Many universities are turning their backs on considering academic transcripts.

In previous years, admission based on high school transcripts was the main method of early admission for many universities. According to statistics from the Ministry of Education and Training in 2023, out of more than 546,000 admitted students, over 30% were admitted based on high school academic results (transcripts). In 2024, more than 180 higher education institutions used transcript scores as a basis for admission. For many universities, transcript-based admission is one of the two main admission methods alongside high school graduation exam scores. This year, universities are expected to make several adjustments to the transcript-based admission method.

NUMEROUS SCHOOLS ABANDON ADMISSION BASED ON ACADEMIC RECORDS

At this point, more and more universities are announcing the complete elimination of academic transcript-based admissions for the 2025 admissions period. First and foremost is Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, whose most significant new feature this year is the discontinuation of the high school academic transcript-based admissions method. The university has removed the academic transcript score from both independent and combined admissions methods, as in previous years. This year, the academic transcript score will only serve as a minimum quality assurance threshold to meet the requirements of the Ministry of Education and Training's admissions regulations.

Hanoi University of Education will also abolish the method of admission based on high school transcripts from 2025. The university will implement three admission methods: admission based on the 2025 high school graduation exam scores; direct admission and priority admission for candidates with outstanding abilities and achievements; and admission based on the 2025 aptitude test organized by the university. For the early childhood education, physical education, music education, and fine arts education majors, candidates must also participate in the 2025 aptitude test organized by the university to obtain scores for admission consideration, combined with their high school graduation exam scores.

Candidates who submit their applications early will be considered based on their high school transcripts from 2024.

PHOTO: DAO NGOC THACH

The University of Education (Thai Nguyen University) has also abandoned the method of considering academic transcripts. The admission methods of this university are: direct admission according to the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training; consideration of the results of the aptitude test of Hanoi National University, Hanoi Pedagogical University, and Thai Nguyen University; consideration of the 2025 high school graduation exam results; consideration of high school graduation exam results or a combination of these scores with the physical education and sports aptitude test; and consideration of students from university preparatory programs.

Previously, starting in 2024, the National Economics University discontinued the admission method based on academic transcripts. In 2025, the university announced that it would maintain three admission methods compared to 2024, including: direct admission (2% of the quota), combined admission (83% of the quota), and admission based on the results of the 2025 high school graduation exam (15% of the quota).

In particular, some universities specializing in health-related fields and teacher training have been rejecting academic transcripts for admissions for many years, such as: Saigon University, Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine…

Tighten the review process based on academic transcripts in the admissions process.

The draft circular amending and supplementing several articles of the Regulations on university and college-level admissions for early childhood education, currently being developed and submitted for comments by the Ministry of Education and Training, includes stricter regulations on the use of academic transcripts in admissions.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Education and Training stipulates that if high school academic results are used for admission, the results of the entire 12th grade year must be used, instead of using scores from 3 to 5 semesters as currently stipulated.

Many experts, managers, and university leaders agree with this proposal because it helps ensure the assessment of students' knowledge throughout the high school level and avoids the phenomenon of students neglecting certain subjects in the second semester of 12th grade, only studying subjects necessary for the graduation exam.

However, along with the above changes, the draft also anticipates reducing the proportion of quotas or completely eliminating early admissions in the 2025 admissions year. In previous years, admission based on academic transcripts was the primary method used by universities during the early admissions period. Therefore, the plan to discontinue early admissions will impact the admissions plans of universities. Some universities are considering completely eliminating or reducing quotas for admission based on academic transcripts, especially when this method is implemented concurrently with admissions based on high school graduation exam scores, aptitude test scores, etc., during the general admissions period.

Public schools reduce enrollment quotas based on academic records.

Compared to 2024, many public universities this year have adjusted and reduced their admission quotas based on academic transcripts.

Associate Professor Bui Quang Hung, Deputy Director of the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, said that this year the university plans to reduce the number of admissions based on high school academic results by about 20%. This reduction will be transferred to admissions based on aptitude test scores and high school graduation exam results. According to the plan, the university expects to allocate about 40-50% of its admissions to the method based on high school academic results; 20% to the aptitude test scores; 2% to direct admissions and for candidates who graduated from high school abroad; and the remainder to the high school graduation exam scores.

"Reducing the number of students admitted based on academic transcripts, while combining transcript scores with other criteria, aims to select higher-quality students. This adjustment also balances the admission quota with the method of considering high school graduation exam scores. However, the school is still awaiting the official admission regulations from the Ministry of Education and Training before making a decision," Associate Professor Bui Quang Hung shared.

Reducing the number of students admitted based on academic transcripts, while combining transcript scores with other criteria, aims to select higher-quality students. This adjustment also ensures a more balanced admissions quota compared to the method of admitting students based on high school graduation exam scores.

Associate Professor Bui Quang Hung (Deputy Director of the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City)

Dr. Nguyen Trung Nhan, Head of the Training Department at Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry, also stated that the university plans to reduce the number of admissions based on high school transcripts by 10% compared to 2024. Explaining this adjustment, Dr. Nhan said: "According to the draft regulations on admissions, different methods must be standardized to the same scoring scale, which may create difficulties and unfairness if a large number of places are allocated solely to considering high school academic results." Dr. Nhan added that instead, the university will consider a combination of high school academic results with supplementary criteria such as: awards from student competitions, international certificates, students from specialized schools/classes, and students from high schools that have signed cooperation agreements with the university…

Following this trend, this year Hanoi University of Industry no longer considers academic transcripts separately for admissions, but instead combines them with international certificates, academic achievements, and scores from aptitude and critical thinking tests.

In previous years, many schools used the method of admission based on academic transcripts.

Photo: Dao Ngoc Thach

Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade also plans several improvements in its 2025 admissions process. Notably, the university will reduce the quota for admissions based on high school academic results from five semesters to 15-20%, and increase the quota for admissions based on scores from the National University of Ho Chi Minh City's aptitude test and the specialized aptitude test of Ho Chi Minh City University of Education.

This year, among the five admission methods of the University of Banking Ho Chi Minh City, the combined admission method is based on high school academic results and other achievements. Specifically, candidates need to achieve an average academic score of 6.5 or higher in the second semester of 11th grade and the first and second semesters of 12th grade. To be considered for this method, candidates also need to achieve a converted score of 72 points or higher in the combination of subjects registered for the second semester of 11th grade, the first semester of 12th grade, and the second semester of 12th grade (excluding priority points).

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Thuy, Head of Admissions and Communications Department of the Ho Chi Minh City University of Banking, noted: "While still based on scores from three semesters, this year the university is using scores from the second semester of 11th grade, and the first and second semesters of 12th grade. In 2024, the university will consider scores from the first and second semesters of 11th grade, and the first semester of 12th grade. This adjustment is to align with the draft admissions regulations."

Choosing your future field of study: Health-related fields are in high demand.

At 2:30 PM on February 11th, Thanh Nien Newspaper will host an online television consultation program: Choosing a major for the future: "Hot" topics in the health sector. The program will run simultaneously on the following channels: thanhnien.vn , Thanh Nien Newspaper's Facebook fanpage, YouTube, and TikTok.

According to the draft circular amending and supplementing some articles of the Regulations on university and college-level admissions for early childhood education, the Ministry of Education and Training plans to make adjustments to the minimum entrance requirements for these two specialized training fields.

Why do these fields always attract the attention of students? How will universities offering these programs recruit students in 2025? What are the future career trends?

This information will be shared in the online television counseling program "Choosing a field of study for the future: 'Hot' topics in the health sector" on February 11th.

The program, taking place from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM, features the following experts: Dr. Vo Thanh Hai, Standing Deputy Director of Duy Tan University; Dr. Dang Thi Ngoc Lan, Vice Rector of Cuu Long University; Dr. Nguyen Phuong Tung, Head of the Nursing and Laboratory Department at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HUTECH); and Mr. Truong Quang Tri, Deputy Head of the Student Affairs Department at Nguyen Tat Thanh University.

Bao Han

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tuyen-sinh-nam-2025-nhieu-truong-dai-hoc-quay-lung-voi-xet-hoc-ba-1852502101837185.htm