Deputy Minister of Education and Training: 2025 benchmark scores will not increase abnormally

The high benchmark scores raise familiar concerns: are today’s candidates really better or are these just “virtual scores” due to different admission methods? In an interview with the Government E-newspaper, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Hoang Minh Son affirmed that, overall, the benchmark scores in 2025 did not increase abnormally. High scores in some majors reflect the true differentiation, and at the same time affirm that social sectors in need of high-quality human resources are increasingly attracting candidates.

Deputy Minister Hoang Minh Son emphasized that high scores in some industries reflect true differentiation. (Photo: VGP/Nguyen Manh)

General benchmark drops, strategic industry makes breakthrough

The Deputy Minister said: "If calculated in total, the average admission score of all majors and schools, according to all methods converted to a 30-point scale this year is 19.11. In 2024, this number will be 22.05. Thus, the overall benchmark score has decreased significantly."

The main reason comes from the high school graduation exam score distribution. This year's average score is lower in three subjects: math, English and biology. But on the other hand, the absolute score has increased sharply. "This year, there are about 15,000 10s, one and a half times higher than in 2024. Block A0 alone has more than 5,000 10s, while in 2024 there were only about 1,300. This year's math score is more than 500, last year no student got absolute scores. This shows very good differentiation: good students get very high scores," he said.

Differentiation has caused some attractive majors such as artificial intelligence, microchip design, computer science , and pedagogy to have their benchmark scores skyrocket. "These are the majors we are looking to attract human resources. The high benchmark scores in these majors are a very encouraging sign," the Deputy Minister affirmed.

Point Conversion: Fairness in Difference

One of the important changes in the 2025 admissions is that the Ministry of Education and Training requires schools to convert admission scores to the same level between admission methods. This is to ensure that, whether candidates are admitted by high school graduation exam, transcript or competency assessment test, the final benchmark score reflects the same level of input competency.

Deputy Minister Hoang Minh Son explained: "In previous years, when there was no such requirement, there were abnormalities: for the same major, the standard score according to the graduation exam could be high, but according to the transcript, it was much lower, or even vice versa. This year, that did not happen anymore."

However, in parallel with the general regulations, many schools still apply the form of converting international foreign language certificates such as IELTS, SAT to replace English subjects or add extra points. This is the autonomy of training institutions, but according to the Deputy Minister, the responsibility cannot be taken lightly: " Foreign languages are very important, having a certificate reflects the actual learning process. But to ensure fairness, the Ministry has stipulated: the total priority score must not exceed 10% and the admission score must not exceed 30", said the Deputy Minister.

The score conversion is to ensure fairness for each candidate. (Photo: VGP/Thu Trang)

This demonstrates a two-pronged approach: on the one hand, the Ministry recognises the value of foreign language learning and the long-term cumulative achievements; on the other hand, it sets limits to avoid giving undue advantage to one group of candidates.

At this point, he also warned about the downside: "If students focus too much on English to get a certificate, they may neglect other subjects. We are more worried about that, because it not only affects exam results but also affects future studies at university."

In reality, there is no perfect conversion formula. The gap between the transcript score and the graduation exam score, or between the competency assessment exam and the high school exam, is always difficult to convert with absolute precision. However, according to the Deputy Minister, when choosing to use multiple methods, schools are forced to set out principles and clearly announce: "The benchmark score according to this method is 25, then the other method must explain why it is equivalent to 70 or 80. That is the responsibility of the schools".

He also emphasized that fairness needs to be viewed within a specific scope: "Most importantly, when entering a field, students are treated fairly. Because that is true competition. The difference between schools in the conversion method is normal, reflecting their own characteristics."

This approach helps explain why this year some majors, especially foreign language pedagogy, achieved the perfect score of 30. Partly due to the small quota and high attraction, but also partly due to the way points are calculated and foreign language conversion is done. The Deputy Minister frankly said: "That is also a bit unreasonable, so it needs further consideration. But in general, the policy has been designed to gradually limit inequality, not to create favoritism."

Conversion is therefore not only a technical tool, but also a warning about balance: foreign language training is necessary, but cannot be traded off by neglecting other fundamental subjects.

Virtual filtering is not virtual, but humane. (Photo: VGP/Thu Trang)

Virtual Filter: Not "virtual" but fair

This year, the "virtual filtering" system is operated in many rounds, not to "create illusions", but to ensure that each candidate is considered for their highest choice. Deputy Minister Hoang Minh Son explained: "We use the term virtual filtering, which is probably a term we have been familiar with for a long time. But in fact, this is the selection process." The key, according to him, is the mechanism of prioritizing preferences: "When a student has many preferences, the system will consider allowing them to be admitted to the preference they like the most, the preference that comes first. That is the key."

The reason for running multiple rounds comes from both scale and technical factors. "The number of candidates has increased a little, and secondly, there is no more early admission, so the number of applications has increased." In addition, this year, the Ministry requires schools to review carefully to limit errors: "The Ministry wants to run more rounds. And when running each round, it will gradually stabilize."

In a system with “hundreds of colleges and universities… changes in one school can affect the others”, running multiple rounds is inevitable. The multi-round process is for the entire system to gradually reach a common equilibrium point.

Regarding the concern that "the more filtering, the more virtual", he dismissed: "It cannot be said to be virtual, the more times it is run, the more virtual it is, those are people who do not do specialized work". According to the Deputy Minister, the current method creates fairness because it avoids one candidate taking up many "places": "When you are admitted to two wishes, it means you have taken the place of another candidate".

He also emphasized that this is mainly a "technical story": "Actually, candidates, parents or public opinion do not need to know this." What students need to grasp is the logic of fairness: the system considers candidates with the highest possible wishes, and returns the rest to give others a chance - a "very orderly" arrangement as he described.

Deputy Minister Hoang Minh Son: There can be no absolute perfection, but step by step we are reducing inequality. (Photo: VGP/Nguyen Manh)

Towards sustainable equity

According to Deputy Minister of Education and Training Hoang Minh Son, the innovations in the 2025 admission season, from point conversion regulations, priority point limits to implementing virtual filtering in multiple rounds, all aim towards a common goal: creating more fairness and convenience for candidates. "There can be no absolute perfection, but step by step we are reducing inequality. The important thing is that students with real ability and effort in studying will have opportunities. That is the essence of a fair admission system," the Deputy Minister emphasized.

The reality of this year's admission season shows positive signs: high benchmark scores in some majors are not unusual but reflect good differentiation, the sharp increase in the number of absolute scores in block A00 proves the outstanding abilities of many students, while strategic majors such as artificial intelligence, chip technology, and pedagogy attract a large number of candidates, in line with the national human resource orientation.

One of the common concerns is that high benchmark scores will cause many students to "fail" and lose their opportunities. However, according to the Deputy Minister, this assessment is not accurate: "When a major has a quota of 100, if 200 students have high scores, the 100 highest students will get in. The remaining students will not lose their opportunities because they have many wishes. If they do not get into this major, they will get into another major, if they do not get into this school, they will get into another school."

He emphasized that competition in admissions is necessary, because it not only creates pressure but also motivates students to study and make efforts. "Overall, this year's exam is well differentiated, creating more suitable choices for each candidate's ability. Compared to Japan and Korea, our exam has reduced a lot of pressure," said Deputy Minister Hoang Minh Son. According to him, the important thing is not the score, but the transparent admission mechanism that helps each candidate have the opportunity that is appropriate to their ability.

(Source: chinhphu.vn)

Link: https://baochinhphu.vn/tuyen-sinh-2025-khong-co-diem-ao-chi-co-phan-hoa-that-10225082520501839 7.htm?gidzl=y8aPLPZcut7ub1rNbFxZTVwH55A9_xvmjf8LMOwgwtlXmHHIY_Ze9kB54mFOhkiWvyL7069PNCyHdU7bS0

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