Expand the scale of specialized aptitude tests for admission purposes.

On December 16th, Ho Chi Minh City University of Education announced its plan to organize the Specialized Competency Assessment Examination (H-SCA) in 2026.

Accordingly, the school plans to organize three exam sessions in four locations: Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Tay Ninh, and Dak Lak . To increase opportunities for candidates, the school will expand the scale of the exam, with an estimated 40,000 candidates participating, an increase of over 10,000 compared to 2025.

The first phase of the exam is scheduled for March 26-29, 2026, the second phase from May 7-10, 2026, and the third phase from May 29-31, 2026. Candidates register online, according to the timeframe specified for each phase. Registration may close earlier than scheduled once the maximum number of registrations for each phase is reached.

The exam includes the following subjects: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Literature, and English. The exam is open to 11th and 12th grade students and individuals interested in learning more about the exam and its format. Candidates can choose to take one or more subjects to apply for admission to programs that use the results of the Specialized Aptitude Test.

The exam structure this year is similar to that of 2025, with content closely following the 2018 general education curriculum; knowledge from grade 12 accounts for approximately 70-80%, with the remainder being knowledge from grades 10 and 11.

In 2026, Ho Chi Minh City University of Education plans to maintain the same admission methods as in previous years. Accordingly, the three main methods the university has implemented for many years include direct admission and priority consideration for students in specialized classes; admission based on high school graduation exam scores; and combined admission. The combined admission method includes scores from aptitude tests and academic transcripts; high school graduation exam scores; or aptitude test scores combined with talent test scores.

Since 2022, Ho Chi Minh City University of Education has organized a Specialized Competency Assessment Exam to select candidates with specialized competencies that meet the entrance requirements of the university's unique academic programs. In subsequent years, the results of this exam have also been used by several universities in their admissions processes.

Over the years, the appeal of the exam has steadily increased. In its first year, the exam attracted approximately 2,000 candidates, and this number is projected to rise to nearly 29,000 by 2025. In addition to admissions to Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, eight other universities will also use the exam results for admissions in 2025: Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade; Nguyen Tat Thanh University; Hanoi University of Education; Hanoi University of Education 2; and teacher training colleges affiliated with Thai Nguyen University, Hue University, Da Nang University, and Vinh University.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/giao-duc/mo-rong-quy-mo-ky-thi-danh-gia-nang-luc-chuyen-biet-de-xet-tuyen-dau-vao-20251216165315587.htm