Do candidates need to take drawing practice tests for arts-related majors?

However, many parents are unsure when to start guiding their children in drawing practice and whether it's necessary to prepare for the entrance exam, given the changes in the aptitude test requirements for admissions.

Students participating in summer art classes are preparing for university in the following years.

For design, fine arts, and architecture majors, most universities test drawing aptitude during the admissions process. However, in recent years, some universities offering architecture programs have not required an aptitude test, such as Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology. For graphic design, Duy Tan University does not require an aptitude test. Other universities, such as Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Nam Can Tho University, have added admission methods that do not require an aptitude test for architecture programs…

THE DEMAND FOR TRAINING IN TALENT-BASED ARTS REMAINS HIGH.

During the summer, many parents and high school students still seek information about art classes for university entrance exams. Sharing with Thanh Nien newspaper, Ms. Hong Phuong (residing in District 12, Ho Chi Minh City) said: "My son is in 11th grade this year and wants to pursue architecture, with industrial design as a backup option. This summer, I only just started looking into art classes for him, which is perhaps a little late. I think parents should invest in their children's art training from an earlier age."

In addition, on social media forums, during the summer, many students post requests for advice on drawing classes. According to Thanh Nien newspaper's investigation, Ho Chi Minh City currently has many classes and centers specializing in drawing training to prepare students for the university entrance exam. Summer is the time when many classes are launched, taking advantage of the high demand for exam preparation among students, both in-person and online.

Most tutoring centers offer classes designed to match the exam format of schools in Ho Chi Minh City, with the lowest price being around 150,000 VND per session. The quality of teaching in these drawing tutoring classes varies, and parents often prioritize classes near their homes, seek advice from acquaintances, or bring their children to the class in person for consultation.

Acting as parents visiting a drawing center in Hoc Mon District, we received advice and information on what students needed to learn, corresponding to the majors offered by various universities. For example, for graphic design (University of Fine Arts), candidates needed to practice drawing portraits of real people and color decoration; for architecture (University of Architecture), they needed to practice drawing busts; and for fashion design and interior design at Van Lang University, students could choose either drawing or color decoration… While being advised, we noticed many students practicing for drawing exams filling the center's rather small premises.

X TRENDS IN ONLINE LEARNING

Some students, like Nguyen Bao Ngan (from Nhon Trach, Dong Nai ), choose to attend online exam preparation classes. Ngan shared: "I registered with an online drawing training center in July 2023 after researching it in Facebook groups. The class schedule doesn't limit the number of sessions per week, so I chose to attend 3 sessions per week. The center designs a curriculum with complete theory; in each session, the instructor teaches the theory and assigns practical exercises."

"I think it's the same for any subject, not just drawing. You have to study and practice to have the knowledge to take the exam, so if you want to achieve the desired results, you still have to practice. Nowadays, with the internet and technology developing, if you live in a remote province and there are no drawing classes or the classes are too far away, candidates can all study online. The number of people practicing drawing online is very large," Ngân added.

Candidates participating in the aptitude test for Ho Chi Minh City University of Architecture in 2024.

Practicing doesn't guarantee a high score on the exam.

Having taken the aptitude test himself, Tran Khai Hoan, a final-year student in the Interior Design Department at Van Lang University, said: "I started studying for the drawing test in 11th grade. Some students who took intensive courses for a few weeks had a high level of artistic ability and scored very high on the aptitude test. Meanwhile, those who studied from 9th grade still scored low."

"Exam preparation classes can't determine exam scores, but they can help students learn more systematically and master drawing techniques according to the requirements within the allotted time. I have a talent for drawing; my ability to draw well is based on my own perception, and I can't guarantee that I'll meet the exam requirements. For example, the bust drawing requires precise composition, while the color decoration drawing focuses more on evaluating the candidate's creativity," Khai Hoan said.

Similarly, Bao Ngan started practicing drawing online in July 2023 and recently completed three aptitude tests at three universities: Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City University of Architecture, and Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education, with scores of 8, 7.75, and 9 respectively.

"In my opinion, to achieve high scores, candidates need experience in the exam room to understand how to manage their time, the types of questions, and their mindset. Many schools organize aptitude tests at different times, so you should register to take the test at a few schools to gain experience. With experience, the chances of getting a higher score in subsequent tests will be greater, and your chances of admission will also be higher," Ngân shared.

Speaking with a reporter from Thanh Nien newspaper, Dr. Tran Thanh Nam, Head of the Fine Arts Department at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Architecture, stated that fields related to architecture and fine arts require talent. However, even if candidates have a talent for drawing, they must practice according to the requirements of their chosen field of study if they haven't yet mastered the drawing techniques.

"Abroad, drawing is called figure studies (plaster portraits, drawing people), and students learn to draw and are exposed to art from high school. In our country, however, students have to prepare for exams, which means practicing drawing with a teacher's guidance. Even so, many students in the provinces, who don't have the opportunity to attend drawing classes, can still develop their talent through self-study (from books, the internet, etc.) if they use the right methods," Dr. Nam said.

According to Dr. Nam, the admission rate for majors requiring aptitude tests is very high, demanding extensive training. Drawing (fine art) is not just about dexterity; it requires knowledge of structure, proportion, and space. Dexterity is a skill that can only be acquired through practice. Therefore, students who understand and know the methods progress very quickly.

"Architecture, on the other hand, involves organizing living and working spaces for people aesthetically. This means it must meet both functional and aesthetic (artistic) needs. Therefore, the art drawing course tests the ability to analyze structure and understand and represent space. Meanwhile, graphic design tests color decoration to assess color perception and hand-drawing skills," Dr. Nam explained.

The aptitude test score isn't everything.

Dr. Nguyen Quoc Vinh, Head of the Architecture Department at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, stated that to study architecture and landscape architecture (with graphic design having a higher artistic element than architecture), drawing talent is only one part of the equation. These fields also require students to possess logical thinking skills to organize functional spaces rationally, and aesthetic thinking to create visually appealing compositions and proportions. Because architecture is not just for looking at, but also for use, and it must be usable and effective.

Regarding drawing practice for aptitude tests, according to Dr. Vinh, naturally gifted candidates will learn faster, draw better, and score higher. However, once admitted, most have to start from scratch, focusing on aesthetic thinking, spatial reasoning, and perception of form and light… because some candidates learn by rote, following pre-existing models, rather than learning to truly perceive the real scene of the subject at the time of drawing. Furthermore, currently, in addition to widely used architectural software, artificial intelligence (AI) has also developed and is a powerful tool to assist architects in creating more beautiful, realistic, and appropriate perspectives from the client's point of view.

Preparing for exams is one thing, but the process of learning to become a skilled professional means that aptitude isn't everything, and might even be negligible. Therefore, exam preparation might be a good starting point, but it doesn't guarantee a good ending.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/thi-sinh-co-can-luyen-thi-ve-vao-cac-nganh-nang-khieu-185240710191143854.htm