Foreign language: Exempt from graduation exam but not considered for direct university admission

The Ministry of Education and Training makes an exception for candidates with foreign language certificates that meet the requirements according to the specific list announced by the Ministry, who will not have to take this subject in the national high school graduation exam.

Foreign language class of teachers and students at Hanoi University. Photo: Vietnam+

According to a preliminary survey by Vietnam+ reporters, school leaders all said that the Ministry's exemption from the graduation exam for students was reasonable, but the schools would not be able to make special exceptions for candidates. This means that even though they are exempted from the exam, candidates with certificates that meet the Ministry's requirements will still have to take the exam as usual if they want to apply for admission to universities.

Exemption from graduation exam is reasonable

Sharing more specifically about this issue, Head of Training Department of Hanoi University Le Quoc Hanh said: “The school fully supports this new regulation of the Ministry. It is very encouraging that students have achieved that level of foreign language proficiency. I think it is reasonable to exempt them from graduation exams.”

The Head of the Training Department of Hanoi University also expressed his high appreciation for the candidates with international language certificates. “I think these are very active students. Obviously, this learning is their own, no school forces them. They themselves have made great efforts and their families have also invested millions of dong for them to study and take exams to achieve a level higher than the school's requirements. Therefore, exemption from exams is also a way to recognize their efforts, and to encourage dynamism in students,” said Mr. Hanh.

Sharing this view, Vice Principal of the University of Foreign Languages, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Mr. Do Minh Tuan, said that applying the policy of exempting candidates from taking the foreign language exam in the national high school graduation exam when they already have foreign language certificates at the corresponding level is a suitable policy, meeting the wishes of some students who are passionate about and love foreign languages ​​and have made certain preparations in advance.

According to Mr. Tuan, the exemption from exams may not only be limited to certificates issued by international organizations but may also be extended to testing units in Vietnam. “When we have established national testing centers capable of organizing tests, evaluating and issuing foreign language certificates, we need to recognize the certificates issued by these centers,” Mr. Tuan said.

Candidates take a foreign language test in the university entrance exam. Photo: VNA

But not applicable to college admissions

Although agreeing with the application of graduation criteria, university leaders also said that using these certificates to consider university admission is a completely different matter.

According to Le Quoc Hanh, Head of Hanoi University's Training Department, Hanoi University has not discussed this issue, but in principle, students still have to take the exam. On the other hand, applying for admission to the school will cause many complicated problems.

In more detail, Mr. Hanh said that converting these types of certificates into points is not simple, for example, how to quantify the certificates? How many points does this unit's certificate give, how many points does that unit give? Each type of certificate has many different score ranges, so how are the corresponding scores different? What is the basis for determining the scores for the certificates?

According to Mr. Hanh, this is also related to a very important issue of fairness in admissions. Other candidates will have three columns of scores for three subjects, but candidates with foreign language certificates will only have two columns of scores.

“How should we calculate the scores for this foreign language subject to be fair to other normal candidates, especially when the foreign language subject at Hanoi University is multiplied by a factor of two, which is very decisive. We do not know how to handle it to ensure fairness for the students, so Hanoi University will still consider admission based on the exam scores,” Mr. Hanh shared.

This is also a concern of Foreign Trade University. According to Head of Training Department Le Thi Thu Thuy, in the university entrance exam, only a difference of 0.25 points can decide whether students pass or fail. Therefore, how to convert points is not simple.

“Foreign Trade University only considers admission based on candidates' scores in the national high school graduation exam organized by the Ministry of Education and Training at examination clusters chaired by universities,” said Ms. Thuy.

From another perspective, Vice President of the University of Technology Hoang Minh Son said that only considering admission based on the national high school graduation exam scores also ensures publicity, transparency, and absolute fairness for candidates when they take the same exam at the same time. If candidates have international language certificates that meet the Ministry's requirements, they can also confirm their ability through this exam.

Unlike Hanoi University, Foreign Trade University or University of Technology, the University of Foreign Languages ​​(Vietnam National University, Hanoi) also affirms that it does not use certificates to consider admission to the school.

“For the University of Foreign Languages, in addition to the general competency assessment test of Hanoi National University, we will base it on the results of the foreign language test organized by the school, not considering foreign language certificates,” said Vice Principal Do Minh Tuan.

According to Mr. Tuan, after being admitted to the school, students with foreign language certificates from recognized testing organizations will be considered for exemption from certain language practice courses. This has been applied at the school for a long time and thanks to that, many students have been able to graduate from university early after only about three years of study.

According to Vietnam+