University Admissions 2025: Need to Unify Conversion of Foreign Language Certificates

TP - Most universities use IELTS certificates for admission, but the conversion values ​​are not the same, causing confusion for candidates.

Point conversion problem

Up to now, dozens of universities have announced the use of foreign language certificates for admission. Many schools have announced the IELTS score conversion table, with a score of 4.0 or higher, such as Vietnam Academy of Agriculture, Hanoi Capital University, Saigon University, Phan Chau Trinh University. The IELTS score conversion level of 4.0 or higher is equivalent to 6 - 8/10 points. Banking Academy and CMC University require candidates to achieve IELTS 8.0 to be converted to 10/10 points; University of Commerce converts IELTS 5.0 to 10/10 points.

Students after the 2024 high school graduation exam. Photo: NHU Y

Hanoi National University recognizes the conversion of foreign language certificates from 5.5 IELTS or higher to the following levels: 5.5 IELTS/72-78 TOEFL iBT equivalent to 8.5/10 points in English; 6.0 IELTS/79-87 TOEFL iBT equivalent to 9.0/10 points; 6.5 IELTS/88-95iBT equivalent to 9.5/10 points; 7.0-9.0 IELTS/96-120 TOEFL iBT equivalent to 10/10 points.

Some schools also combine both methods: converting points and adding bonus points for candidates with IELTS certificates. For example, Hanoi National University of Education applies an additional 1 to 3 points for candidates with IELTS 6.5 or higher for majors taught in English such as English Pedagogy, Mathematics Pedagogy, Physics, Chemistry. Saigon University uses IELTS scores to convert in combinations that include English, and at the same time adds bonus points (from 1 to 2 points) if the combination does not include English.

Thus, it can be seen that, with the same IELTS score of 5.5, when converted to the equivalent value of the university admission scale, some schools have 10 points (University of Commerce), but some schools have only 8 points (National Economics University). Meanwhile, the candidates' ability in foreign languages ​​is clearly equivalent, but when applying to 2 universities, the converted score is 2/10 points different. On the other hand, a candidate with 5.0 IELTS and a candidate with 7.5 IELTS have a huge difference in ability, but both have a common conversion level of 10/10 points. This is one of the shortcomings in university admission.

At the 2025 University Admissions Conference held in March, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Hoang Minh Son also pointed out the shortcomings in the current conversion of foreign language certificates and assigned the Department of Higher Education to conduct research to provide guidance for universities to ensure fairness for candidates and between schools.

Before 2024, foreign languages ​​will be a compulsory subject in the high school graduation exam for all candidates. The results show that the provinces with the lowest average English scores in the country are in disadvantaged provinces, remote areas such as Ha Giang, Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Son La, Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Dak Nong, Hoa Binh, Tra Vinh, Hau Giang, Lang Son.

Students in disadvantaged areas are at a disadvantage.

Many universities use IELTS for admission, but in reality, this is not a playground for students from other provinces, where there are no conditions for extra study. According to reporters' observations through field trips, students in remote areas or especially difficult areas have almost no access to foreign languages. In schools, there are not enough foreign language teachers, outside schools, there are few foreign language centers for students to study. Nearly 100% of high school students in difficult areas do not have a foreign language certificate to be exempted from this subject for graduation.

Sharing with the press, Mr. Nong The Huan, Principal of Dong Van High School (Ha Giang) affirmed that some students at the school do not yet understand the common language, so learning foreign languages ​​becomes even more difficult. In previous years, the school did not have any students using foreign language certificates to convert scores in the high school graduation exam. Ha Giang has very few foreign language centers, most of which are concentrated in the city and are usually only English centers for children under 16 years old. Therefore, the possibility of students in remote areas being able to study at English centers and review and then take exams to get foreign language certificates is almost zero.

Recently, many experts have expressed concerns about the fairness of university admissions when the admission methods of major universities only benefit students in big cities and families with good conditions. For example, considering foreign language certificates, considering separate exam results (ability assessment test results, thinking assessment test results). Students in disadvantaged areas have almost no chance to access these methods.

Tighten regulations

According to Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dinh Duc, University of Technology (Vietnam National University, Hanoi), there is currently a situation of inconsistent conversion between university training institutions. The reason is that schools have the right to decide on enrollment, so the conversion depends on the major. Mr. Duc gave an example of majors such as English Language, or international training majors that require high English input standards, so the conversion score will be low. Other majors that are not specialized in English often convert IELTS scores higher.

This year, one of the new points of the Admission Regulations, the Ministry of Education and Training requires schools to convert equivalent benchmark scores between admission methods in the same major or training program. The goal is to ensure fairness in assessing candidates' abilities. In particular, requiring universities not to divide quotas according to admission methods will limit some of the shortcomings in admissions as in the past. Thus, candidates in remote and disadvantaged areas have more opportunities to access university education.

In addition, the new regulations tighten the limit on points added and points converted, such as: The points converted from foreign language certificates must not exceed 50% of the total combined score (ie maximum 15/30 points). The bonus points must not exceed 10% of the maximum score. The total admission score, including priority points, must not exceed the absolute score. Thus, the higher the candidate's score according to the admission combination, the more valuable the IELTS certificate is.

NGHIEM HUE

Source: https://tienphong.vn/tuyen-sinh-dai-hoc-nam-2025-can-thong-nhat-quy-doi-chung-chi-ngoai-ngu-post1737716.tpo