University speaks out to resolve confusion over percentile conversion of admission scores

In response to many concerns and worries of candidates about how to convert university admission scores between methods this year according to percentile, a university has spoken up to explain.

Parents and candidates receive direct advice from experts at the 2025 Admission Choice Day, organized by Tuoi Tre newspaper in coordination with other units - Photo: QUANG DINH

According to Dr. Bui He Sy - Head of Training Department of University of Technical Education (University of Danang), percentile is a scientific and modern approach, helping to determine the relative position of candidates in the entire score spectrum, instead of just looking at the absolute score.

Requires large enough test score data to convert scores to percentiles

From a professional perspective, Mr. Thong assessed: " The Ministry of Education and Training's encouragement to use percentiles will contribute to ensuring fairness between admission methods, which have different characteristics and dispersion (high school exams, transcripts, capacity assessments, etc.); standardizing the comparison of candidates' capacities, especially in admission when there are many admission methods and many combinations in one admission method".

In the 2025 enrollment, the University of Technical Education (University of Danang) built a model to convert equivalent admission scores between methods based on percentiles according to the instructions of the Ministry of Education and Training and of Danang University, based on the original admission method being the 2025 high school exam scores.

For the method of considering the scores of the Ho Chi Minh City National University's capacity assessment exam organized in 2025, the school will use the results from the conversion framework of admission scores according to the capacity assessment exam scores to admission scores according to the 2025 high school graduation exam scores announced by Ho Chi Minh City National University.

For the transcript review method, the school uses the conversion formula according to the ministry's instructions to convert equivalence based on the available percentile data.

"Technically, the percentile method is feasible because the current high school exam score, transcript and capacity assessment data provided by the Ministry of Education and Training and Ho Chi Minh City National University are detailed enough to ensure statistical representation. This is the basis for converting equivalent admission scores," said Mr. Thong.

MSc. Le Vu - Director of the Center for Communication and Learning Materials of the University of Technical Education (University of Danang) - advised: "The conversion of admission scores according to percentiles is applied for the first time in admissions, so candidates are confused.

Instead of worrying about how the scores will be converted, candidates should proactively research information carefully, calculate how to arrange them appropriately according to their abilities and interests, and finalize their preferences on the system. If candidates have a reasonable strategy for allocating preferences and clearly understand the order of priority, the chance of being admitted will be high."

Propose reasonable and feasible adjustment direction

Meanwhile, Dr. Vo Van Tuan - permanent vice principal of Van Lang University - said that although the Ministry of Education and Training has announced the national score distribution, this score distribution does not accurately reflect the characteristics of the group of candidates applying to each school, nor does it fully represent the actual level of competition between educational institutions.

Therefore, requiring schools to publish specific score conversion formulas at the present time is not feasible in theory and practice.

Due to the lack of actual score data of candidates applying to schools, it is impossible to simulate the percentiles accurately for each school. The conversion formula, if provided, is for reference only and lacks the reliability to be applied accurately in the admission process.

For appropriate and feasible adjustments, Mr. Tuan proposed dividing the conversion announcement process into two phases: phase 1 (before having data) schools are allowed to announce the principles of score conversion and describe in detail the process that will be applied when there is actual data; phase 2 (after having data) updates the official and specific score conversion table after the ministry announces the candidate registration data.

The Ministry of Education and Training develops centralized support tools. The Ministry can deploy an automatic percentile calculation system for all candidates nationwide or for each group of subjects and schools.

Schools only need to enter the input score range, from which the system will automatically generate a unified conversion table, helping to reduce technical burden and ensure accuracy in admissions.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/truong-dai-hoc-len-tieng-go-roi-bach-phan-vi-quy-doi-diem-xet-tuyen-2025072419460096.htm