University admissions in 2023: The more university doors there are, the more… difficult!

Meanwhile, this is the time to "reign" for competency assessment exams or foreign language certificates and many other secondary criteria.

High school graduation exam is no longer an advantage

Up to this point, many universities have announced their admission methods for the 2023 school year. As expected, this year many universities have continued to reduce their score targets.high school graduation exam, including many schools in the top group. For example, in this admission season, the National Economics University reserves up to 70% of its quota for the combined admission method according to the school's admission plan. Meanwhile, the admission method based on the results of the 2023 High School Graduation Exam only accounts for 25% of the quota, a decrease of 10% compared to last year.

Or Hanoi University of Industry also plans to reserve only 65% ​​of its quota for admission based on high school graduation exam scores, a decrease of 7% compared to last year.

Review time for students of Boarding High School for Ethnic Minorities No. 2. Photo: My Ha

In the South, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Ho Chi Minh City National University, enrolls 3,599 full-time undergraduate students in 2023 using 5 admission methods. However, admission based on the results of the 2023 High School Exam only accounts for 45-55% of the total enrollment target compared to 45-70% in previous years. Even the University of Technology, Ho Chi Minh City National University, does not use the high school graduation exam results as an independent admission method; the graduation exam score is just one of many methods combining many criteria. This combined method includes criteria such as competency assessment test scores, graduation scores, high school grades, etc.

In Nghe An, Vinh University has also announced 7 university admission methods in 2023. Of which, only 50% of the quota will be based on the results of the 2023 high school graduation exam. The remaining 10 - 20% will be taken by the school with forms such as considering high school academic results (transcripts), direct admission according to the regulations of the Admissions Regulations, direct admission according to the Project of Vinh University and university preparatory students, using the results of the capacity assessment test, thinking assessment organized by other units...

These changes have been predicted from previous exam seasons. That is also the reason why, in recent years, the admission scores to universities are very high, even some majors require 30 points to over 30 points to be admitted if admission is based on high school graduation exam results. Because for these majors, schools reserve very few quotas for candidates using high school graduation exam results. Meanwhile, the number of candidates registering for direct admission is high, leading to sky-high admission scores.

Students of Ky Son High School participate in evening self-study hours. Photo: My Ha

The fact that schools do not use traditional admission methods also makes many students worried, especially students in remote, isolated, and disadvantaged areas who do not have many conditions to review and participate in competency assessment exams and English certificate exams. Therefore, although there are many methods to enter university, in some schools, students think that this makes university admission even more difficult. This also explains why, recently, the number of students applying for university admission has decreased. Instead, they have chosen other methods such as vocational training, labor export, etc.

Our school does not have students register for competency assessment exams, but mainly uses graduation exam results to consider university admission. In the current context, this is a disadvantage for candidates. However, due to the conditions here, students find it very difficult to review and take exams other than the high school graduation exam. Moreover, they do not have the conditions to take English certificate exams or competency assessment exams.

Teacher Le Van Tao - Principal of Ky Son High School

At Que Phong High School, last school year there was one candidate who took the competency assessment exam and this was the child of a teacher in the school. This year, according to the school's understanding, no student has planned to take the competency assessment exam and the majority of students use the method of using the high school graduation exam results to apply for university admission.

Find opportunities to get into college early

Chu Van An, a 12th grade student at Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted (Vinh City), is the male student who has just won the highest position in the 2nd Competency Assessment Test this year organized by Hanoi National University with 120/150 points. With this result, An now has many opportunities to apply for and be admitted to top universities in the country such as Foreign Trade University, Hanoi National University, etc.

Although the results are quite positive, up to this point, An is still not satisfied. From now until the end of June, An is still planning to prepare for the Hanoi University of Science and Technology's Thinking Assessment Test. At the same time, using some other alternative options to be able to easily get into the school of his dreams. Talking more about this, An said: "Although my ability assessment test results are quite high, they cannot be used for Hanoi University of Science and Technology. Therefore, if I want to be admitted, I think I have to take many exams and at the same time consider admission in combination with an IELTS 7.5 certificate and the second prize for excellent students in the province in Chemistry."

An is one of the first students of class 12A4 - Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted to participate in the Competency Assessment Test this year. However, from now until the end of the 12th grade program, it is expected that most students in the class will register to participate in this exam in the hope of "being admitted to university soon"... This is also the reason why, in the upcoming 4th exam session of Hanoi National University held at Vinh University, about 2,000 candidates have registered to take the exam and many more candidates wish to take the exam but are currently over-registered.

12th grade students of Boarding High School for Ethnic Minorities No. 2. Photo: My Ha

As university entrance is becoming more and more difficult for candidates using the admission method based on the results of the High School Graduation Exam, candidates have had to be flexible and proactive in choosing many other options to increase their chances of admission.

Student Pham Minh Tuan - class 12A1, Nguyen Xuan On High School (Dien Chau) is wishing to take the entrance exam for the Automation major - Hanoi University of Science and Technology. Because this is a top university, Tuan thinks that it will be difficult for him to be admitted if he only depends on his high school graduation exam score. Instead, Tuan is focusing on reviewing to take 2 more exams, which are the Thinking Assessment Exam and the Capacity Assessment Exam, although this is not easy.

I feel overloaded because I have to study many subjects and take many exams. However, I have set a goal to finish the entire 12th grade program by the end of March and then allocate each day to review.

Pham Minh Tuan, class 12A1, Nguyen Xuan On High School (Dien Chau)

Along with Tuan, his classmate Hoang Huu Quang - class 12 A5 Nguyen Xuan On High School (Dien Chau) although has the advantage of IELTS 8.0, Provincial Excellent Student in English, Quang will continue to participate in the Thinking Assessment Test and take the SAT exam to increase the chance of being admitted to Computer Science - 1 of 2 majors that Hanoi University of Science and Technology does not consider graduation exam scores.

According to teacher Nguyen Xuan Hung - Vice Principal of Nguyen Xuan On High School: Although it is a new admission method, in 2022 alone, Nguyen Xuan On High School had about 200 students participating in the separate exam and mainly good and excellent students. Therefore, to ensure the 2023 graduation exam, the school must adjust the teaching plan and teaching methods towards developing qualities, abilities, thinking ability and the ability to solve practical problems to support students in participating in exams to assess abilities, assess thinking... so that they have more opportunities to choose their favorite university.

This is also the direction of the Nghe An Education Department to adapt and suit the requirements of studying and taking exams to enter universities today. At this time, schools are also promoting the new points of the Graduation Exam and university entrance exam to help orient, guide careers and prepare students mentally for many important exams ahead./.