When academic records are no longer an 'advantage' for 12th grade students
(Baonghean.vn) - Admission based on academic records is considered a lifesaver for many 12th graders when applying to universities. However, this year, this advantage is increasingly narrowing as many universities no longer use this method to prioritize admission.
Top schools are not interested in considering transcripts for admission
As one of the schools that announced its enrollment plan for 2024 early, the National Economics University is also among the first schools to abandon the enrollment method based on academic records. This year, with 6,200 enrollment targets, the school uses 3 enrollment methods: 2% of enrollment targets are directly recruited; 18% are recruited based on high school graduation exam scores; and the remaining 80% are for combined enrollment methods according to the school's enrollment plan.
Notably, with the combined admission method according to its own project, the school divides candidates into 2 groups, shortened compared to 5 groups in 2023. In which, group 1 is candidates who register for admission using SAT (US competency assessment test) or ACT (US university entrance standardized test), competency assessment test scores, thinking assessment or combining English certificate scores with one of the three types of test scores mentioned above (50% of the target). The remaining group is candidates using high school graduation exam scores combined with international English certificates (30% of the target).
Thus, with this method, this year the National Economics University no longer uses high school academic scores (report cards) for admission (last year, the school prioritized admission of candidates who are specialized students of specialized high schools nationwide, specialized students of key national high schools, with an average score of 8.0 points or higher in 6 semesters combined with the 2023 high school graduation exam scores in the school's admission combinations). This change in admission method has caused many students, especially students in specialized schools, to fall into a "passive" position.
Foreign Trade University is also one of the schools that many Nghe An students register for admission. This year, according to the newly announced admission method, the school still maintains the same stability as in 2023 with 6 methods. At the same time, the school still prioritizes admission based on high school academic results (transcripts) plus international competency certificates for specialized and non-specialized candidates of high schools or some other conditions (depending on the training major). However, there is a notable new point in 2024 that in the admission methods using high school academic results, Foreign Trade University has added a condition that the high school graduation exam scores of candidates must ensure the school's floor level of 24 points or higher.
Specifically, with methods 1 and 2, in 2024, candidates must meet the additional condition of having a total score of the 2024 high school graduation exam subjects of one of the school's admission subject groups (including regional and subject priority points) of 24 points or higher.
Discussing further about the “sub-criteria” in this year’s admission season, at the admission consultation session for Nghe An students at Vinh University, Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Thi Hien - Head of Training Management Department of Foreign Trade University said: This is a way to improve the quality of input, through which the school can select the best candidates for admission. In addition, adding the necessary condition of ensuring the minimum score of the high school graduation exam in the school’s general admission can be considered as a method for the school to compare the high school graduation exam results and high school learning results.
Through many years of enrollment, the representative of Foreign Trade University also gave advice: Candidates do not need to be too pressured with this new criterion because if students are capable, study hard, and review carefully, getting a graduation exam score of 24 points or higher in 3 subjects is not too difficult.
At Vinh University, this year the school still reserves 20% of admission based on academic records, the same as last year's target. However, this method does not apply to pedagogical majors. Speaking more about this, Dr. Hoang Vinh Phu - Head of the school's Training Department said: In essence, students admitted to pedagogical majors often have very high scores on the entrance exam based on graduation results and competency assessment exams. Therefore, if there is an additional method of academic records, it will only increase the number of fake and unnecessary applications.
After several years of this admission method, if we compare the academic records with the graduation exam scores or other methods, the quality of the initial admission is basically not equal. However, after entering the school, the quality of the students is not much different, and there are even students who graduate with excellent grades.
Students worried about finding alternatives
In just the past 2 months, Binh Nguyen, a 12th grader at Vinh University High School for the Gifted, has registered for the IELTS exam twice. However, despite his best efforts, he only achieved 6.5 on both occasions, a result he did not expect. With the goal of passing his first choice to enter the National Economics University, this candidate was forced to switch to studying for the aptitude test, even though he knew that with only 3 months of studying, the result would be difficult to achieve as expected.
Previously, I decided to choose to study at a specialized school because the first advantage was that it was based on academic records and gave priority to students from specialized schools. Therefore, during the 3 years of high school, I tried my best to have a good academic record and hoped that with the IELTS certificate, I would be able to get into a top university. But now, I think this is very difficult and forces us to study again from the beginning, which is very difficult. Meanwhile, the competency assessment exam requires candidates to study all subjects equally.
In recent days, the announcement of some universities to abandon the admission method based on academic records has received many different opinions. Some agree because they think that this will reduce the situation of "running for points, running for academic records" at high school level. However, some opinions say that the fact that schools abandon academic records when this year is almost over makes it difficult for many students to cope, especially when this is the last school year to implement the current general education program and the quota of priority schools.Admissionaccording to the decreasing graduation score.
I think that eliminating the transcript can create fairness for candidates, especially candidates from non-specialized schools when taking the entrance exam to top schools. However, if the transcript truly reflects the student's ability, it can still be used because currently, the remaining methods are difficult and expensive. For example, currently, schools have very few quotas for candidates to consider graduation scores. Or with the ability assessment exam, students in district schools will have a hard time because they have to review many subjects and spend a lot of money to go to big cities to take the exam.
Cao An Thanh shared: I am planning to take the entrance exam to Da Nang University of Economics this year and am worried because I do not know the school's admission plan yet. Previously, I planned to apply for admission based on block A (Math - Physics - Chemistry) or by academic transcripts, but now I think both of these methods are difficult to guarantee. Therefore, I registered for an online package and studied for the Ho Chi Minh City National University's competency assessment exam.
With this change, teaching and learning in schools from now until the end of the school year will certainly have many changes. Moreover, students will also have to speed up to have a real exam, accurately assessing their abilities.
The elimination of the admission method based on academic records is an inevitable trend of top schools because they want to have the best quality students. Moreover, this will also create fairness for candidates because for a long time, schools have prioritized admission for students from specialized schools. However, I hope that this method needs to have a longer roadmap for students so that they can prepare, right from when they enter high school to avoid being passive and confused during the review process.
