University Admissions 2025: High Admission Scores in Some Majors Reflect Differentiation

GD&TĐ - High benchmark scores in some majors accurately reflect differentiation and affirm that social majors that need high-quality human resources are attracting candidates.

The 2025 university admissions season recorded many majors and schools with high admission scores, even reaching the absolute threshold of 30 points. Speaking to the press, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Hoang Minh Son affirmed that, overall, the admission scores in 2025 did not increase abnormally. High scores in some majors accurately reflect differentiation, and at the same time affirm that social majors in need of high-quality human resources are increasingly attracting candidates.

The benchmark does not increase abnormally.

According to the Deputy Minister, if calculated in total, the average admission score of all majors and schools in all methods converted to a 30-point scale is 19.11 points. In 2024, this number is 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.

On the other hand, the absolute score increased sharply. The Deputy Minister cited that this year there were about 15,000 10 points, one and a half times more than in 2024. Block A00 alone had more than 5,000 10 points, while in 2024 there were about 1,300. This year's math subject had more than 500 10 points, while last year no candidate achieved absolute scores.

This shows very good differentiation: good candidates get very high scores. Differentiation makes some attractive majors such as artificial intelligence (AI), microchip design, computer science , and pedagogy have their benchmarks skyrocket. "These are the majors we are looking to attract human resources. The high benchmark scores in these majors is a very encouraging sign," the Deputy Minister acknowledged.

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, high school transcript, or competency assessment or thinking assessment, the final benchmark score reflects the same level of input capacity.

In previous years, there was no such regulation, so some abnormalities occurred such as: in the same field, the standard score according to the high school graduation exam could be high but according to the high school transcript, it was much lower, or even vice versa. "This year, that will not happen again" - the Deputy Minister emphasized. However, the leaders of the Ministry of Education and Training noticed that, in parallel with the general regulation, many schools still apply the form of converting international foreign language certificates such as IELTS, SAT to replace English or add extra points. This is the autonomy of training institutions.

Deputy Minister of Education and Training Hoang Minh Son. Photo: Nguyen Manh.

Real competition

According to the Deputy Minister, foreign languages ​​are very important. Candidates have certificates that reflect the actual learning process, but to ensure fairness, the Ministry of Education and Training has stipulated: "the total priority score must not exceed 10% and the admission score must not exceed 30". This shows a two-way approach: on the one hand, the Ministry of Education and Training recognizes the value of foreign language learning and long-term cumulative achievements. On the other hand, it sets limits to avoid creating excessive advantages for a group of candidates.

However, the downside of this is: If candidates 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" - the Deputy Minister discussed; at the same time, he said that there is no perfect conversion formula.

The gap between high school transcript scores and high school graduation exam scores, or between the competency assessment exam and the high school exam, is always difficult to convert with absolute accuracy. 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 points. That is the responsibility of the schools".

Fairness needs to be viewed in a specific scope. Most importantly, when entering a major, students are treated fairly. Because that is true competition. The difference between schools in the conversion method is normal, reflecting their own characteristics. The Deputy Minister acknowledged that this approach helps explain why this year some majors, especially foreign language pedagogy, reached the absolute score of 30 points. Partly due to the small quota and great attraction, but also partly due to the way of calculating points and converting foreign languages. That is also a bit unreasonable, so it needs further consideration. But in general, the policy has been designed to gradually limit inequality, not create favoritism.

“Conversion is therefore not only a technical tool, but also a warning about balance: it is necessary to practice foreign languages, but it cannot be exchanged by neglecting other fundamental subjects” – the Deputy Minister recommended and said that this year the "virtual filtering" system is operated in many rounds not to "create illusions", but to ensure that each candidate is considered for the highest wish they have ranked.

2025 Wish Selection Day. Photo: Nam Tran.

Positive signals

Deputy Minister Hoang Minh Son explained that we use the term virtual filtering, which has been used for a long time, but in fact this is the admission process. The key is the mechanism of prioritizing wishes. When a candidate has many admission wishes, the system will help them to be admitted to the wish they love the most, the wish that comes first. That is the key.

The reason for running many rounds is due to scale and technical factors. The number of candidates has increased and there is no more early admission, so the number of wishes has increased. Besides, this year, the Ministry of Education and Training 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 universities and colleges… 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", the Deputy Minister rejected it and affirmed that the current method creates fairness, avoiding one candidate taking up many "places".

What learners 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.

According to Deputy Minister of Education and Training Hoang Minh Son, innovations in the 2025 admissions season – from point conversion regulations, priority point limits to implementing multiple virtual filtering 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. What is important is that students with real ability and effort in studying have opportunities. That is the essence of a fair admissions system.

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 number of absolute scores increased sharply in block A00, proving the outstanding abilities of many students, while strategic majors such as artificial intelligence, chip technology, and pedagogy attracted a large number of candidates, in line with the national human resource orientation.

Previous students guide new students through some information needed to fill out paperwork and admission documents directly at Vietnam Academy of Agriculture .

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.

Competition in admissions is necessary, because it not only creates pressure but also motivates students to study hard. "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. 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.

According to regulations, before 5:00 p.m. on August 30, admitted candidates must confirm their admission online on the Ministry of Education and Training's General Admission Support System (System). If they do not do so within the deadline, they will be considered as having refused admission. After confirming admission on the general system, candidates will need to complete admission procedures according to the specific instructions of each training institution. This is different from confirming on the System. Candidates may also be refused admission (if they do not have a need). For candidates who are not admitted in the first round, they will still have a chance in the supplementary admission round.

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/tuyen-sinh-dai-hoc-2025-diem-chuan-cao-o-mot-so-nganh-phan-anh-su-phan-hoa-post745882.html