Exemption from foreign language graduation exam thanks to international certificate

In the 2023 high school graduation exam, Quang Ninh has hundreds of students exempted from foreign language exams thanks to having international foreign language certificates in accordance with regulations. These are priorities in the regulations on high school graduation exams and university and college admissions, contributing to promoting the movement of teaching and learning foreign languages in the province.

Teachers and students of Ha Long High School for the Gifted at the Ceremony to Honor Students Who Won the 2022 European Physics Olympiad - Nordic Physics Olympiad and International Chemistry Olympiad. ( *Photo provided by the school* )

Possessing an IELTS certificate of 7.0, Dao Anh Duong (student of class 12A1, Ngo Quyen High School, Ha Long City), is not only exempted from the foreign language exam in the high school graduation recognition consideration, but also has many opportunities to be admitted to the first choice of Economic Statistics at the National Economics University and other university admission wishes.

Dao Anh Duong shared: “ Having an IELTS certificate means I get a score of 10 in the foreign language test at the high school graduation exam, and it also helps me convert according to each university's grading scale. I will have more time to review other subjects in the upcoming exam when I don't have to spend time on English.”

According to the 2023 High School Graduation Exam Regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training , there are 2 cases exempted from the foreign language exam for consideration of high school graduation recognition: Members of the national team participating in the International Olympic competition in foreign languages; Candidates with one of the valid foreign language certificates valid until at least July 26, 2023, achieving the minimum score as prescribed.

In addition, many universities allow the use of international language certificates as priority criteria for admission. This has created motivation to promote foreign language teaching and learning in schools.

According to preliminary statistics of high schools in the province, there are hundreds of 12th graders with international language certificates who are exempt from foreign language exams and are given 10 points in the 2023 high school graduation exam according to regulations, the most at Ha Long High School for the Gifted (235 students) and Hon Gai High School (200 students).

Le Minh Hai (12B3 student, Hon Gai High School, Ha Long City), said: I recently achieved a score of IELTS 7.5 is also the score I expected. Achieving a high IELTS score not only increases my chances of competing for admission to top universities, but also supports me in pursuing my desire to study abroad.

Hon Gai High School has 200 students exempted from foreign language exams and has 10 foreign language subjects counted in the 2023 high school graduation exam. *Photo: Nguyen Hung*

In the 2022 High School Graduation Exam, Quang Ninh's average score ranked 31st nationwide, up 5 places compared to 2021, up 19 places compared to 2020. In which, the score distribution of Physics and Foreign Languages is higher than the national average. Strongly developing the foreign language learning movement is one of the important factors for Quang Ninh to continue to increase the score distribution of Foreign Languages in the 2023 High School Graduation Exam; at the same time, improving foreign language proficiency and international integration for students.

According to regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training, the minimum certificate level for candidates to be exempted from the foreign language exam is as follows:

- English subject, with TOEFL ITP certificate of 450 points, TOEFL iBT of 45 points or higher issued by ETS; or IELTS of 4.0 points or higher issued by IDP or British Council.

- Russian language subject, need to achieve TORFL level 1 or higher; certificate must be issued by the Russian Center of Science and Culture in Hanoi.

- French subject, with TCF (300-400 points) or DELF B1 or higher issued by the International Center for Pedagogical Studies.

- Chinese subject, with HSK level 3 or TOCFL level 3 or above. Certificate issued by the Office of Chinese Language and Culture Affairs of China, the National Chinese Proficiency Test Committee, the Confucius Institute Headquarters (China) or the Center for Language Exchange and Cooperation between China and Foreign Countries. TOCFL must be a certificate issued by the National Chinese Proficiency Test Promotion Working Committee.

- German language, with Goethe-Zertifikat B1, Deutsches Sprachdiplom (DSD) B1 or Zertifikat B1 or higher, issued by the German Board of Secondary Education Abroad.

- Japanese subject, with JLPT N3 certificate, issued by Japan Foundation.

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