According to the 2026 university admissions regulations, in cases where candidates use foreign language certificates to be exempt from the high school graduation exam and apply for admission, educational institutions must develop and publish a corresponding conversion table.
This conversion table must convert English language proficiency certificate results to a 10-point scale with at least 5 conversion levels corresponding to different levels of foreign language certificates. The conversion table will be reviewed and adjusted periodically, at least every two years, based on a comparison with the actual academic performance of admitted students.
This regulation helps to reduce the disparity in scores between different certification levels that existed previously.
However, the Ministry of Education and Training does not issue a unified conversion table, but instead grants autonomy to each training institution. Therefore, the same IELTS score may be converted to different scores when applying to different schools.
Specifically, at the IELTS level of 5.0, many universities such as Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Hanoi University of Civil Engineering, Vietnam Academy of Agriculture, Vietnam Youth Academy, and CMC University convert it to 8 points in English.
Meanwhile, the University of Electrical Engineering, the University of Forestry, and Thang Long University converted their scores to a higher level of 8.5 points. The differentiation was even more pronounced at the IELTS 5.5 level. The National Economics University converted their score to 8 points, while the Academy of Finance raised it to 9 points.
At universities with higher requirements, such as the Foreign Trade University and the Hanoi University of Science and Technology, candidates must achieve an IELTS score of 7.0 to be considered equivalent to 9 points in English. For IELTS scores of 7.0 or higher, most universities convert it to 10 points.
However, some universities such as the Foreign Trade University, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, CMC University, and Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology set a higher threshold, only awarding a perfect score of 10 to candidates who achieve an IELTS score of 8.0-9.0.
These differences show that school selection should not only be based on ability, but also on a strategic approach to leveraging qualifications.
A new feature of the 2026 university admissions regulations is that candidates can only use foreign language certificates in one of two ways: converting them to English scores for admission consideration or using them solely for bonus points (maximum 1.5 points out of 30). These two methods cannot be applied simultaneously.
However, according to Associate Professor Vu Duy Hai, Head of the Admissions and Career Guidance Board (Hanoi University of Science and Technology), the conversion or addition of bonus points is not decided by the candidates but depends on the regulations of each school and each admission method.
Some schools only apply the conversion of foreign language certificates to the method of admission based on high school graduation exam scores, but add bonus points if candidates apply based on the results of aptitude or thinking skills assessment exams. Conversely, some schools only accept the conversion without applying any bonus points.
This necessitates that candidates carefully study each school's admissions plan; otherwise, it's easy to misuse an existing advantage.
According to Professor, Dr. Nguyen Tien Thao, Director of Higher Education Department (Ministry of Education and Training), candidates need to clearly distinguish between two purposes: using the certificate to be exempt from the high school graduation exam and for university admission.
Not all certificates are accepted for exam exemption, and the Ministry of Education and Training has issued a specific list of certificate types as well as their corresponding minimum scores.
Therefore, candidates should carefully check the information in the admissions handbook or on the official channels of the Ministry of Education and Training before registering to avoid confusion.
Even if eligible for an exemption, candidates can still choose to take the English exam. In that case, the admissions system will automatically compare and select the option that is more advantageous for the candidate.
If the English exam score is higher, the exam score will be used; however, if the converted score from the foreign language certificate is higher, the latter will be prioritized. According to Professor Dr. Nguyen Dinh Duc (University of Technology, Vietnam National University, Hanoi), the use of foreign language certificates for direct admission to universities in the past has also revealed some shortcomings.
A solid foundation of knowledge in basic subjects remains crucial for students to confidently enter university. Therefore, English should only be considered an advantage in certain training programs.
Meanwhile, Nguyen Quang Trung, Deputy Head of the Communications and Admissions Department at the University of Commerce, believes that standardizing the conversion of scores into multiple levels and making periodic adjustments according to the 2026 university admissions regulations will contribute to ensuring fairness and creating long-term stability.
In the absence of a common conversion standard, understanding how language certificates are used at each training institution becomes crucial.
Candidates should not assume that having a foreign language certificate will give them an absolute advantage; on the contrary, they should proactively compare different admission options to choose the optimal one.
Source: https://nhandan.vn/hieu-dung-chung-chi-de-tan-dung-loi-the-post950427.html
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