Advantages of a foreign language certificate: A balance is needed.

International language certificates are a fairly accurate measure of proficiency, but their use in admissions needs to be adjusted to be more appropriate.

The Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) plans to adjust the bonus points awarded for international foreign language certificates in university admissions starting in 2026, reducing the bonus points for these certificates.

The necessary adjustment step

This move is expected by many education experts to help narrow the gap in admission opportunities between different groups of candidates, especially those from mountainous and rural areas. In large cities, where learning and taking foreign language proficiency tests are more convenient, more and more students are investing in IELTS early on. Conversely, for students in disadvantaged areas, foreign language proficiency certificates become a "soft" but very real barrier, due to high tuition and testing costs and limited access.

Over the years, international language certificates such as IELTS, TOEFL, and TOEIC have become important factors in university admissions. Many universities apply policies of adding points or directly converting English scores for candidates with these certificates, viewing this as a way to recognize foreign language proficiency according to international standards and encourage students to invest in learning from an early age.

In fact, over the years, IELTS certificates or equivalent international certificates have given many candidates a clear advantage when applying to universities.

Students in Ho Chi Minh City research university admissions information for 2026. Photo: HUE XUAN

In the 2025 admissions period, the bonus points awarded for foreign language certificates varied significantly among universities. Some institutions awarded 1 to 3 points, or even up to 4 points, to candidates with an IELTS score of 5.5 or higher.

Meanwhile, the general regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training only allow the total bonus points to exceed 10% of the total admission score, equivalent to 3 points on a 30-point scale.

Education experts also point out the unfairness of different schools having different conversion rates for foreign language certificates. For example, an IELTS score of 5.5 might be converted to 8.5 points by some schools, while others convert it to 9 points. For candidates, this means that with the same ability, their chances of admission depend heavily on their choice of school.

An admissions expert from Hanoi National University believes that the proposal to reduce the bonus points for international foreign language certificates is reasonable. This is a necessary adjustment as foreign languages ​​have become a common skill today.

A reasonable roadmap and calculation method are needed.

Dr. Quách Thanh Hải, Vice Rector of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (formerly Ho Chi Minh City University of Education and Technology), stated that the university does not award priority points indiscriminately, but only prioritizes candidates applying to advanced programs that require foreign language proficiency for study. This aims to ensure fairness for candidates when applying to university.

Similarly, according to Master Le Van Hien, Head of the Training Department at Ho Chi Minh City University of Law, the university does not award priority points to candidates with international foreign language certificates indiscriminately, but rather uses a separate method (considering high school academic results in conjunction with international foreign language certificates or SAT exam results from the US).

Meanwhile, Dr. Nguyen Trung Nhan, Head of the Training Department at Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry, emphasized that the university does not add priority points for candidates with international foreign language certificates because, on a 30-point scale, adding 1-2 priority points would create a large difference, which would be unfair to candidates participating in university admissions.

As a university that has applied a system of awarding bonus points to candidates with international foreign language certificates for many years, Mr. Tran Le Trong Phuc, Deputy Head of the Training Management Department - Ho Chi Minh City Open University, said that the maximum bonus points awarded is 2 points out of 30. According to Mr. Phuc, the purpose of awarding bonus points is to encourage students to learn foreign languages ​​so that they can study well at university and have an advantage when looking for a job.

Some experts are concerned that, while society is encouraging students to develop comprehensive skills, especially foreign languages, for integration, failing to recognize this advantage in admissions may have some negative impact.

Many argue that the issue shouldn't be viewed in absolute terms of "keep or abolish," but rather requires a compromise between the goals of fairness and the need to improve the quality of education. International language certificates themselves are a fairly standardized tool for measuring competence, but their use in admissions needs to be adjusted to be more appropriate.

Many universities still use IELTS for admissions.

Observations from many universities indicate that in the 2026 admissions season, many schools will still use IELTS for admissions, but with different conversion rates and point allocations, and it will only be one criterion in the selection process. Most commonly, IELTS scores will be converted to English scores or bonus points will be added during combined admissions processes.

The University of Transport and Communications plans to abolish direct IELTS conversion in subject combinations that include English, instead only awarding priority points to candidates with certificates of 5.0 or higher; the specific bonus amount will be announced later.

The Banking Academy does not convert IELTS scores but adds bonus points, up to a maximum of 3 points, ensuring that the total admission score after the bonus does not exceed 30 points.

In the engineering group of universities, Hanoi University of Science and Technology allows the conversion of foreign language certificates when considering high school graduation exam scores or awarding bonus points when considering scores from a thinking skills assessment test. According to regulations, IELTS 5.0 is converted to 8.5 points; IELTS 5.5 to 9 points; IELTS 6.0 to 9.5 points; and IELTS 6.5 and above are counted as 10 points.

Hanoi University of Science and Technology allows the use of international English certificates as a substitute for English scores in the admissions process. The conversion rate is based on IELTS 5.0, equivalent to 7 points. The university only awards a maximum score of 10 for candidates achieving an IELTS score of 8.0 or higher, indicating a higher requirement for candidates with exceptional foreign language proficiency.

For universities under the Vietnam National University, Hanoi, candidates are allowed to use international English certificates to replace the English subject in the admission combination according to the general regulations of the Vietnam National University, Hanoi, in combination with the scores of the other two subjects.

The National Economics University allows candidates to use an IELTS certificate with a score of 5.5 or higher for admission consideration, in combination with scores from aptitude tests, thinking skills assessments, or high school graduation exam scores in mathematics and one other subject from the chosen combination. According to the university's regulations, an IELTS score of 5.5 is equivalent to 8 points, while candidates with an IELTS score of 7.5 or higher receive 10 points.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/diem-cong-chung-chi-ngoai-ngu-can-biet-dung-hoa-196260120210804877.htm