30/30 still failed, 'overeating' bonus points makes 30 points 'rain like rain'

Although the whole country only has 9 valedictorians with a perfect score of 30/30, many universities have recorded a 'rain' of candidates with admission scores of 30, the reason being... bonus points.

Candidates taking the 2025 Hanoi National University of Education's capacity assessment exam - Photo: NGUYEN BAO

For example, at the University of Foreign Languages ​​- Hue University, if you are an excellent student in grades 11 and 12, you will get 3 points added to your university admission score...

30 points still failed because of... secondary criteria

After the announcement of university benchmark scores in 2025, Tuoi Tre Online noted that there are 6 majors nationwide with a benchmark score of 30/30. Notably, the English and Chinese pedagogy majors of the University of Foreign Languages ​​- Hue University and the University of Foreign Languages ​​- Vietnam National University, Hanoi both have an absolute benchmark score of 30/30 and must set additional criteria to determine successful candidates.

In which, Foreign Language University - Hanoi National University requires candidates to place their first choice to be admitted, if they place their second choice or more, it means they have failed.

For the University of Foreign Languages ​​- Hue University, candidates applying for the English pedagogy major must achieve a score of 9.5 in the foreign language subject and 8.5 in the literature subject to be admitted; candidates applying for the Chinese pedagogy major must achieve a score of 10 in the foreign language sub-subject.

The benchmark score is at the ceiling but additional criteria are still needed to determine the successful candidates because schools are applying the conversion of international language certificates, adding many types of bonus points and incentive points directly to the candidates' admission scores.

Specifically, at the University of Foreign Languages, Hue University, in all methods, candidates with foreign language certificates can convert to 10 points and have their scores added directly to their admission scores from 1 to 3 points (ie points are added twice with 1 certificate).

In addition to adding 1-3 bonus points for candidates who win provincial-level foreign language prizes, the school also directly adds 3 points to candidates whose 11th and 12th grade academic results are good (excellent); and adds 3 points to students of specialized high schools whose 12th grade academic results are good or better.

Similarly, the University of Foreign Languages ​​- Hanoi National University also allows candidates to convert their foreign language certificates to 10 points for admission consideration.

The school adds 1.5 - 3 bonus points to candidates who win prizes in provincial and national excellent student competitions, Hanoi National University High School Olympics, candidates participating in VNU 12+; awards 1-3 bonus points to candidates with international SAT, ACT, A-level certificates.

According to the admission regulations, universities are allowed to add incentive points but not exceeding 10% of the maximum score of the admission scale (3 points/30-point scale).

Benchmarks can be "virtual"

Speaking to Tuoi Tre Online, an admissions expert said that the fact that schools introduced the regulation of adding bonus points early is correct, following the regulations of the Ministry (total bonus points not exceeding 10%, or 3 points/30-point scale). However, the fact that candidates only need to be excellent students in grades 11 and 12 to have 3 points added directly to the total admission score is unfair to other groups of candidates.

"The benchmark scores when converted and added with bonus points can be virtual. High benchmark scores do not necessarily mean good quality of the recruitment source. Therefore, to compare and evaluate the general level of candidates, we must calculate the "original" high school graduation exam scores, which is the common scale of the whole country," he commented.

A university leader said that this year the school only has two forms of admission, including considering high school graduation exam scores and considering a combination of academic records and foreign language certificates.

According to this person, candidates who take the high school graduation exam will not receive bonus points for their English certificate, which is only an entrance requirement. With the combined method, candidates will receive a minimum of 1 point if they have an IELTS score of 6.0 and a maximum of 4 points if they achieve 8.0 - 9.0.

"It's hard to determine whether it's fair or unfair. My school doesn't award points twice for a foreign language certificate.

Each school has a different formula for converting points, adding different incentive points and bonus points, so it is difficult to compare the standard scores of schools with each other. It is impossible to know how many bonus points and incentive points candidates are added to the original score," he said.

"Rain" of perfect admission scores of 30/30

In addition to the schools mentioned above, the Military Technical Academy also recorded 35 candidates who achieved 30/30 points in the military admission exam. The University of Technology - Vietnam National University, Hanoi recorded 192 candidates with absolute passing scores being admitted to the school...

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/30-30-van-truot-boi-thuc-diem-thuong-khien-30-diem-nhieu-nhu-mua-2025082317124667.htm