Parents race to get English certificates for children from primary school as competition gets tougher

One morning in February, I took my fourth-grade daughter to an English exam for primary school students in Hanoi. Despite the heavy rain, strong winds, and cold weather, many parents and children still came to the test, which was held at a local school.

Her test session was from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., and she needed to arrive 30 minutes early. After dropping her off at the exam venue, I waited at a café across the street. About 20 other parents were there too. Some had fifth graders, while others had children in fourth, third, or even second grade. All of us shared the same goal: giving our children real test experience and earning English certificates to strengthen their middle school applications.

Primary school students compete in the Olympiad English contest. Photo by Language Link Vietnam

This trend among parents is tied to a new regulation from the Ministry of Education and Training. Middle schools are now required to admit students based on their academic records. Local education departments set the criteria, aiming to ensure fairness, transparency, and suitability for each area’s academic conditions. This change has made it easier for students attending their designated public schools to get admitted. However, for families aiming for top schools, the competition has become tougher.

Starting in 2025, even the best middle schools will admit students based on academic records instead of entrance exams. This change makes it harder for students who want to attend elite schools. Every year, these schools receive thousands of applications from students with perfect academic records, but they can only admit 210 to 250 students. Without entrance exams, schools now rely on academic records, competition results, international certificates, and language test scores to make their decisions.

At the café, many parents shared the same concerns. Some said, "We don’t know exactly what the admission criteria will be, but we’re having our kids take English certification exams and other tests to improve their applications." This uncertainty and growing competition have led more parents to sign their children up for international English exams, hoping to give them an advantage.

Even though my daughter won’t apply for middle school until 2026, I started her on English certification tests two years early. My goal is to help her get used to the test format and types of questions. She can take the test once a year, giving her three chances to earn a certificate. By the time she’s in fifth grade, her application will be stronger, and she’ll have a better chance of getting into an elite public or top private school.

I hope the 2025–2026 middle school admissions process goes smoothly and that the top schools continue to find the best students. But more importantly, I hope that by the time my daughter reaches high school, Hanoi will have enough good public schools. This way, students won’t have to face yet another stressful admissions process for top schools. Only then can we give our children a break from the constant pressure of extra classes and preparation.