12th grade students 'wait' for university admission plans

No more "early admission" advantage

Nguyen Minh Nhat, a 12A2 student at Le Viet Thuat High School (Vinh City) has just completed the Hanoi National University's Competency Assessment Test and scored 90 points. This is a lower score than expected, so from his wish to enter the National Economics University, Nhat switched to the technical block.

Nhat also said that although he has decided to change his wishes, he is still not sure about his major and university choices. For now, Nhat is focusing on the Ho Chi Minh City National University's Aptitude Test to increase his chances of admission.

Before that, in preparation for university admission, Nguyen Minh Nhat had prepared many options, including taking the IELTS exam. However, near the end of grade 12, Nhat was even more confused because this year's exam and admission regulations had many changes.

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I am worried that this year the Ministry will not implement the early admission method and use the rule of converting scores to the same level. Thus, candidates who take separate exams like us will no longer have an advantage. Moreover, we do not know how universities will convert to ensure fairness for all methods.

Student Nguyen Minh Nhat

Along with Minh Nhat's class, student Nguyen Anh Minh has just missed the Aptitude Test. With the goal of entering Hanoi University of Transport, Minh's only hope now lies in the High School Graduation Exam.

Nguyen Anh Minh said: "I spent a whole morning in front of the computer screen to register for the Competency Assessment Test but was unsuccessful. If I miss this exam, I will have no more opportunities to participate, because all the exam spots have been registered. Currently, I am focusing on the 12th grade graduation exam, but I am not very confident because this is a highly competitive exam.

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In 2024, my favorite major required nearly 27 points, the highest in the school. Therefore, I hope this year it will be lower because this year's exam is different and more difficult than previous years, making it difficult for candidates to get high scores.

I also hope that when the Ministry regulates a single admission method, universities will set more criteria for admission by graduation exam scores, avoiding the situation of low quotas and too high admission scores like before."

Student Nguyen Anh Minh

After a period of drafting the plan, in mid-March, the Ministry of Education and Training finalized the 2025 enrollment regulations with many new points.

With this change, in 2025, when registering for admission, candidates will not need to choose a method code or admission combination. The general admission system of the Ministry of Education and Training will automatically consider the method with the highest result of the candidate, helping to reduce the load and increase the chance of admission.

According to the Ministry of Education and Training, these changes are consistent with the 2018 General Education Program, which focuses on developing learners' capacities and qualities.

Talking about these changes, teacher Tran Nghia Cong - Principal of Nam Dan 1 High School, said: "With the implementation of the rule of equivalent conversion of admission scores, I think it will bring fairness to all candidates and equally divide the admission opportunities and methods. At our school, with this change, I see that students study more seriously and focus, no longer neglecting their studies because they have been admitted early like in previous years. We also encourage students to focus on 4 graduation exam subjects because if they get high scores, they can be considered for university admission in 6 different groups. Thus, the chance of admission will be higher".

University changes admissions plan

Immediately after the Ministry of Education and Training announced the 2025 enrollment regulations, many universities said they would have to change their enrollment plans in 2025. What candidates are most concerned about is how to convert between methods to ensure fairness for all candidates participating in the enrollment process.

At Vinh University, in the old announcement, the school planned to enroll students with 5 methods including direct admission, admission of candidates studying at specialized schools with IT and international English certificates, admission through reviewing academic records, admission by high school graduation exam results...

However, recently in an interview with Nghe An Newspaper, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huy Bang - Principal of Vinh University said that the school will make adjustments to this year's enrollment regulations to comply with the new regulations.

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The Ministry of Education and Training is holding a meeting with universities to discuss this year's enrollment plan, including instructions on converting enrollment methods. After attending this meeting, the school will meet, consider adjustments and soon announce to help candidates have enough information to choose their wishes.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huy Bang

At Vinh University of Technical Education, Dr. Vo Tien Trung - Head of Training Department said: The recent adjustments of the Ministry of Education and Training in the enrollment work are appropriate. On the side of the schools, they will have to calculate the conversion formula for equivalent scores between the methods and admission combinations. Candidates do not need to worry too much because the conversion of scores will be public and completely fair and objective.

Nationwide, in addition to direct admission subjects such as national and international excellent students, universities have also stopped early admission, not divided quotas by method, planned to add new admission combinations and are calculating the formula for converting scores according to the common scale, after adjustment by the Ministry of Education and Training.