Why did the floor scores of many universities decrease so much?

After the Ministry of Education and Training announced the results of the high school graduation exam, universities set a threshold to ensure the quality of input when considering admission. Compared to last year, the admission scores of many schools have decreased sharply due to concerns about not being able to recruit enough candidates.

SCHOOLS DECREASE UP TO 6 POINTS COMPARED TO LAST YEAR

Up to this point, many universities have announced the minimum scores for university admission in 2025. Notably, the scores for high school graduation exams at many schools have decreased sharply, with some schools decreasing by up to 6 points compared to last year.

The minimum score has decreased, but candidates should not be subjective because the actual standard score will vary greatly, depending on the number of registrations and candidates' abilities.

PHOTO: DAO NGOC THACH

The University of Finance and Marketing has officially announced the admission score for regular university programs at 15 points. For the economic law program, candidates need to have a math score of 6 points or higher. If the combination includes math and literature, the score of one of the two subjects must be 6 points or higher. This year's floor score is the lowest in the past 3 years, when previously the floor score was always in the range of 16-19.

Ho Chi Minh City University of Agriculture and Forestry determined the general admission threshold for all majors based on the results of the 2025 high school graduation exam at 16 points (except for teacher training majors according to the general threshold of the Ministry of Education and Training). Compared to 2024, the floor score for many majors has decreased sharply, of which veterinary medicine has decreased by 6 points compared to last year (the floor score for this major last year was 22 points). Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade also set the floor score at 16 for all majors. Compared to last year, this threshold has decreased by 2-4 points for majors in the fields of management, economics, services, law, information technology, and languages.

In the Ho Chi Minh City National University system, the University of Natural Sciences also reduced the admission floor score. With the method of considering high school graduation exam scores, the admission floor score for majors is from 16-24. This is also a deep reduction for some "hot" majors of the school such as: data science decreased by 6 points, from 24 last year to 18 points this year. Some other majors also decreased by 4 points such as: information technology, artificial intelligence, computer science ... Only 2 majors of microchip design and semiconductor technology have a floor score of 24 and have separate regulations on quality assurance thresholds according to general regulations.

Dr. Nguyen Trung Nhan, Head of Training Department of Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry, said that this year, the minimum score for admission to the school's majors will decrease by 1-2 points compared to 2024. Dalat University will also decrease by 1 point compared to last year.

At Van Lang University, all majors have a floor score of 15, down 1 point compared to 2024. With the method of considering the capacity assessment test scores, the floor score also decreased from 650 to 600. Many majors of Saigon International University decreased by 1-2 points. If in 2024, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology took the floor score from 16-19 points, this year all majors have the same floor score of 15, down 1-4 points. Similarly, Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance also decreased by 1-4 points when this year's floor score is 15 for all majors.

FLOOR SCORE BASED ON HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION EXAM SCORES

Sharing about this floor score, university representatives said it was based on the 2025 high school graduation exam score spectrum.

Master Hoang Thanh Tu, Deputy Head of the Information and Communication Department of Ho Chi Minh City University of Science, said that this year, the high school graduation exam scores have fluctuated a lot, especially in the subjects of math, English, chemistry, and biology - the core subjects in the school's admission subject groups. Therefore, adjusting the floor score is necessary to maintain competitiveness, while not affecting the overall target. However, Master Tu noted: "The floor score is the score that qualifies for application, not the admission standard score. Candidates should not be subjective about the downward trend of the floor score. The actual standard score will vary greatly depending on the number of registrations and the capacity of candidates. Trending majors still receive great attention from top candidates".

According to Master Pham Thai Son, Director of the Admissions and Communications Center of Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade, the sharp decrease in the floor scores of schools is understandable when the high school graduation exam scores this year have decreased, the common level is around 16-20, and many schools even accept applications at 15 points. This comes from the concern that setting a high floor score may not be able to meet the enrollment target. "For Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade in particular, the school initially planned to set the floor score at 17, but after announcing the 2025 high school graduation exam results, the school decided to adjust it down to 16. Because setting a high floor score will limit itself," Master Son explained.

Candidates participating in the 2025 high school graduation exam. This year, the high school graduation exam score distribution has many fluctuations, especially in math and English.

Photo: Nhat Thinh

INDUSTRIES EXPECTED TO HAVE STANDARD SCORE DECREASE

Regarding the benchmark score, Dr. Nguyen Trung Nhan said: "Because the floor score has decreased, the benchmark score will also decrease in most cases. However, it is predicted that it will only decrease in majors that have had moderately high benchmark scores in recent years. Specifically, majors with benchmark scores in the 23-26 point range. The reason is that the number of candidates with 3-subject scores from 23-26 points this year is not as high as last year. For "hot" majors every year with benchmark scores above 26, this year is likely to be similar and not decrease. Similarly, majors every year with benchmark scores below 23 are predicted to be stable as in 2024."

Dr. Vo Van Tuan, Vice Principal of Van Lang University, also commented that the admission scores for some majors of the school will decrease compared to last year. Compared to the minimum admission score, Dr. Tuan predicted that majors in engineering and technology will have the same admission score as the minimum admission score, while majors such as multimedia communications, public relations, graphic design, marketing, and information technology will have admission scores 2-4 points higher than the minimum admission score. "The average score of the B group subject combination is low this year, so if the Ministry of Education and Training lowers the admission score to ensure the quality of health majors, the admission scores for health majors may also decrease," Dr. Tuan informed.

SO THAT THE ADMISSIONED STUDENTS DO NOT CENTER INTO ONE METHOD

Dr. Nguyen Trung Nhan commented that this year, the Ministry of Education and Training has stipulated that all methods must be converted to a single scale, and schools must base their calculations on the admission score data of students applying to their schools. If not careful, admitted students may be concentrated in a certain method or a certain field, or not recruited enough. "Converting to both meet the quota and recruit quality students is a difficulty for universities," said Dr. Nhan.

According to Dr. Vo Van Tuan, Van Lang University will develop a conversion principle based on the results of students registering for the school, ensuring that admitted students are not concentrated in one method.

"The Ministry of Education and Training is certainly calculating and will have instructions for schools to create an equivalent conversion table for accuracy and general consistency. July 23 is the deadline for schools to announce the conversion formula. Van Lang University is also waiting for July 23 to finalize the appropriate conversion framework based on the data of students registered on the Ministry's common system up to that time," Dr. Tuan informed.

What is the minimum score for health and education majors this year?

At 2:00 p.m. today, July 21, Thanh Nien Newspaper will organize an online television consultation program "School announces floor scores, what are the options for candidates?". The program will take place simultaneously on the channels: thanhnien.vn , Facebook fanpage, YouTube channel, and TikTok Thanh Nien Newspaper.

According to Mr. Nguyen Tien Thao, Director of the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education and Training, this year's enrollment is different from previous years in that the admission scores will be converted between groups to ensure maximum fairness for candidates. A training major can be considered by 2 or 3 groups, the difference in scores between groups will be adjusted according to the percentile. According to the plan, the Ministry of Education and Training will announce the percentile scores of 5 traditional groups (A00, A01, B00, C00, D01) based on the exam score database of 1 million candidates, on Monday or Tuesday this week. It is expected to be announced together with the announcement of the threshold to ensure input quality of teacher training majors and health sciences majors.

What should candidates pay attention to after having the input quality assurance threshold of these two majors?

In today's online TV consulting program, university admissions experts have some notes for candidates.

The program takes place from 2-3pm, with experts : Dr. Vo Thanh Hai , Permanent Deputy Director of Duy Tan University; Master Nguyen Tran Ngoc Phuong , Director of Marketing and Brand Development Center, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology; Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoang Nga , in charge of communications, Nguyen Tat Thanh University.

Bao Han - Quy Hien

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/vi-sao-diem-san-nhieu-truong-dh-giam-sau-185250720220933245.htm