The exam questions are of different difficulty, how to set a fair benchmark?

How to ensure fairness in admission is the top concern of candidates and parents today, especially in the context that this year universities are not allowed to divide the quota for each group when considering admission.

The reason why some schools set a difference of 0.5 points between A00 and D01

Hanoi University of Science and Technology is the first training institution in the country to announce the conversion table of equivalent scores between admission methods, and the difference in scores between admission combinations in the case of a major recruiting multiple combinations. Although using 4 of the 5 traditional combinations A00 (math, physics, chemistry), A01 (math, physics, English), B00 (math, chemistry, biology), D01 (math, literature, English), Hanoi University of Science and Technology only sets one difference in scores between D01 (and D04 - math, literature, Chinese) and all the remaining combinations.

Parents and candidates learn about university admissions after knowing the results of the 2025 high school graduation exam

PHOTO: DAO NGOC THACH

Associate Professor Nguyen Phong Dien, Vice President of Hanoi University of Science and Technology, explained that all engineering majors do not use D01. With B00, Hanoi University of Science and Technology uses it for a number of narrow majors with an insignificant number of quotas. A01 and D07 (math, chemistry, English) both have the same math, physics and chemistry subjects this year with similar scores, the disadvantage for candidates (TS) if any is in English. However, Hanoi University of Science and Technology has allowed candidates to use IELTS certificates and international foreign language certificates to convert English scores when considering admission. More than 11,000 students have used these certificates with the intention of applying to Hanoi University of Science and Technology. Thus, these students will not be disadvantaged if they apply to Hanoi University of Science and Technology despite their low English scores.

Only majors in the management - business and education management groups use A00, A01, D01 at the same time (and K01 math, literature, physics/chemistry/biology/IT) used for all majors). To create an opportunity for D01 candidates to be admitted, the school sets the benchmark for this combination 0.5 points lower than the other 3 combinations. "Comparing the average score of each subject, English is much lower, but when combined into a combination for admission, and compared to a large number, the difference is reasonable. Moreover, after many years of observation, Hanoi University of Science and Technology has anticipated the possibility of imbalance in the quality of the exam questions between subjects. Therefore, we have included the K01 combination to balance it, in which literature only accounts for 1/6 of the score, math accounts for 3/6, physics/chemistry/biology/informatics accounts for 2/6. That means all students with good scores in math and natural science subjects will be given the best possible conditions to be admitted to Hanoi University of Science and Technology," said Associate Professor Dien.

Ms. Pham Thanh Ha, Deputy Head of the Training Management Department, Foreign Trade University, said that although the school has not yet decided on the difference in scores between admission groups, through preliminary analysis of exam score data, the school plans to set the benchmark score for group D01 0.5 points lower than A00. The school is expected to announce the regulations on the difference in scores between groups and the conversion table of equivalent benchmark scores between methods before July 23.

The C00 combination's selection source is significantly superior to all other combinations.

GRAPHICS: PHAM THANH HA

Many schools are waiting for the Ministry of Education and Training.

Associate Professor Le Dinh Tung, Vice Principal of Hanoi Medical University, said that only for medical majors (medicine, dentistry, preventive medicine, traditional medicine), the school only considers the B00 combination. Most bachelor's majors consider 2 combinations (A00 and B00). There are 3 bachelor's majors that consider 3 combinations: public health (B00, B08 math - biology - English, D01), social work (A00, B00, B08), psychology (B00, C00 literature - history - geography, D01). Last year, for majors that recruited many combinations, the school divided the quota for each combination, so the standard score was determined according to each combination.

This year, according to the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training, each industry and each method has only one admission level; to determine the benchmark, the school takes it from top to bottom, not divided by combination. However, with the very different levels of difficulty between the exam questions of each subject, to ensure fairness for candidates as well as the quality of admission, the school will convert the benchmark scores to equivalent levels between the combinations. "The school will convert according to the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training, the conversion coefficient is based on the coefficient announced by the Ministry of Education and Training," said Associate Professor Tung.

According to Colonel Do Thanh Tam, Secretary of the Military Admissions Board, Ministry of National Defense, if a university uses many different admission combinations, it can determine the difference in scores between the combinations to ensure fairness for candidates. However, most military schools, although using many combinations, have two common subjects in each combination, so from 2024 onwards, these schools will use a common benchmark. This year is similar, 17 military schools will use a common benchmark for all subjects and methods.

Three schools are expected to calculate separate scores for the groups: Border Guard Academy (will calculate separate scores for A01, block C, D01), Political Officer School (A00, C00, D01), Cryptography Technical College (A00, A01, D01).

A representative of Hanoi Law University said that the school simultaneously enrolls students in 4 groups: A00, A01, C00, and group D (including D01 and group D groups with foreign languages other than English). However, the school is not too worried about the small number of D01 candidates being admitted because students who are good at English have the advantage of using IELTS scores instead of English scores. 5.5 IELTS is converted to 9 English points, 6.0 IELTS is equivalent to 9.5 English points, from 6.5 IELTS and above is 10 English points. Currently, there are about 6,000 students with IELTS certificates applying to Hanoi Law University. Therefore, now we only need to consider how much the difference in score between group C00 and the remaining groups is to ensure fairness for students A00 and A01. "We are waiting for the Ministry of Education and Training to announce the difference in score, then we will issue the school's regulations," said this representative.

Admission rules do not discriminate by method.

The Ministry of Education and Training will announce the percentile scores of 5 traditional combinations (A00, A01, B00, C00, D01) based on the exam score database of 1 million candidates, along with announcing the threshold to ensure input quality of teacher training and health science majors.

The Ministry of Education and Training will issue general principles, and each university will have to rely on its own recruitment sources to announce them. "This year's admission rules do not discriminate by method or combination. Each major has only one quota. If the school only uses one combination, there is no problem. If many combinations are used, it must be explained why there is no difference in scores between the combinations, even though the Ministry of Education and Training has issued recommendations," said Mr. Nguyen Tien Thao, Director of the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education and Training.

Justice is doing what is announced.

Many universities said that in the initial announcement of the admission plan, the school announced the same admission scores for the same majors and the same method. The school will not change this until the Ministry of Education and Training issues an official document requesting the change.

Dr. Le Anh Duc, Head of Training Management Department, National Economics University, said that 1 year and 2 months ago, the school announced: "National Economics University uses 4 combinations: A00, A01, D01, D07 (math, chemistry, English) and there is no difference in scores between the combinations, the subjects in the combination are coefficient 1". This is consistent in the 2025 enrollment announcement signed by the university director on March 28. The school will strictly implement this announcement.

"I think that it is fair to implement exactly what the school has announced. You have had a year to prepare to best meet your strengths and abilities in applying to the National Economics University. You have had a year to prepare for a fair competition. Those who are strong in physics and chemistry should study physics and chemistry; those who are strong in physics and English should study physics and English; those who are strong in literature and English should study literature and English... In addition, the school also uses many other methods such as capacity assessment scores, thinking scores, international certificates, excellent students... With the method of considering high school graduation exam scores, the risk is that this year's exam questions will be like this and next year's will be different. It is unfair for the school to follow those unpredictable changes," said Mr. Duc.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/de-thi-kho-de-khac-nhau-dat-diem-chuan-sao-cho-cong-bang-185250721185906832.htm