The Ministry of Education and Training has decided to combine the annualnational high school exam and the university entrance exam from 2015.At present, they are held separately.

The results of theexam will determine if students graduate from high school and qualifyfor admission to tertiary education at a university, college orvocational training institution.

Qualified universities andcolleges will be asked to take part in the organisation of the exam,which will be held annually in mid-June.

Students will berequired to sit for tests in three compulsory subjects, maths,literature and a foreign language, and one optional subject - physics,chemistry, biology, history or geography.

Students will alsobe able to register for tests in more optional subjects to have moreopportunity to successfully apply for admission to universities andcolleges.

Universities and colleges will be told to publicisetheir plans on how to use the exam results for enrollment beforeJanuary 1 each year.

Deputy Minister of Education andTraining Nguyen Vinh Hien said that the decision to hold only onenational exam was made following the Party's Resolution to radicallyoverhaul education and training.

The move is expected to helpreduce costs for society and students as they will be able to attendexams held in their own localities instead of going to other provincesand cities.

Hien said the exam would provide more opportunities for students to get admission to universities and colleges.