University admissions 2025: How will the cut-off scores differ from previous years?

2025 will be a year of significant changes to university admissions. Specifically, all admission methods must be conducted in a single round, eliminating separate quotas for each method, and admission scores must be converted to an equivalent scoring scale.

What candidates are most concerned about is how the cut-off scores will differ from those in 2024 given these technical changes?

Despite several changes in the scoring system, university representatives advise candidates not to worry as these changes are purely technical.

PHOTO: DAO NGOC THACH

Q. CONVERTING EQUIVALENT STANDARD SCORES BETWEEN METHODS

At this point, the formula and conversion framework for equivalent admission scores between different methods at universities have been determined. This formula varies from university to university, but all are based on the 7th percentile of the most common admission combinations and comparative data between the results of the high school graduation exam and the academic transcripts of 12th-grade students nationwide, as previously announced and guided by the Ministry of Education and Training.

Based on the conversion framework of admission scores from academic transcripts to high school graduation exam scores at the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH), the difference between academic transcript scores and high school graduation exam scores between the two methods can be divided into 12 ranges. The lowest range is from 19.5 - 23.64 academic transcript points, equivalent to 16 - 21.04 high school graduation exam points. The highest range is 29 - 30 academic transcript points, equivalent to 25.81 - 30 high school graduation exam points.

Associate Professor Bui Quang Hung, Deputy Director of UEH, stated that with this conversion framework, this year's admission scores are different from last year's. Prior to 2024, each admission method had its own separate cutoff score, and the scoring scales were inconsistent and not standardized. For example, the economics major at the university had a cutoff score of 26.3 based on the high school graduation exam, 69 based on academic transcripts, and 920 based on competency assessment.

According to this year's calculation method, using the equivalent score scale and the high school graduation exam score as the base method, if the cutoff score for economics majors based on the high school graduation exam is 26.3, then candidates must achieve 29.55 points from their high school transcript and 985 points from the aptitude test to be admitted. The difference between the admission score based on the high school transcript and the high school graduation exam score is 3.25.

Similarly, at Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry, the admission scores will also change. The university's conversion formula is as follows: for scores between 17 and 21 points, the admission score based on academic transcripts = admission score based on high school graduation exam results + 4. For scores between 21 and 25 points, the academic transcript score = high school graduation exam score x 0.749 + 9.27. For scores between 25 and 30 points, the academic transcript score = high school graduation exam score x 0.398 + 18.06.

For example, in 2024, the university's Mechanical Engineering program had a high school graduation exam cutoff score of 25 and a transcript-based admission score of 25, with a difference of 0 points between the two methods. However, according to this year's conversion formula, if the cutoff score for this program based on the high school graduation exam is 25, then candidates must achieve 28 points from their transcript to be admitted. Thus, the difference between the two methods is 3 points.

The situation is similar at other universities.

Similarly, with the method of considering scores from aptitude tests or V-SAT, schools will divide the scores into ranges to determine admission scores equivalent to those of the method using high school graduation exam results, while in 2024 the cut-off scores did not follow this correlation.

This year, university admission scores must be converted to an equivalent scale across different admission methods.

Photo: Nhat Thinh

ENSURING FAIRNESS IN ADMISSIONS

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Xuan Dung, Director of the Communication Center at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, adjusting the method of determining admission scores based on an equivalent scoring scale between different methods is crucial for standardization, ensuring fairness and equivalence between different scoring scales in admissions. The 2025 admission scores will no longer be determined independently for each method but will be calculated based on a close correlation between the methods.

Associate Professor Bui Quang Hung stated that the predicted cut-off scores for majors at UEH this year will fluctuate within a range of 1 point compared to 2024, depending on the training program. Based on the conversion framework and the cut-off scores from the high school graduation exam, candidates applying through multiple methods can determine which method they have been admitted through. For example, if the cut-off score for the economics major at the university decreases by 1 point to 25.3, and a candidate only achieves 24 points on the high school graduation exam but has 28.4 points on their high school transcript, they will be admitted through the transcript method, as this score is equivalent to 25.3.

Dr. Nguyen Trung Nhan, Head of the Training Department at Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry, believes that even though the method of calculating admission scores for different admission methods has changed this year, bringing it to a scale equivalent to the original method of considering high school graduation exam scores, candidates do not need to worry because their scores will not change. "The conversion is the responsibility of the universities; students just need to wait for the announcement of the admission scores, as in previous years. Whether the admission scores increase or decrease still depends on the quota for each major, the number and quality of applicants. However, based on this year's score distribution, the admission scores are likely to decrease," Dr. Nhan predicted.

Ms. Xuan Dung, M.A., believes that this year's cutoff scores may be lower than in 2024, due to the lower distribution of exam scores this year, but the competitiveness in terms of percentile (position within the score distribution) will remain the same.

"Candidates don't need to worry about converting their scores themselves. Right now, they need to find out about the next deadlines and comply with regulations such as paying the application fee. They should also research more information about the training programs and learning environment at the majors and universities they have applied to," advised Master Xuan Dung.

The following timelines should be noted by the PhD holder.

According to the Ministry of Education and Training's 2025 admissions plan, after the registration period ends, from July 29th to 5 PM on August 5th, candidates must pay the online application fee. If candidates do not submit all their desired choices, they will not be considered for admission.

From August 13th to 5 PM on August 20th, schools will be carrying out tasks related to exam scores.

By 5 PM on August 22nd at the latest, universities will announce the candidates admitted in the first round. After receiving the admission results, candidates must confirm their enrollment online through the system by 5 PM on August 30th.

Does having a minimum admission score below average violate the admissions regulations?

Currently, some universities have set the minimum admission score for majors outside the health, education, and law fields at below 15 points. For example, Quang Trung University ( Gia Lai province), Hung Yen University of Technology and Education, Thanh Dong University (Hai Phong city), the University of Labor and Social Affairs, and especially Hung Vuong University (Ho Chi Minh City) have set the minimum score at 12 for all majors.

Dr. Nguyen Trung Nhan, Head of the Training Department at Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry, stated that the Ministry of Education and Training only stipulates the minimum admission scores for health, teacher training, and law majors; the remaining majors are determined by the universities themselves. Regarding the admission cutoff scores, the Ministry's regulations also stipulate: "The admission score is determined so that the number of students admitted to each major and training program matches the number of quotas announced, but not lower than the entrance threshold."

Ms. Nguyen Thi Mai Binh, Head of the Training Department at Hung Vuong University in Ho Chi Minh City, explained that the university based its decision on the distribution of scores for this year's exam subjects and the total university enrollment quota for 2024 to determine the minimum admission score at 12. "With the ratio of enrollment quota to the total number of candidates being approximately 70%, we need to choose a score level that allows about 70% of candidates to register for university admission. However, this year many subjects have significantly lower average scores than last year, with some subject combinations having scores of only around 12 or slightly higher," Ms. Mai Binh stated.

According to Master Mai Binh, this is only the minimum threshold for receiving applications, not the cutoff score. At this point, the school does not have the data of registered candidates, so it is not possible to predict what the cutoff score will be this year.

Dr. Huynh Ngoc Hao, Director of the Central Vietnam branch of the University of Construction in Da Nang, believes that universities setting the minimum admission score below 15 and achieving the same admission score does not violate the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training. However, Dr. Hao argues that if the admission score is as low as the minimum score, it might only be suitable for social science and economics majors, provided that both students and the university work together to ensure students can complete their university studies. "For engineering, technology, and natural science majors, low entry requirements will significantly impact the quality of education," Dr. Hao observed.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tuyen-sinh-dh-2025-diem-chuan-khac-voi-nhung-nam-truoc-ra-sao-185250728202654881.htm