Doctor Nguyen Quoc Chinh, Director of the Center for Testing and Education Quality Assessment at Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM), announced this on the afternoon of 5/12. This computer-based exam will run in parallel with the current competency assessment test. Further details will be announced later.

For 2026, the exam will retain its current organizational method and structure to ensure stability, continuity, and comparability of results across years.

In Vietnam, several fields are considered specialized, including pedagogy, law, medicine, and semiconductors. The idea of a separate exam for medical and pharmaceutical schools has been discussed since 2022.

In many countries, the medical field has a separate entrance examination; for example, medical universities in the US and Canada use the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) for admissions. To improve training quality and align with global trends, Vietnam's health sector also needs a separate exam, according to Professor Nguyen Vu Quoc Huy, Rector of Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy.

Currently, most schools continue to use high school graduation exam scores for admissions.

Candidates in Ho Chi Minh City taking the 2025 high school graduation exam. Photo: Quynh Tran

Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City's competency assessment test (V-ACT) in 2026 is expected to be held in two phases across 15 provinces and cities, including: Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, Da Nang, Quang Ngai, Gia Lai, Khanh Hoa, Lam Dong, Dak Lak, Dong Nai, Tay Ninh, Dong Thap, Vinh Long, An Giang, Can Tho, and Ca Mau.

The exam schedule is as follows:

This year, the exam saw approximately 152,800 candidates and over 223,000 test attempts. Over 110 institutions used the results of this exam for admissions.

Khanh Linh