. Combining these
different sources of evidence gives a much better perspective of the students' abilities. University
professors and employers are more interested to know students' generalizable and future learning
potentials rather than merely their test scores.

Although MOET has to find another way to figure out the solution for university
application after knowing the results; after considering all the benefits and drawbacks of
each option, our group has found our own argument: If an exams content has a broad range
of level (from easy to difficult), it can evaluate students knowledge completely. National Exam
offers a wide range of exam content level. Therefore, it can evaluate students knowledge
completely.

This is the pattern:

If A, then B

Therefore, B

It is called modus ponens, and this is a valid argument.

We can also test its validity with the following symbolic argument form and the truth table:
AB

A* BC A B*
VALID
T T T
T F F
F T T
F F T

VALID

The national exam has caused mixing opinions, here are some examples
of the public opinions:
Dr Nguyen Thanh Son said: The two separated exams have different
requirements and purposes. If the authorities merge these two exams, it will result
in affecting the requirements and purposes. Therefore, it is not the right time to
merge two separated exams into the national exam.
Let S: Separated exam

A: Affect the requirements and purposes

M: Merging two separated exams

The argument form is:

S ~A

M A

~M

S A M ~A ~MC S ~A* M A*
T T T F F F T
T T F F T F T
T F T T F T F
 T F F T T T T
F T T F F T T
F T F F T T T
F F T T F T F
F F F T T T T

INVALID

Professor Ngo Bao Chau: A lot of time is needed if people want to assess the
new university application process objectively. The new ongoing national exam
process requires more time to be evaluated. Therefore, it is too early for people to
jump to conclusions to say that the merged exam was a disaster.
Let A: People want to assess the new university application process objectively

B: A lot of time is needed to judge everything objectively

This is the pattern:

If A, then B

Therefore, B

It is called modus ponens, and this is a valid argument.

We can also test its validity with the following symbolic argument form and the truth table:

AB

A* BC A B*
VALID
T T T
T F F
F T T
F F T
 VALID

Another argument from Professor Ngo Bao Chau: If people want to make a
decision relates to millions of individuals, it should be judged on approximately
millions of cases. The new application process is criticized due to a simple action
taken by only ONE students parents hiring an ambulance to take him to submit a
university application form. Therefore, it is unfair to make a judgment about the
national exam from a simple action.
Let A: People want to make a decision relates to millions of individuals

B: It should be judged on approximately millions of cases.

This is the pattern:

If A, then B

Not B

Therefore, not A

It is called modus tollens, and this is a valid argument.

We can also test its validity with the following symbolic argument form and the truth table:

AB

~B

~A

A B A B* ~ B* ~ AC
T T T F F
T F F T F
F T T F T
F F T T T

VALID
 Bui Van Ga - Deputy Minister of Education and Training said: The purpose of
the National Exam is providing data for the admission of universities and
colleges. Thus, the MoET believes that universities and colleges can use these
results to save money, time and reduce pressure of the society.
The standardized argument form:

- All that identical to the National Exam are all that identical to providing data for the
admission of universities and colleges
- All that identical to providing data for the admission of universities and colleges are the
ways to save money, time and to reduce pressure of the society.
- Thus, all that identical to the National Exam are the ways to save money, time and to
reduce pressure.

The pattern is:

All NE are P.

All P are S

Thus, all NE are S

VALID

References:
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o An Thi My Tran. Vietnam: Can One National Exam Test All?. Retrieved January 10th,
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test-all
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http://tuoitrenews.vn/education/21463/educational-ministrys-plans-for-new-national-
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