Many new subject combinations

N SUBJECTS APPEARING FOR THE FIRST TIME

Many universities have now announced draft admission plans for this year, which include a major adjustment related to the subject combinations for admission.

According to the draft circular amending and supplementing several articles of the Regulations on University and College-level Admissions for Early Childhood Education , the subject combination used for admission consideration must include at least 3 subjects suitable to the characteristics and requirements of the training program, including either mathematics or literature with an assessment weight of at least 1/3 of the total score. Combinations within the same major must have common subjects accounting for at least 50% of the total score.

Candidates taking the 2024 high school graduation exam. This year, there have been some adjustments to the subject combinations for university admissions to align with the new education program.

Based on this draft, universities are simultaneously adjusting their admission combinations for 2025. The University of Economics and Law (Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City) plans to apply five admission combinations for all majors. Specifically: Mathematics - English - Literature, Mathematics - English - Physics, Mathematics - English - Informatics, Mathematics - English - Economic and Legal Education, and Mathematics - Physics - Chemistry. These combinations apply to all majors, all include Mathematics, and four combinations also consider English. In 2025, the university will use two new subjects from the 2018 General Education Program: Informatics and Economic and Legal Education.

Many universities are also introducing new subjects from the 2018 General Education program into their admission combinations for the first time. For example, Duy Tan University plans to adjust the subject combinations for economics majors; instead of the previous combination of math, physics, and chemistry, it may now be math, physics, economic education, and law. In the same economics field, Nguyen Tat Thanh University is adding combinations with new subjects such as math, literature, economic education, and law.

Universities need to announce the admission criteria for each major as soon as possible. This is the first year that students in the new general education program are taking the high school graduation exam and applying to universities; delaying the announcement of this information would be unfair to them.

Mr. NGUYEN THANH HAI (Principal of Truong Dinh High School, Tien Giang )

Mathematics is a compulsory subject in many subject combinations.

The University of Finance and Marketing (Ho Chi Minh City) also plans to use the scores of three subjects for admission, with mathematics being a compulsory subject. In addition, candidates can use the remaining two subjects from the high school graduation exam to maximize their chances of admission.

The Ho Chi Minh City University of Agriculture and Forestry stipulates that each major uses 6 admission combinations, and most majors at the university use combinations that include mathematics (except for the English language major).

For some other universities, the compulsory subjects in the admission combination for each major may be mathematics, literature, or English. For example, Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade plans to have 4 admission combinations, each consisting of 3 subjects. Mathematics is the main subject in the admission combination for majors such as information technology, accounting, finance and banking, and engineering. Literature is the main subject in the admission combination for majors related to management and social sciences such as tourism and travel service management, and economic law. English is the main subject in the admission combination for English language and Chinese language majors.

Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education also stipulates that each major has no more than 4 admission combinations, most of which use mathematics as a compulsory subject. Among the remaining majors, candidates can choose combinations that include mathematics or literature combined with other subjects. This year, the university added industrial technology to the admission combinations, replacing the previous natural science combination.

Representatives from universities stated that the admission combinations expected to be used in 2025 will remain largely stable compared to the previous year. Dr. Tran Thanh Thuong, Head of Admissions and Student Affairs at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education, said that the university adjusted the admission combinations to align with the draft regulations, but this will not cause significant disruption to candidates. For example, all four admission combinations for more than 30 engineering and technology majors this year include mathematics (similar to last year). The only difference is that one of the three combinations has replaced the natural science exam with industrial technology to better suit the new curriculum.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Phung, Deputy Head of Admissions, Communications and Business Relations at the University of Finance - Marketing, said: "This year, the university mandates mathematics as a compulsory subject in all admission combinations. However, last year, mathematics was also included in all of the university's admission combinations. Therefore, the use of mathematics for admission remains essentially unchanged compared to last year. The new point is that this year the university allows candidates to choose the remaining two subjects in the admission combination to achieve the highest possible admission score."

High school seniors hope that universities will announce their admission plans early so they can prepare.

Photo: Jadeite

RECOMMENDATIONS FROM STUDENTS AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Following the announcement of adjustments to the subject combinations for university entrance exams, students have expressed diverse opinions.

A student from Luong The Vinh High School (Ho Chi Minh City) views this adjustment as both advantageous and challenging for students participating in this year's university entrance exams, stating: "Students who are strong in specific subjects like mathematics or literature will have more opportunities if universities require those subjects in the subject combinations. The diversity of subject combinations also helps students have more choices that better suit their abilities. Adding specialized subjects to the combinations, for example, subjects related to technology, economics, or law, could help select candidates more suitable for the chosen profession."

However, this student also stated that the aforementioned changes require candidates to study more subjects evenly to meet the new admission combinations, especially those subjects that were not previously emphasized. "Universities also need to consider adjusting subject combinations; the constant changes can confuse students, especially those who have prepared according to traditional combinations," suggested the student from Luong The Vinh High School.

TTV, a student from Nguyen Huu Tho High School (Ho Chi Minh City), believes that in 2025, universities should temporarily prioritize maintaining traditional subject combinations for admission. If adjustments are necessary, universities should inform students several years in advance so they can prepare. "Currently, students in the 2018 General Education program begin choosing subjects based on career orientation when they enter 10th grade. If universities suddenly change the subject combinations for admission in 12th grade, it will affect students' choices," TTV explained.

According to this student, the new subjects included in the admissions process should only be used for majors with specific characteristics corresponding to that field of study. This would give students who have already made early career choices and intend to select these subjects more opportunities during the university admissions process.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hai, Principal of Truong Dinh High School (Tien Giang), expressed his agreement with the school's decision to include mathematics or both mathematics and literature in the admissions combination. This is because these are two compulsory subjects in the current general education curriculum, as well as among the four subjects in the high school graduation exam under this year's new regulations. Naturally, the school must carefully consider and select one or two remaining subjects in the combination to align with the chosen field of study.

"Regarding the use of scores from new subjects like technology and economic and legal education, it's possible the school is trying to comply with this year's exam regulations which include these two subjects. However, the predicted number of students choosing these subjects for the high school graduation exam is quite low. The reason is that this is the first time these subjects have been included in the exam regulations, so students are still unfamiliar with them, and the number of majors that consider these scores for admission is quite small," the Principal of Truong Dinh High School further analyzed. However, Mr. Hai emphasized: "Universities need to announce the admission combinations for each major as soon as possible. This is the first year that students in the new general education program are taking the high school graduation exam and applying to universities; delaying the announcement of this information would be unfair to them."

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tuyen-sinh-dh-2025-nhieu-to-hop-mon-moi-185250117224459582.htm