Is the "golden age" of IELTS about to end because of changes in admission regulations?

(Dan Tri) - The change in regulations for high school graduation exams and university admissions is predicted to reduce the "power" of the IELTS certificate.

High school exam regulations reduce the "power" of foreign language certificates

Changes in the regulations for high school graduation exams and university admissions in 2025 are quietly affecting the "status" of the IELTS certificate. The clearest evidence comes from Ho Chi Minh City, where the number of 12th graders exempted from the foreign language exam has dropped dramatically.

According to data recently released by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, only more than 1,700 12th graders in the city will be exempted from taking the foreign language exam in the 2025 high school graduation exam. This number is mainly concentrated in English.

It is worth noting that, compared to last year, when more than 13,000 students were exempted from the foreign language exam, this year's number is only about 1/7.

Instead of being a compulsory subject, English will only be an elective subject in the 2025 high school graduation exam (Illustration: Huyen Nguyen).

The figures show a significant shift in student selection strategies. The sharp decline has raised many questions about the role of language certificates, especially IELTS, in the current university admissions landscape.

According to the Department of Education and Training, the reason for the above reduction is the changes in the 2025 high school graduation exam regulations.

In previous years, foreign languages ​​were compulsory subjects along with math and literature. Many students with IELTS certificates or equivalent, who did not need to take this subject for university admission, registered for exemption to reduce pressure and focus on university entrance exams.

However, this year, foreign languages ​​have become an optional subject. Students who do not need to use their foreign language scores for admission will not choose to take the exam.

Another important factor mentioned is the abolition of the regulation on converting IELTS certificates from 4.0 or higher or equivalent into 10 points of foreign language subjects in the high school graduation exam according to the new regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training . The conversion score of foreign language certificates for university admission is also controlled by the Ministry of Education and Training with the weight of the score not exceeding 50%. Therefore, the decrease in the number of registrations for exam exemption is understandable.

Last year, about 67,000 candidates nationwide were exempted from the exam and had their scores counted for the 10 foreign language subjects in the graduation exam. Of these, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City had the largest number, with 21,500 and 13,100 students, respectively. This year, the Ministry said it did not have detailed statistics.

Universities are no longer "interested" in IELTS?

One of the key factors changing the "attraction" of foreign language certificates, especially IELTS, is that many universities are adjusting their admission policies and reconsidering the role of foreign language certificates.

Instead of directly recruiting candidates with IELTS certificates or prioritizing the conversion of scores from these certificates to high school graduation exam scores, many schools are tending to use them as a secondary criterion or even only consider them in the combined admission method.

This also comes from the new university and college admission regulations. The Ministry of Education and Training also sets a limit on the weight of admission scores from the conversion of foreign language certificates, not exceeding 50%.

Regulations on the use of certificates in the new Admission Regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training

Point b, Clause 3, Article 1, Circular No. 06/2025/TT-BGDDT amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Regulations on university and college admissions for PreschoolEducation stipulates:

"For foreign language certificates used to exempt high school graduation exams according to the current high school graduation exam regulations, training institutions can convert them into foreign language subject scores to include in the admission subject group with the weighted score not exceeding 50%".

In particular, Hanoi University (HANU) does not accept the use of converted scores from foreign language certificates to replace the 2025 high school graduation exam scores in foreign languages. Foreign language certificates are only used as a priority condition for combined admission.

The conversion table of foreign language certificate scores into HANU's incentive bonus points ranges from 1 to 4 points. Accordingly, candidates with IELTS 6.0 will get 1 point, 6.5 will get 2 points, 7.0-7.5 will get 3 points and 8.0 or higher will get 4 points. With SAT certificate, candidates with 1,100 will get 1 point, above 1,420 will get 4 points.

Hanoi University of Pharmacy does not consider IELTS certificates and does not convert IELTS scores to high school graduation exam scores in English because the school only considers the A00 and B00 block combinations.

Similarly, Hanoi University of Architecture has stopped directly admitting candidates with IELTS 6.5 or higher for the advanced architecture program. Instead, candidates with IELTS 6.0 or higher will receive 0.6-1.2 bonus points.

The trend of studying and taking international English certificates, especially IELTS, is expected to change a lot with the new university entrance exam and admission regulations (Illustration: Huyen Nguyen).

Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy also changed the way it calculated international certificate scores. With combined admission, the school will add points for candidates with IELTS 6.0, TOEFL 80 or SAT score of 1340/1600 or higher. In previous years, these two certificates were used for preliminary admission, depending on the major.

Most recently, Hanoi University of Culture adjusted its admission information to remove the 3-point bonus for candidates with IELTS from 4.0. With the new regulation, IELTS 4.0-4.5 will only be awarded 1 point by the school. Candidates with IELTS 6.5 or higher will be awarded 3 points. This school also does not convert IELTS scores to high school graduation exam scores in English.

It can be seen that the general trend of many universities is to reduce the priority for converting foreign language certificates to high school graduation exam scores, instead focusing more on graduation exam results and using foreign language certificates as an additional factor or secondary condition in combined admission.

Thus, the mindset of relying on foreign language certificates as a "passport" or the only "golden ticket" for direct admission to many universities is no longer "effective". Students and parents need to consider more carefully when investing in foreign language certificates, focusing more on academic results and other admission methods.

With the new regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training and the actions of many universities, it is predicted that the "fever" of foreign language certificates, especially IELTS, may cool down in the near future.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/thoi-hoang-kim-cua-ielts-sap-qua-vi-quy-che-tuyen-sinh-thay-doi-20250509120755930.htm