Admissions 2025: Confusion in converting admission scores

The application of the percentile method in university admissions in 2025 is expected to be a major step forward in standardizing admission methods. Accordingly, schools can make relative comparisons between subject combinations and competency assessment tests.

Candidates learn information at the admission selection festival organized by Tuoi Tre newspaper in Ho Chi Minh City - Photo: QUANG DINH

However, the actual implementation is confusing many candidates and parents as each school offers a different way of converting scores.

Each school has its own style.

The Ministry of Education and Training has published the percentile table for seven common combinations (A00, A01, B00, C00, D01, C01, D07) to support schools in building conversion tables. However, there are still dozens of other combinations that do not have corresponding data.

The Ministry does not issue a unified standard conversion formula but allows each school to build its own conversion table. Therefore, the same original score, when converted to a 30-point scale, produces significantly different scores between schools.

In fact, the way scores are converted between schools is very diverse. Some schools use linear interpolation, while others rely on previous years' enrollment data.

Some schools use percentiles but assign their own conversion scores according to their own ratios. Even within the same admission method, many schools convert scores by "self-calculation", not following any common standard framework, making it difficult for candidates to accurately compare their true abilities on each school's scale.

"I got a pretty high score on the exam, but when I looked up the conversion table at three different schools, the results were 1-2 points different. I don't know which table I should follow to register my application," Ngoc Thang (a candidate in Da Nang ) shared.

MSc. Le Van Hien - Head of the Training Department of Ho Chi Minh City University of Law - said that the school has developed a formula to convert transcript scores to equivalent high school graduation exam scores according to each specific subject group. With the school's conversion formula, candidates with a score of 28 points in D01 subject group (math - literature - English) in their transcript will be equivalent to 24 points in the high school exam.

The conversion range of high school transcript scores to high school graduation exam scores of Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics is divided into 12 ranges. The lowest range is 19.5 - 23.64 transcript points equivalent to 16 - 21.04 high school graduation exam points. The highest range is 29-30 transcript points equivalent to 25.81 - 30 high school graduation exam points. The capacity assessment score of Ho Chi Minh City National University is 969 - 1,200 points equivalent to 26.5 - 30 high school exam points...

Candidates who scored 121 points in the Hanoi National University's capacity assessment would be converted to 29.52 points if they were admitted to this university, but only 27.25 points if they were admitted to Hanoi University of Industry, a difference of up to 2.27 points. Hanoi University of Science and Technology converted 70 points in thinking to about 27.5 - 28.5 points, while the National Economics University converted the same score to only 26 - 27 points.

No formula published

University of Economics and Law implements a method of converting admission scores without converting each candidate's score to a common scale.

Apply the percentile method to ensure that the admission scores between methods (high school graduation exam, capacity assessment, high school academic scores...) are equivalent according to percentile and the level of meeting the input requirements of each industry/major/training program.

Before admission, based on the excellent and excellent academic results of students in the previous year's major/specialization, the school determines the adjustment coefficient for the percentile value range of the methods.

Dr. Nguyen Tan Tran Minh Khang - Vice Principal of the University of Information Technology - also said: "Instead of converting each candidate's score to a common scale, the school applies the percentile table announced by Ho Chi Minh City National University and the Ministry of Education and Training based on the conversion framework for admission scores between admission methods.

This includes comparing the score distribution of the 2025 high school graduation exam combinations, the transcript scores along with the learning results of students in previous years and the registration status of equivalent candidates according to the percentile and the level of meeting the input requirements of each major.

While candidates applying for admission to the University of Science and Technology are wondering: "The school conducts a comprehensive admission process, so I don't know how the school will convert scores?". In response to this question, Associate Professor Dr. Bui Hoai Thang - head of the school's training department - said: "The school conducts a comprehensive admission process, so we do not publish conversion information."

Many concerns

Ms. Tran Thi Tuyet Nhung, a parent in Ho Chi Minh City, said that many candidates may have chosen the wrong major or school due to misunderstandings or not being able to access accurate conversion information.

This is especially serious for candidates without international certificates or who do not take the competency test, whose converted scores are lower, leading to a clear risk of disadvantage.

"How will my child's scores be converted at each school? The standardization process itself is unintentionally becoming the cause of injustice when the conversion method is unclear, uncontrolled and easily manipulated," Ms. Nhung commented.

Ms. Thuy Tram, a parent in Can Tho, was upset: "The test assesses the ability to synthesize knowledge of many subjects from natural to social sciences in three years of high school but emphasizes thinking, logic and problem solving. The test result is 900/1,200 points but the conversion is only about 23.25 high school exam points (three subjects). Students spend too much effort and time on this study but it is very difficult for students to get 900 points or more."

According to Associate Professor Dr. Do Van Dung - former principal of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technical Education, most schools use percentiles and linear interpolation to convert scores, but the application methods are different, so the results are different for each school. However, this is allowed and must be made public before candidates adjust their wishes.

"The conversion of scores according to the percentile of Ho Chi Minh City National University is accurate and fair because of the available data. Parents are right when they say that the competency assessment exam requires a lot of effort and time because the content is broad and achieving 900 points or more (about the top 15 - 20%) is a big challenge for candidates, but when converted, it is only equivalent to 23 - 25 high school points (three subjects), making many students feel shocked," said Mr. Dung.

Candidates taking the 2025 high school graduation exam in Ho Chi Minh City - Photo: THANH HIEP

Announcement of the first round of admission results before 5:00 p.m. on August 22

The Ministry of Education and Training stipulates the time for paying the admission fee from July 29 to 5:00 p.m. on August 5 (according to the cluster of provinces and cities). Candidates need to access the system and complete the payment of the fee based on the number of registered wishes. If the fee is not paid on time, the registered wishes will not be considered by the system.

After the registration and fee payment period ends, universities will conduct virtual filtering and process admission data. The first round of admission results will be announced before 5:00 p.m. on August 22. Successful candidates must confirm their admission online before 5:30 p.m. on August 30.

Exams have different formats and content.

Master Bui Van Cong, a teacher in Ho Chi Minh City, said that separate exams have different methods, content and formats from high school graduation exams.

Separate exams were created when the high school exam could not meet the admission needs of universities.

Candidates who want to get high scores in the separate exams have to spend a lot of time and effort studying. But when the scores are converted based on the high school exam score distribution, it is no different from saying that candidates skip the separate exams.

"Percentiles are only effective when the original data is stable, the score distribution of exams is even, and the implementation is consistent among schools. Otherwise, this tool can be counterproductive, disrupting the entire admission process," Mr. Cong emphasized.

Impact on fairness

An admissions expert at a private university in Ho Chi Minh City said that converting scores between different years, majors, and subject groups will certainly encounter obstacles, especially when the sample data is not large enough or uneven.

This is an issue that many admissions experts have pointed out, because the final conversion results are likely to be affected by data bias, especially when comparing between years or between different groups of subjects and combinations. This not only makes the conversion results skewed but also affects fairness in admissions.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tuyen-sinh-2025-roi-quy-doi-diem-xet-tuyen-20250728222741712.htm