Candidates using IELTS for university admission continue to rise

Despite stricter regulations and a halving of bonus points, the number of candidates using foreign language certificates, predominantly IELTS, for university admission has increased at many institutions.

Among nearly 6,300 applications to the Vietnamese-German University (VGU), 5,700 profiles included an IELTS score of 5.0 or higher. This figure is 2,300 more than last year, representing an increase of nearly 70%. The majority of these applications, 76%, had IELTS scores ranging from 6.0 to 7.5.

According to Nguyen Hoang Thien Thu, Deputy Head of Marketing and Admissions, the number of applications with foreign language certificates at the university has increased seven times since 2021. Specifically, the group achieving IELTS 7.0 or higher rose from 320 to over 2,400, indicating a significant investment by candidates.

This upward trend is also observed at many other universities. Among nearly 21,000 candidates applying to the University of Economics and Law, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, more than 9,700 had certificates equivalent to IELTS 5.0, an increase of nearly 900 compared to last year.

At the Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade, approximately 8,000 out of 83,000 applications included foreign language certificates, an increase of about 1,000 candidates. Meanwhile, the Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy received over 2,300 applications with IELTS scores of 6.0 or higher, nearly 600 more than previously.

In the northern region, Hanoi University of Science and Technology saw the strongest increase, with over 15,000 applications including these certificates, 50% more than last year. The National Economics University reported that 23,000 candidates used IELTS for admission applications, an increase of nearly 1,000.

Under the university admissions regulations for 2026, institutions are only permitted to convert foreign language certificates into an English subject score or award bonus points, not count them two times as in previous years.

Most universities accept an IELTS 5.0 score as equivalent to 7-8.5 points for the English subject. A score of 7.0 or higher is often converted to a perfect 10 by many institutions. For bonus points, candidates with an IELTS 5.0 or higher receive 0.5-1.5 points from many universities, which is half the amount offered last year.

University representatives predict that the trend of candidates using foreign language certificates for university admission will continue to increase, despite the stricter conversion rates and reduced bonus points.

According to Cu Xuan Tien, Head of Admissions and Student Affairs at the University of Economics and Law, this is because candidates applying to top-tier and mid-tier universities must compete for every small point.

Furthermore, Pham Thai Son, Director of the Admissions and Communications Center at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade, noted that taking the IELTS exam is becoming more common and accessible, gradually becoming a milestone in students' academic journeys. It also serves as a backup option, providing reassurance to candidates if their English scores in the high school graduation exam are not satisfactory.