Many candidates exited the testing room at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education at noon on 24/5, excitedly discussing the exam.

Minh Khanh, a student from An Duong Vuong High School, reported that the exam spanned 16 pages, mirroring the structure and length of the sample test. She noted that while some Vietnamese language questions on poetic rules and rhyming schemes were challenging due to her limited practice, the section was generally easier than in the first round. Khanh also found the Scientific Thinking section to contain many "easy points" in physics, chemistry, and biology.

"The English questions were slightly more difficult but still manageable," Khanh stated. "However, the math section was significantly harder, with numerous challenging parameter questions."

Overall, the exam felt easier, and with prior experience, Khanh finished with 15 minutes to spare, unlike the first round where she worked until the final minute. Having scored 957 out of 1,200 in the first round, which she considered her academic threshold, Khanh anticipated a higher score this time. She hopes to improve by 30-40 points to gain admission into the Business Administration program at the University of Economics and Law.

Similarly, Thanh Danh from Binh Chieu High School and Thanh Xuan from Tam Phu High School also observed that the exam was less challenging than the first round, with the exception of the math section. Danh noted that the Vietnamese language questions, though lengthy, were clear and contained no unfamiliar content. The Scientific Thinking section, he added, involved basic calculations and was straightforward to interpret. Danh aims for 800 points to secure a spot in the Microchip Technology program at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education.

Thanh Xuan, however, expressed regret over her time management, which prevented her from completing the math section. She admitted to guessing most answers in that part, anticipating a lower score than her previous attempt.

Meanwhile, Ha Phuong, a student from Thu Duc High School, aims to boost her score from just over 600 in the previous round to 800. Her strength in natural sciences allowed her to quickly complete the math and scientific thinking sections. However, the Vietnamese language section remained her biggest challenge.

"If the difficulty of the first round was a 10, this time it's about 8.5," Ha Phuong stated. "I feel more certain and confident, with less random guessing. The overall score distribution for the second round might increase."

Candidates were excited after completing the second aptitude test on 24/5. Photo: Le Nguyen

Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM) announced that the VACT exam comprises 120 multiple-choice questions across three sections: Scientific Thinking (30 questions), Math (30 questions), and Language Use (60 Vietnamese and English questions). Candidates complete the paper-based test in 150 minutes. Each question carries a different weight based on its difficulty, contributing to a total score of 1,200.

The second aptitude test saw a record-breaking participation of over 170,000 students, making it the largest in the country. Results are scheduled for announcement on 6/6. Currently, 118 universities and colleges utilize these test scores for their admission processes.

The first round, held in April, attracted nearly 133,500 candidates, with an average score of 682 out of 1,200. Scores ranged from a low of 27 points to a high of 1,098.

Le Nguyen