The percentile table helps candidates to have more basis for predicting their chances of admission.

The Ministry of Education and Training has just released detailed statistics comparing the score distribution of several subject combinations in the 2025 high school graduation exam, high school academic scores, and percentiles between subject combinations. This is considered a basis for universities to determine any differences in scores between subject combinations, ensuring fairness across different admission methods. The current question is: what does the percentile table mean for candidates, and what should they keep in mind when applying to universities this year?

Percentiles tables provide universities with a more equitable basis for evaluation.

According to the Ministry of Education and Training, prior to 2024, the fundamental limitation of university admissions was the excessive number of admission methods and combinations of subjects. Each admission method had its own scoring system.

The 2025 university admissions regulations stipulate that universities using multiple admission methods and combinations for a single major and training program must convert scores to a common scale and an equivalent cutoff score to ensure fairness in admissions. To avoid unfairness among applicants, the Ministry of Education and Training has introduced a percentile statistical method.

Based on detailed statistical results in the percentile table between popular university entrance exam combinations of the Ministry of Education and Training in 2025 (including: A00 - Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry; A01 - Mathematics, Physics, English; B00 - Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology; C00 - Literature, History, Geography; D01 - Mathematics, Literature, English; C01 - Mathematics, Physics, Literature; D07 - Mathematics, Chemistry, English), it shows that combination C00 has significantly higher scores than other combinations.

For example, 22.75 points for combination C00 is equivalent to 20.25 points for combination A00; 19 points for combination B00; 16.25 points for combination D01 and 14.75 points for combination D07…

Speaking to reporters, Associate Professor Dr. Do Van Dung, former Rector of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education, stated that percentiles are a statistical concept that helps determine an individual's relative position within a group based on scores or measured values.

It's like a "ranking scale" that helps students know their position relative to all other candidates, rather than just looking at perfect scores like 8/10 or 25/30.

For example, if a candidate scores 90th percentile, it means their score is higher than 90% of the other candidates, meaning only about 10% of the other candidates are better than them.

According to Mr. Dung, the greatest significance of the percentile table is that it helps universities have a fairer basis for evaluation. In addition, the percentile table also helps candidates have more information to predict their chances of admission.

For example, this table shows that this year's score range is 28.75 points for group A00, which is equivalent to 27.5 points for group D01 at the same percentile. Based on this, students can look up and estimate where their score is compared to others. From there, they can prioritize their nguyện vọng (application preferences) accordingly to increase their chances of getting into their dream school.

This is especially useful given the large number of candidates this year and the significant difference in scores between different subject combinations, such as Group A scores being 1-2 points higher than Group D scores at the same percentile.

Furthermore, the percentile table ensures that students' scores remain "balanced" during the admissions process, preventing them from being disadvantaged by more difficult exams in their chosen subjects. In other words, the percentile table acts as a "ranking map," boosting students' confidence, reducing debates about exam difficulty, and making the admissions process more transparent and fair; eliminating the situation of "high scores but still failing."

Candidates can predict the cutoff scores based on percentiles.

Regarding candidates applying to universities this year based on percentile tables, Mr. Dung advised them to consult the specific conversion tables and score conversion frameworks of each university to make accurate calculations.

In addition, based on the percentile table, students can choose a suitable subject combination when registering. The reason is that currently, each school conducts its own exam and uses the high school graduation exam subject combination as the "base" for conversion.

For example, aptitude tests often use the A00 combination, so if candidates are taking a separate exam, they should check if that combination matches their preferences and avoid "indirectly" converting aptitude test scores to A00 and then to D01, as this can cause inaccuracies.

Additionally, candidates can also predict the cutoff scores based on percentiles. For example, if a candidate is in the top 10% (90th percentile), their chances of getting into a top school will be higher.

In particular, to avoid unfortunate mistakes in the admissions process, Mr. Dung advised candidates not to convert their scores themselves, but to simply submit their exam results as usual when registering their admission preferences. The Ministry of Education and Training's general admissions software system will automatically process the results based on the conversion framework.

Students should also diversify their choices by applying to multiple schools and using different admission methods to increase their chances of being accepted. If their high school scores are low, separate entrance exams can be a lifesaver due to conversion. However, students should also prepare themselves mentally, as percentiles, while ensuring fairness, still mean that competition in the admissions process remains very high.

Professor Nguyen Tien Thao, Director of the Higher Education Department, Ministry of Education and Training, stated that the difference in this year's university admissions compared to previous years is that the admission scores will be converted to a single scale across all admission methods and will use the percentile method to convert and determine the similarity between subject combinations to ensure maximum fairness for candidates.

Therefore, a training program may use multiple subject combinations and admission methods, but the difference in scores between these combinations will be adjusted using the percentile method. Parents and candidates do not need to worry because universities must adjust according to the percentile method to ensure the best interests of the students.

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/bang-bach-phan-vi-giup-thi-sinh-them-can-cu-du-doan-co-hoi-trung-tuyen-post741360.html