Several private schools in Hanoi are utilizing exam results from the city’s Department of Education and Training for their tenth-grade admissions process. Notably, many of these private institutions are establishing entrance score benchmarks comparable to those of Hanoi’s highest-ranking public high schools. This indicates increasing competition among schools for academically strong students. The trend suggests a growing demand for private education and a perceived narrowing gap in academic standards between public and private secondary schools in the capital. Parents are facing similar score requirements regardless of school type. This development is likely to influence future educational choices for families in Hanoi. The use of standardized testing by private schools aims to attract high-achieving students and enhance their academic reputation.