6 EXPERIENCES IN PREPARING FOR THE GRADE 6 ENTRANCE EXAM TO ENTER TOP SCHOOLS

With the structure and content of the 6th grade exam and Tran Dai Nghia school or TOP schools in Ho Chi Minh City in the exam in June 2024, preparing for this exam is not only a challenge but also an opportunity for children to discover and develop their talents. Below are 6 practical and useful experiences for students to prepare for the 6th grade exam at TOP schools early. Let’s explore and apply these strategies with Stemhouse so that students can pass the exam and achieve the highest goals in their learning journey.

OVERVIEW OF CONTENT AND STRUCTURE OF THE GRADE 6 ENTRANCE EXAM FOR SOME TOP SCHOOLS IN HO CHI MINH CITY

In the 2024-2025 school year, in Ho Chi Minh City, there are 6 secondary schools enrolling grade 6 students through competency assessment exams, including: Tran Dai Nghia Secondary and High School (District 1); Tran Quoc Toan 1 Secondary School, Hoa Lu Secondary School and Binh Tho Secondary School (Thu Duc City); Nguyen An Khuong Secondary School (Hoc Mon District) and Nguyen Huu Tho Secondary School (District 7). Candidates will have to take a test in both English and Vietnamese, with multiple choice and essay sections. The content of the test tests and evaluates English and Vietnamese language proficiency with writing; mathematics and logical thinking; natural sciences, social sciences (history – geography); apply and solve practical problems.

The structure of the 6th grade entrance exam for Tran Dai Nghia Secondary and High School in 2024 has not changed much compared to last year. The exam consists of 2 parts: multiple choice and essay with a total test time of 90 minutes.

• In the multiple choice part, candidates take a 20-question test in English on understanding natural sciences, social sciences and applying and solving practical problems within 30 minutes.
• In the essay part, candidates take a 60-minute test, including English proficiency: listening comprehension, reading comprehension, writing. Candidates take the test in English.

The exam for other schools is developed by the Department of Education and Training, with a similar structure, but with some adjustments. Specifically, the questions of Hoa Lu Secondary School, Binh Tho Secondary School, Tran Quoc Toan 1 Secondary School (Thu Duc City) and Nguyen Huu Tho Secondary School (District 7) do not include listening skills in the English proficiency test. The survey questions of Nguyen An Khuong Secondary School changed the multiple choice part to Vietnamese instead of English.

Thus, to pass this survey test, students need to have thorough and comprehensive preparation from an early age, not only subject knowledge, English proficiency but also need to cultivate practical knowledge, society and language proficiency, logical thinking, problem solving, etc.

6 EXPERIENCES IN PREPARING FOR THE GRADE 6 ENTRANCE EXAM TO TOP SCHOOLS FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS

Below are 6 experiences in preparing for the grade 6 entrance exam to TOP schools that Stemhouse has compiled through more than 10 years of experience accompanying students in preparing for this exam.

Tip 1: Create motivation to study

Motivating students is an important factor in helping them maintain their enthusiasm and efforts during the exam preparation process. To do this, parents can share with their children the benefits of studying at TOP schools. These schools not only provide a high-quality learning environment but also open up many opportunities for comprehensive development in terms of intelligence, skills and society.

Another way to motivate your child is to visit the school they are hoping to attend. Seeing the dynamic and friendly learning environment firsthand will help them feel more interested and determined. Talking to alumni is also an effective way to boost motivation. Success stories and valuable experiences from those who have gone before will inspire and help students visualize the path they are taking.

Former Stemhouse students who passed the entrance exam to Tran Dai Nghia High School in previous years have returned to share their experiences and tips for passing the exam

In addition, parents should emphasize the value of experiences through the review process for the exam. Review not only helps students expand their knowledge but also trains them to try and make an effort. These skills are very important for their future studies and life. Understanding that every effort made today will contribute to future success, students will feel more motivated to strive and overcome challenges.

Tip 2: Determine goals and make a clear and specific plan

First, parents and students need to determine specific goals and plan for review. It is necessary to divide study and review time reasonably between subjects according to the key topic system, including strengthening the knowledge system of mathematics and logical thinking; natural sciences, social sciences (history – geography), enhancing practical connections. In addition, because the test content is in English in some parts, students need to prepare a foundation of academic language in the areas in the test. This preparation needs to be planned early so that students get used to reading and thinking in English, avoiding putting pressure on students at the final stage.

Tip 3: Do homework regularly

Doing homework regularly is one of the important methods to help students self-assess their understanding and application of the knowledge they have learned. When doing homework, students will have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with common question types and exam questions, thereby avoiding confusion when facing the real exam. Doing homework regularly also helps to practice self-control and patience, two essential factors to maintain concentration and effort during the learning process. Moreover, doing homework regularly helps students get used to the pressure of doing the test within a limited time, thereby developing time management skills and working more effectively during important exams.

Tip 4: Systematizing knowledge and vocabulary of academic English by topic

Systematizing knowledge and vocabulary of academic English by topic is an important step to improve students’ language skills and understanding. By giving them some questions about knowledge and skills in English, students will have the opportunity to practice and consolidate what they have learned. This systematization can be done in many different forms such as creating a word index, drawing a mind map, or making flashcards. When systematizing knowledge by themselves, students not only memorize vocabulary and grammar structures but also learn how to present and express them in their own language. This not only helps to enhance their ability to use English confidently and flexibly, but also helps students gain a deeper understanding of the learning content, which is very important for success in assessment exams.

Tip 5: Use reputable and diverse materials

Using reputable and diverse materials is one of the key factors that helps students master knowledge and achieve high results in the exam. Parents and students can search and use materials from many different sources to ensure comprehensiveness and depth in the learning process. Some resources that parents and children can use to study and review in preparation for the 6th grade assessment exam include:

– Foreign primary school textbooks: Parents can choose textbooks from reputable publishers such as Cambridge, Oxford, Pearson, etc. These materials not only provide accurate knowledge, suitable for their age, but also help students get used to reading and understanding academic content in English.

– Websites or Youtube channels that support learning subjects in English: These websites often provide lectures, exercises and rich, intuitive learning materials, helping students practice and consolidate knowledge effectively. Some websites you can refer to are:

Brain POP is a website with lecture data for children from kindergarten to high school in the US, supporting children to explore knowledge on their own as well as supporting teachers to use in the classroom. Brain POP has content in many subjects, in addition to science (natural), there are also social sciences (social studies), English, math, etc.

IXL is an online PRACTICE program from the US for students from kindergarten to grade 12. The questions are very diverse in form, intuitive, and highly interactive. Each question has a detailed explanation, helping students quickly make up for related knowledge if they have not done it correctly.

Youtube channels: SciShow, The Science Channel, Minute Physics, Tecmath, Minute Earth,…

– Comprehensive documents from reputable test preparation centers: Reading books and comprehensive documents from reputable test preparation centers is another way to grasp the key knowledge and necessary test-taking skills. These documents are often compiled by experienced education experts, ensuring accuracy and updates. Using authentic documents helps students focus on the survey test, saving time and increasing review efficiency.

Tip 6: Increase social knowledge

Enhancing social understanding is an important factor in the exam preparation process, as it is part of the question content and provides material for reading comprehension and writing tests. This not only helps students expand their vocabulary and general knowledge, but also trains their ability to analyze and evaluate information, thereby improving their test-taking skills comprehensively and effectively. Parents can encourage their children to read articles and ask themselves questions about social issues. Parents can also regularly talk and ask students questions about social, economic, and environmental issues. As the exam date approaches, encourage students to watch TV and listen to the radio to update the latest social news.

With the above experiences, parents will certainly have an effective strategy to help students have an effective exam review strategy, helping them have a solid mindset for the 6th grade entrance exam to Tran Dai Nghia School as well as other TOP schools.

Parents feel free to contact Stemhouse for free consultation!