University Admissions 2025: What is the difference between the floor score and the standard score?

Universities are currently announcing their admission floor scores. So how is this floor score different from the admission standard score?

Candidates need to distinguish between the minimum admission score and the admission standard score in university and college admissions.

Photo: Nhat Thinh

It is expected that today or tomorrow, the Ministry of Education and Training will announce the threshold to ensure the quality of admission to the teacher training sector (pedagogy) and the health sector. According to the enrollment plan of the Ministry of Education and Training, universities will complete the announcement of the minimum admission score (threshold to ensure the quality of admission) before 5:00 p.m. on July 23.

The floor score is the minimum score to receive application for admission.

Up to this point, many universities have announced the minimum admission scores for university-level training programs in different admission methods: high school graduation exam scores, high school academic results (based on transcripts), scores of separate exams (HCMC National University, Hanoi National University, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, V-SAT exam, etc.) From the threshold to ensure input quality as prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Training, universities training in pedagogy and health will announce the minimum admission scores for specific majors at the school in the next few days.

So, what is the difference between the floor score and the benchmark score? Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Phung, Deputy Director of the Admissions and Business Relations Center of the University of Finance and Marketing, noted that candidates need to distinguish between the floor score and the benchmark score. Accordingly, the floor score for admission (the threshold to ensure input quality) is the minimum score to receive applications. Based on this floor score, candidates are eligible to register for each specific major/program.

The benchmark is the admission score for each major/program.

Master Nguyen Thi Kim Phung further explained: From the total number of candidates registered for admission compared to the quota, universities determine the admission score for each major/program. Therefore, the admission score can be equal to or higher than the admission floor score depending on the number of applications and the quality of the admission scores of specific registered candidates.

This distinction can be seen through the floor score and standard score of schools in 2024. For example, the University of Finance and Marketing, last year the school determined a common floor score for all majors based on the high school graduation exam score of 19. But the admission score for all majors is 22-25.9 points. Thus, the admission score of this school does not have any major equal to the floor score, the major with the highest standard score is nearly 7 points away from the floor score.

However, there are schools where the admission benchmark is determined to be equal to the admission floor score. For example, Hung Vuong University, Ho Chi Minh City, has a benchmark score for majors considering the 2024 high school graduation exam scores of 15 points (equal to the floor score for receiving applications).

"The minimum score is only a condition for submitting an application, it does not guarantee admission. Candidates need to closely monitor the benchmark scores of previous years to have a suitable registration strategy. Candidates and parents should not think that reaching the minimum score means they are sure to be admitted," a representative of the University of Finance and Marketing added.

Readers can see information about the floor scores of more than 30 other universities HERE .

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tuyen-sinh-dh-2025-diem-san-khac-gi-voi-diem-chuan-185250721122104916.htm