As this was the first time that provinces had organised the exam on their own, the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) assigned 71 educational officials to join a delegation inspecting exam organisation in Yen Bai.

Given that the exam took place in the context of the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic, due attention was paid to disease prevention. All test venues were disinfected while all examination staff and students wore face masks, had their temperature taken and sanitised their hands before entering testing rooms. 

To support examinees and their family members, the province organised more than 50 young volunteer groups while schools in mountainous regions presented financial support for disadvantaged examinees and served meals at exam sites. As a result, medical care, security and safety were ensured throughout the duration of the exam. 

After the two-day exam, students said the exam questions were not too difficult and based on what the students learned in their high school textbooks, mainly in the grade 12. 

Some questions were interesting and up to date, as they involved the COVID-19 issue, which suited the streamlined curriculum of the MoET and the unprecedented changes in schooling caused by COVID-19 over the recent times. 

The national high school exam in Yen Bai, held on August 9 and 10, was successful in fulfilling the dual targets of ensuring both exam regulations and COVID-19 prevention and control measures, recording no violations during the test. 

Fifteen students did not take the exam including two who were granted permission to graduate from high school without testing. The exam results are projected to be released on August 27./.