Giang, from Hanoi, recounted his struggle to achieve an IELTS score of 6.5, aiming for admission to Thuongmai University. Last year, this score was converted to 10 points by the university, with an additional 2,5 bonus points, leading him to believe he had secured a definite "ticket" to his chosen program.

However, a draft of the university admissions regulations from the Ministry of Education and Training, released on 28/1, could eliminate this advantage. The Ministry proposes reducing the maximum bonus points from 3 to 1,5. Furthermore, IELTS scores would only be used for either English subject conversion or bonus points, not both as before. The conversion table must also feature at least five distinct levels, preventing all certificate scores from being equated to 9-10 points.

"I was feeling secure with my results, but now I am confused and worried", Giang said. "This is unfair to those who put all their effort into IELTS".

Giang explained that despite both being English tests, IELTS and the high school graduation exam have different structures and requirements. Consequently, he and many students chose to focus their efforts on preparing for only one of them.

Sharing this concern is Ngoc Linh, a 12th-grade student from Bac Ninh, who worries that her IELTS 7.0 score may no longer be an advantage when applying for the Marketing Communications program at National Economics University.

Linh had planned her IELTS preparation two years ago. Although she "mentally prepared" for the certificate's influence to wane, she was still surprised by the sudden potential reduction in its benefits.

"I will probably retake the test to achieve a 7.5 or 8.0 for peace of mind", Linh stated.

IELTS and other foreign language certificates have been used in university admissions since 2016 and quickly gained prominence. Candidates benefited from score conversions, additional points, and bonus points when combined with exam scores or academic transcripts. Last year, many universities reported tens of thousands of students with IELTS certificates, a 1,5 to 4-fold increase compared to previous years.

On online forums, the discussion about "tightening" IELTS regulations has garnered significant attention, with diverse opinions. However, students like Giang and Linh, who have already studied for and taken the IELTS exam, generally feel let down and resentful.

Professor Nguyen Tien Thao, Director of the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education and Training, explained that these adjustments aim to assess candidates' true foreign language proficiency while ensuring fairness in admissions.

Many admissions experts also support the move to "tighten" IELTS usage.

Doctor Le Anh Duc, Head of Training Management Department at National Economics University, views this adjustment as appropriate, given the increasing prevalence of IELTS and other foreign language certificates. He noted that these certificates primarily reflect language skills, not the core competencies essential for university studies.

Master Nguyen Thai Son, Director of Admissions and Communications Center at Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade, explicitly called this a "bright spot" in the draft regulations. This change addresses the issue of some universities both converting IELTS scores to English subject points and granting bonus points, which created an excessive advantage for candidates who could achieve a maximum of 13/30 points with the certificate.

"International certificates offer many advantages for careers, but this should not lead to arbitrary bonus points and conversions, which can skew and distort cutoff scores", Son said.

Tightening IELTS-based admissions also promotes fairness between urban and rural candidates. It also brings admissions back to its fundamental purpose of assessing academic ability relevant to the requirements of each major, according to Master Nguyen Minh Tung, Head of Admissions and Student Affairs Department at Vietnam Aviation Academy.

However, Duc emphasized that the efforts of students with IELTS scores and the value of these certificates should not be completely disregarded. A survey by National Economics University revealed that students admitted using IELTS and competency assessment scores demonstrated superior academic performance.

"To achieve an IELTS 6.5 or 7.0, candidates invest significant money and effort. With a strong foreign language foundation, combined with soft skills and academic ability, these students will become high-quality human resources in the future", Duc assessed.

Therefore, he suggested that candidates with IELTS scores could still be prioritized for certain majors and admission methods, within the proportions permitted by the Ministry.

Thi sinh TP HCM thi tot nghiep THPT 2025. Anh: Quynh Tran

Experts advise candidates to remain calm and thoroughly research the majors and admission methods of each university to make optimal choices. Students should not be complacent or dedicate all their efforts to a single criterion or method; instead, they should distribute their efforts evenly to increase their chances of admission.

Hoang Giang is considering enrolling in an additional English class to prepare for the graduation exam. He is also awaiting admission information from Thuongmai University to decide whether to prepare for and retake the IELTS test to improve his score.

"I will prepare for both methods and choose the one that offers a greater advantage when it comes to admissions", Giang said.

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