University Admissions 2025: Many ironic situations appear

TP - This year, the first round of admission scores received special attention from parents, candidates, and public opinion. The first round of university admission scores saw many ironic situations.

Low score spectrum, high benchmark

The 2025 high school graduation exam score distribution in some groups is significantly lower than in 2024. Of which, groups D01 (Math, Literature, English) and B00 (Math, Physics, Chemistry) have the lowest score distribution. When determining the floor score, universities also determine that these two groups are lower than the remaining groups. For example, the floor score of the Diplomatic Academy for group C00 (Literature, History, Geography) is 3 points higher than group D01; Hanoi Medical University has set out the principle of determining the benchmark score for majors that consider many groups, the benchmark score of B00 and C00 is 5 points different, the score difference between D01 and B00 is 3 points.

Candidates learn about registration information for 2025. Photo: Nhu Y

However, the principle of low score distribution and high standard scores does not occur uniformly among schools. This year, there is a paradox of low score distribution and high standard scores. The standard score for English and Chinese pedagogy majors of the University of Foreign Languages ​​( Hanoi National University) and the University of Education (Hue University) considers the D01 combination with an absolute standard score of 30/30. Meanwhile, the national valedictorian of the D01 combination only achieved 29/30 points.

According to the reporter's investigation, the paradox of low scores and high benchmark scores occurring with the D01 combination is caused by the addition of bonus points and the conversion of foreign language certificates. According to the 2025 university admission regulations, universities are allowed to add bonus points but not exceeding 10% of the maximum score of the admission scale (3/30 points). These bonus points are regulated to include national excellent student awards, provincial excellent student awards, Olympic awards at all levels... Many schools also allow candidates with international foreign language certificates to convert into foreign language subject scores in the admission combination. The conversion score varies from school to school, but commonly 6.5 IELTS is converted into 9.5/10 English subject points when considering admission, from 7.0 IELTS is converted into 10/10 points. Thanks to this conversion, although the foreign language subject score range is low, the benchmark score for the D01 combination at schools is still sky-high.

National Economics University is one of the few schools this year that does not apply the difference in scores between groups. Dr. Le Anh Duc, Head of Training Management Department, National Economics University, said that the number of candidates using English in group D01 in the high school graduation exam scores for admission is not large. Most candidates use the IELTS English certificate conversion for admission.

Furthermore, the benchmark scores of the majors of the National Economics University in previous years were generally in the high score segment, and with the high score range of this year's score spectrum, the difference between D01, A01, D07 and A00 is not as large as the overall score spectrum.

In addition, schools also use many other methods such as ability assessment scores, thinking scores, international certificates, excellent students, etc. With the method of considering high school graduation exam scores, the risk is that this year's exam questions will be like this and next year's will be different. It is unfair for schools to follow these unpredictable changes.

Differentiation

The benchmark scores in a university education institution are strongly differentiated. This year, Hanoi University of Science and Technology has 2 major codes with benchmark scores above 29/30 points, higher than in 2024. However, the benchmark scores of "less attractive" majors have decreased significantly (2 points), causing the gap between the highest and lowest benchmark scores of Hanoi University of Science and Technology to be 10.39 points (last year the gap was 7.53 points).

Dr. Le Anh Duc said that this year, the order of admission scores of the majors of the National Economics University has not changed much compared to 2024 and 2023. But there is a strong differentiation between the top and bottom majors. Hot majors increased by 0.5-1.0 points (8 codes have a benchmark score of 28/30 points, in 2024 there was only 1 major). But the low-scoring majors of the school in previous years have decreased sharply this year. The school has 40/73 majors with a benchmark score of 26/30 points, 8 majors have a benchmark score below 24.5/30 points, of which the lowest major is 23/30 points. In 2024, the lowest benchmark score is 24.5/30 points. The difference between the highest and lowest majors this year is 5.83 points, last year it was 3.6 points.

Another clear differentiation is that universities only consider high school graduation exam scores for admission, with benchmark scores tending to decrease and approaching the published score range. Hanoi Medical University considers admission based on graduation exam scores, mainly the A00 and B00 combinations, with benchmark scores ranging from 17-28.7/30 points.

Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy only considers admission based on graduation exam scores and combines graduation exam scores with international English certificates, the benchmark score in 2025 is from 17-27.34/30. Compared to last year, the benchmark score for all majors of the school decreased by 0.4 to nearly 5 points. The two majors of medicine and dentistry have the smallest decrease. Majors with benchmark scores that decreased by more than 3 points include: Midwifery, nutrition, preventive medicine, traditional medicine, nursing. In particular, the Nutrition major has the sharpest decrease in admission scores, from 24.1/30 in 2024 to 19.25/30 points, a decrease of 4.85 points.

Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy also only considers admission based on graduation exam scores, so the school's benchmark scores in 2025 for all majors have decreased sharply. Compared to 2024, medicine decreased by 1.82 points; dentistry decreased by 2.3 points. The remaining majors decreased sharply, such as traditional medicine decreased by 4.98 points; preventive medicine decreased by 5.7 points; midwifery decreased by 5.35 points...

It can be seen that with the B00 and D01 groups, if there were no "lifesavers" such as bonus points, conversion of foreign language certificates, and many admission methods, the benchmark scores of many majors would certainly not be at the ceiling level like this year.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dinh Duc, University of Technology (Vietnam National University, Hanoi) assessed that converting methods to one scale and selecting a common admission round has had a big impact on this year's university admission benchmark. He suggested that the exam questions for high school graduation exams next year should be differentiated, not "good or bad" like Math and English this year. It is necessary to maintain stable admission regulations, consider converting methods to one starting point because in reality this year there have been inadequacies that have just appeared unfair. Mr. Duc further recommended not to introduce too many admission combinations and to suppress the number of candidates' registration wishes.

Source: https://tienphong.vn/tuyen-sinh-dai-hoc-2025-xuat-hien-nhieu-tinh-huong-tro-treu-post1772571.tpo