Why did the High School for Social Sciences and Humanities change its admission method?

After 4 years of admission using the same method as some other specialized high schools, from the 2024 school year, the High School for the Gifted in Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Social Sciences and Humanities - VNU Hanoi has decided to change the admission method for specialized students. VOV2 reporter interviewed Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Thanh Nam - Vice Chairman of the School Council, Head of Training Department, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU Hanoi on this issue.

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Bui Thanh Nam - Vice Chairman of the University Council, Head of Training Department, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU Hanoi

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Bui Thanh Nam:The High School for the Gifted in Social Sciences and Humanities was established in 2019 under Decision No. 5673 of the Hanoi People's Committee. This is the first specialized school in the country in the field of social sciences and humanities.

Right from the first years of enrollment, the School has always carefully surveyed, researched, studied and learned from experiences from specialized high schools in Hanoi National University to specialized schools under the Hanoi Department of Education and Training for the most effective enrollment purpose.

In the first 2 years, the school organizes basic exams similar to specialized schools in Hanoi, such as 3 general subjects: Math, Literature, English and specialized subjects (only English is multiple choice) and is organized into 4 exam sessions (2 days): The first day is the general literature exam in the morning, Math and English are in the afternoon, the second day is the specialized literature exam in the morning, and the afternoon is the specialized history and geography exam.

After summarizing experiences, to suit the subjects taking the entrance exam for Social Sciences and Humanities, in 2022 and 2023, the School changed the Math exam format from essay to multiple-choice and took only 1 day (2 sessions): Morning multiple-choice Math exam (45 minutes) and Foreign Language (45 minutes) and General Literature exam 90 minutes and Afternoon exam for specialized subjects (150 minutes).

Taking 4 exams puts a lot of pressure on students and their families. In particular, after taking 3 conditional exams, many students cannot demonstrate their abilities when taking the specialized exam. As a result, there are students who are normally capable but their specialized exam results are not as effective as their inherent abilities. Based on their exam scores, they cannot pass the entrance exam to the Social Sciences and Humanities High School.

Therefore, with the aim of reducing the pressure of exams while still discovering and selecting students with special talents, abilities and passion for specialized subjects in the field of Social Sciences and Humanities, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities has changed the method of recruiting specialized students as follows:

Students with an average score (GPA) for the entire year of grades 6, 7, 8 and an average score of semester 1 of grade 9 in Math, Literature and Foreign Language from 7.0 or higher are eligible to register for the specialized exam and students only have to take the specialized exam. The results of 4 years of secondary school study assess the general foundation of knowledge and comprehensive skills of students, ensuring that students achieve the required competencies.

Using only the exam results of specialized subjects will help select candidates with talent and ability to study and research in depth in specialized subjects. This encourages students to be serious and focused in choosing and studying in depth in specialized subjects without being distracted and reduces the pressure of exams for students as well as their families compared to having to take exams in many subjects as well as helping students focus and be more effective in reviewing and preparing for exams and taking exams.

VOV2 reporter: With this new admission method, the school hopes to not only select candidates with special abilities but also meet the goal of nurturing and training talents for the field of Social Sciences and Humanities?

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Bui Thanh NamWith the new admission method, candidates only have to take specialized subjects for the purpose of:

Discover and select students with special talents, abilities and passions for specialized subjects in the fields of Social Sciences and Humanities, helping students develop and maximize their abilities.

Create conditions for students to develop their research, creativity and discovery skills in the fields of literature, history, geography and related fields. Create special learning opportunities and environments for outstanding students.

Develop broad thinking skills and problem-solving abilities through highly challenging and learning models through which the school achieves its goal of training and developing high-quality human resources in social sciences and humanities for national development.

VOV2 reporter: Thank you for this interview!

Candidates taking the entrance exam for grade 10 of the High School for the Gifted in Social Sciences and Humanities of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU (June 2024)