Abolishing early admission helps students reduce pressure

Increase your chances of getting into college

Early admission to university is no longer strange to students. Students who participate in early admission often use their academic records, ability assessment test scores, thinking assessment scores, and international SAT and IELTS certificates for admission. Many universities announce admission results before the high school graduation exam takes place, so it is called early admission.

Vu Thi Dieu Linh, a former student of Thanh Mien II High School and currently a student at the National Economics University, said that to increase her chances of being admitted to university, Linh and many of her classmates also took the Hanoi National University's aptitude test early in the first round in March 2024. With 117 points, Linh knew in early April 2024 that she had been admitted to a number of majors at the National Economics University, the Academy of Finance, and the Foreign Trade University. Therefore, Linh and many other students felt comfortable and confident before the high school graduation exam.

“The competency assessment test is very difficult and requires comprehensive knowledge of many subjects. Therefore, I spend part of my time at school and most of my time at home practicing competency assessment tests and participating in online review courses,” Linh said.

Le Thi Trang Thu, a 12th grader at Tu Ky High School, is also focusing on studying for the Hanoi National University's aptitude test in April at Sao Do University. She will use the aptitude test results to apply to the Military Medical Academy.

Early admission is an advantage, helping students increase their chances of being admitted to university. Mr. Nguyen Tien Thao, Director of the Examination Center, Hanoi National University, said that in 2025, the system recorded that nearly 4,400 students in Hai Duong province had completed their registration to take the Hanoi National University's competency assessment exam, an increase of more than 1,000 candidates compared to 2024.

Ensuring comprehensive quality education

However, early admission to universities also reveals many limitations. Therefore, in the draft regulations on university and college admissions in 2025, the Ministry of Education and Training plans to not apply early admission. All admission methods will be considered together in one round with the high school graduation exam. This notable content has attracted public attention, with the majority of teachers, students and parents supporting it.

Although she participated in the aptitude test, after careful research, Le Thi Trang Thu also agreed with the Ministry of Education and Training's plan to abolish early admission. "If a group of friends are admitted to university early, it will also affect the psychology of other friends in the class who do not participate in separate exams. The sloppy learning attitude in class of those who know they have been admitted early will also cause frustration for teachers," Thu commented.

Mr. Hua Tien Nam, Principal of Thanh Mien II High School, said that in recent years, the number of students participating in separate exams has increased sharply. In 2025, up to 30% of 12th graders took the competency assessment exam. Through monitoring in previous years, after students learned that they were admitted early, they became subjective and neglected their studies in class. As a result, students may lose motivation to study, leading to a lack of focus on reviewing for the high school graduation exam.

“I support the removal of early admission because it will help students reduce pressure and focus on the high school graduation exam. They will not be distracted by other exams, thereby improving their high school graduation exam results,” said Mr. Nam.

Sharing the same opinion, Ms. Than Thi Cham, Principal of Kinh Mon High School, said that students who know they have been admitted early are usually students with good academic performance, so it is very difficult for them to fail the high school graduation exam. As a result, they become complacent and no longer focus on reviewing for the high school graduation exam, resulting in low results. This unintentionally affects the overall score level of the school, and more broadly, the whole province.

“I also support eliminating early admission. Then schools can easily focus on the main educational goal of preparing students well for the high school graduation exam. Because if students take separate exams, teachers have to spend time accompanying and supporting them. In addition, eliminating early admission also helps create fairness for students, especially students who do not have access to many different types of review to participate in exams to assess their abilities, thinking or foreign language certificates,” said Ms. Cham.

Mr. Do Duy Hung, Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training of Hai Duong, said that early admission is early in terms of time, admission before the high school graduation exam. Universities still use the same admission methods as before, but the admission time is delayed to the general admission time of the Ministry of Education and Training. Therefore, the removal of early admission only changes the time, not reducing the candidates' chances of being admitted.

“The results of the school report card, the converted foreign language certificate results, or the competency assessment and thinking assessment exams that students have prepared for throughout their studies will still be retained and valid in the general admission round of the Ministry of Education and Training. Therefore, eliminating early admission will help ensure comprehensive education quality for students, improve high school graduation exam results, and at the same time move towards fairness and transparency in university admissions,” said Mr. Hung.