Due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, many international and regional Olympiads were delayed or canceled. By early August 2020, a number of exams had been administered online such as the International Olympiads in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Informatics and the Asia-Pacific Informatics Olympiad.

In 2020, 18 students nationwide participated in the international Olympiads; 9 participants from VNU HUS High School for Gifted Students won 4 gold medals, 3 silver medals, 1 bronze medal and 1 Certificate of Merit. The participants from the School participating in the Asia-Pacific Informatics Olympiad and Asian Physics Olympiad won 1 gold medal and 4 silver medals.

In the 2020 national excellent student competitions, VNU high schools for gifted students gained better achievements compared to the previous school year. VNU HUS High School for Gifted Students won 11 first prizes, 22 second prizes, 6 third prizes and 9 consolation prizes; VNU ULIS Foreign Languages Specialized School won 7 second prizes, 3 third prizes and 8 consolation prizes. VNU UEd High School of Education Sciences won 2 second prizes and 2 consolation prizes.