How will universities change their admissions plans in 2025?

Banking Academy said it would stop dividing the quota ratio based on the admission method as planned in mid-February. At that time, the school planned to recruit 45% of the quota based on high school graduation exam scores. The remaining methods include direct admission, school records (20%), consideration of international certificates (15%), and results of competency assessment exams (20%).

This adjustment is to comply with the university admission regulations recently announced by the Ministry of Education and Training. Accordingly, schools are still allowed to use many methods but must consider the same period with graduation exam scores, and at the same time convert scores to a common scale, such as a scale of 30.

This means that candidates are considered from high to low scores, regardless of method or combination. Therefore, dividing the quota ratio according to methods is no longer meaningful.

Many schools have similar plans, such as Hanoi University of Science and Technology, National Economics University...

Previously, a series of schools last year had early admissions, even from February to March, but this year they stopped, right after the Ministry's draft.

Another change is that many schools have expanded their admission combinations, as the Ministry does not limit the number but only requires Math or Literature with a minimum weight of 25% of the total score.

As at Van Lang University, most majors consider 6 or more combinations, some majors consider up to 19 combinations. Saigon University allows candidates to choose up to two out of three subjects in the combination.

Master Pham Doan Nguyen, Vice Principal of Hoa Sen University, said that in the future, schools will continue to have changes in teaching methods and subject combinations.

With the above changes, all universities are calculating the equivalent conversion formula between admission methods and combinations.

The Ministry said it would issue general principles and guidelines for schools in the coming time. However, according to Dr. Tran Manh Ha, Head of Training Department, Banking Academy, each school may still have to rely on its own input data to build the formula.

Thus, although admission is based on international certificates or competency assessment test scores, the conversion formula between schools may be different.

"The conversion is not done mechanically or linearly, but depends on the score spectrum, score distribution between methods, and groups of candidates admitted to each school," Mr. Ha acknowledged, saying that some schools in the North have discussed this.

Dr. Le Anh Duc, Head of Training Management Department, National Economics University, said that the school plans to base on input data and learning results of more than 20,000 students in the past three years, consider the high school graduation exam score distribution, and evaluate this year's thinking and capacity to come up with conversion rules and formulas.

The University of Commerce also compiles statistics on the learning results of admitted candidates using various methods, thereby evaluating the correlation of input quality and finding a suitable formula, according to Master Nguyen Quang Trung, Deputy Head of the Communications and Admissions Department.

In addition, Dr. Nguyen Trung Nhan, Head of Training Department, Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry, said that schools must also consider and calculate the conversion of bonus points and incentive points for students with outstanding achievements, so that it does not exceed 10% of the maximum score of the scale.

At Mr. Nhan's school, this is problematic because in recent years, priority has been given to direct admission of excellent students at the provincial level, provided that their high school graduation exam scores meet the quality assurance threshold. The school does not set a standard score for this group.

"If this group only gets extra points, it will be a disadvantage for them while the school really wants to recruit them because their ability to meet the requirements is very good, demonstrated through their academic results," said Mr. Nhan.

Although there are still many calculations to be made, schools all emphasize that candidates should not worry about converting their scores. Instead, they need to focus on studying well, reviewing for the high school graduation exam, and possibly taking some competency assessment tests or improving their international certificate scores to increase their chances of being admitted.

"Candidates only need to care about choosing a major and school, and preparing well for the exam. When the results are out, they will apply the formula to get the admission score," Mr. Nhan affirmed.