Ministry of Education addresses four key IELTS questions in university admissions

Many applicants are navigating confusion over how international English language testing system (IELTS) scores are used for score conversion or bonus points, following recent adjustments by the Ministry of Education and Training to university admission policies.

The Ministry of Education has clarified common concerns regarding the use of international foreign language certificates, including IELTS, in university admissions. These clarifications came during the Admissions and Career Counseling Day, organized by Tuoi Tre newspaper on 8/3 in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, where many students and parents sought guidance on how these certificates impact their university applications.

One parent inquired: "Does the Ministry standardize foreign language certificate conversion for all universities?"

Professor Nguyen Tien Thao, Director of the Higher Education Department, explained that while the Ministry considered a unified system, feedback from over 80 universities led to a decision to allow each institution to set its own conversion scale, promoting autonomy. The Ministry's guidelines stipulate that when converting international foreign language certificates to foreign language subject scores, universities can only count a maximum of 10 points. Furthermore, the English certificate conversion table must have at least five distinct levels. For other foreign language certificates, the Ministry does not require five levels due to their varying scoring structures.

Professor Nguyen Tien Thao, Director of the Higher Education Department, Ministry of Education and Training, advises candidates and parents in Hanoi, on the morning of 8/3. Photo: Organizing Committee

Another student in Hanoi asked, "Is there any case where candidates can both convert and receive bonus points for international foreign language certificates?"

Van Thang, a student from Tan Phu Primary-Secondary-High School, Ho Chi Minh City, also wondered if an IELTS 6,5 could be flexibly applied for either conversion to an English exam score or as bonus points when applying to Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology.

According to university admission regulations, candidates who have converted foreign language certificates will not receive bonus points, and vice versa. The Ministry emphasized that there are no exceptions to this rule, with a maximum of 1,5 bonus points out of 30. Associate Professor Vu Duy Hai, Head of Admissions and Career Guidance at Hanoi University of Science and Technology, stressed that specific policies vary by university and admission method, urging candidates to thoroughly review each institution's admission information. For instance, Hanoi University of Science and Technology converts certificate scores only for methods utilizing high school graduation exam results, while for aptitude test scores, only bonus points are awarded. Similarly, Associate Professor Dr. Bui Hoai Thang, Head of the Training Department at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, confirmed that IELTS certificates are exclusively for conversion at their institution, not for bonus points.

"When using an English certificate to be exempt from the high school graduation exam, can it be converted to replace the English subject in the admission combination?" another candidate inquired.

Professor Nguyen Tien Thao clarified that this decision rests with each university's regulations. Associate Professor Vu Thi Hien, Vice Rector of Foreign Trade University, advised students to still sit for the foreign language exam, even if they have certificates. This is because some universities permit international foreign language certificates to replace a subject in the admission combination, while others do not.

A student from Nguyen Hien High School, Ho Chi Minh City, asked: Do changes in bonus or conversion levels for foreign language certificates at many universities affect benchmark scores?

Associate Professor Dr. Bui Hoai Thang, Head of the Training Department at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, explained that benchmark scores are primarily influenced by exam difficulty, the volume of applications per major and university, and candidate quality. High competition from many high-scoring applicants in a specific major could raise its benchmark. Conversely, adjustments to foreign language certificate points, such as capping IELTS bonus points at 1,5 instead of the previous 3, are expected to foster greater fairness in university admissions rather than significantly altering benchmark score trends.