Score discrepancy: Are transcripts being embellished, or are exams too strict?

TPO - According to the correlation table between the 2025 High School Graduation Exam scores and the average scores of subjects provided by the Ministry of Education and Training this morning (July 22), the difference in Math is the highest among the 12 subjects with a score of 2.25.

This year, the Ministry of Education and Training announced the average score of 12 subjects according to high school transcripts and the average score according to the graduation exam results.

Check at least 5% of Literature exam papers for 2025 High School Graduation Exam

Accordingly, it is easy to see that there is a difference between the average score according to the transcript and the graduation exam results, especially in Math and English.

Specifically, the average score according to the transcript of high school students in grades 10, 11, and 12 is 7.03, while the average score in the high school graduation exam is low, 4.78. The difference between the study score and the exam score in Math is 2.25 points.

Math subject with the highest difference between study score and test score.

The English subject has a large difference between the average grade point average and the graduation exam score of 1.57 points. The average grade point average of students nationwide increases from grade 10 to grade 12 with a score range of 6.55 to 7.38 (average 6.95), while the average graduation exam score is 5.38 points.

Biology also has a difference between the two scores of 1.56; Industrial Technology has an average score according to the transcript of 8.05 while the average graduation exam score is 5.97 (a difference of 2.08 points).

Of the 12 subjects, Literature had the lowest difference (only 0.12 points) between study score (average 7.12) and exam score (average 7.0).

Unreliable transcript evaluation?

According to Mr. Nguyen Minh Tuan, University of Education (VNU Hanoi), among the subjects, Mathematics has the highest difference between the average score of the high school report card and the average score of the graduation exam. This reflects the level of "looseness" in the assessment of the Math report card or, in other words, the failure to properly assess the learning ability of students.

The correlation coefficient between the report card score and the Math test score is 0.63 (average level), showing that the level of agreement between actual academic performance and report card score is not high.

"This may reflect that student assessment at school does not accurately reflect their ability to take standardized tests," according to Mr. Tuan.

Mr. Tuan also said that, from the results of the high school graduation exam, it shows that the differentiation of the Math exam is higher. The standard deviation of the high school graduation exam for Math is 1.68, larger than most other subjects. This also shows that the results are more widespread, the exam is better differentiated, and students have significantly higher or lower scores, more clearly demonstrating their true abilities.

From the correlation between the average high school graduation exam score and the average high school report card score of 3 years of high school, Mr. Tuan warned of the risk of "illusion" about ability when only looking at the math report card. With a high average report card score (over 7.0), but a low graduation exam score (over 5.0), many students may have a misconception about their ability if they only rely on their report card.

According to experts, although the average score of the school report card and the Literature exam score have the smallest difference (0.12), this is partly due to the specifics of the subject, the exam questions and the grading. In the Graduation exam, Literature is the only essay subject that is graded by hand, the exam questions and answers are open, and the grading scale is also open to the maximum, encouraging students to express their creative thinking.

Dr. Le Viet Khuyen, Vice President of the Association of Vietnamese Universities and Colleges, shared that countries with advanced education systems are now tending to abolish the High School Graduation Exam. They evaluate students mainly based on their academic records in high school years. This reduces the burden of exams and at the same time evaluates students' abilities more comprehensively. However, to do that, the academic records must be reliable, objective, and accurately reflect students' abilities.

According to Dr. Khuyen, in Vietnam, the problem of "asking for and giving" points has existed for a long time. It is normal for teachers to give students 1-2 points to make their report cards look good. The way of evaluating and giving points to students in each school and region is also different, not ensuring reliability.

"Using academic transcript scores for admission does not ensure fairness and objectivity, and the results of the High School Graduation Exam, which is designed by the Ministry of Education and Training, are still one of the reliable bases for universities and colleges to recruit students," said Dr. Le Viet Khuyen, Vice President of the Association of Vietnamese Universities and Colleges.

Source: https://tienphong.vn/lech-pha-diem-so-hoc-ba-dang-to-son-hay-ky-thi-qua-khat-khe-post1762511.tpo