Previously, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, a member of Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, was the sole institution to use a combined admission method that simultaneously considered academic transcripts, national high school graduation exam scores, and competency assessment test scores. By the 2026 admission season, at least 11 universities have finalized a similar approach, moving away from independently evaluating each score component.

This list includes the Banking Academy, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Engineering (UTech), and 8 member universities of Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City. Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade plans to implement this from 2028, with several other institutions also indicating they are considering this change.

Specifically, the Banking Academy combines academic transcripts with competency assessment test scores or international certificates. The remaining institutions integrate three factors: academic transcripts, national high school graduation exam scores, and competency assessment test scores.

According to these universities, this is an inevitable trend to comprehensively evaluate and find genuinely capable candidates, especially given the controversy surrounding academic transcripts due to the prevalence of "virtual scores."

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

Dr. Nguyen Trung Nhan, Head of the Training Department at Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry, explained that last year, the score conversion process, lacking comparative data, led to a surge in admissions via academic transcripts that exceeded expectations. For instance, if university A's formula set a benchmark of 22 points for national high school graduation exam results, it was considered equivalent to 26 points from academic transcripts, a 4-point difference. In reality, candidates' academic transcript scores applying to the university were excessively high, with differences needing to be 5 points or more. However, the university could not adjust this because the conversion formula had been announced beforehand.

"The nature of combined admissions is similar to evaluating each method independently with specific quota percentages", he stated. "For example, universities could develop a formula with a 20% weighting for academic transcripts, 60% for national high school graduation exam scores, and 20% for competency assessment test scores."

Master Pham Thai Son, Director of the Admissions and Communications Center at Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade, agreed. This approach is common among major global universities, such as those in the US (which often combine academic transcripts with essays and SAT scores). Universities can comprehensively assess a candidate's abilities over an extended period. This also helps candidates avoid the risk of "studying hard but performing poorly on exam day" if only national high school graduation exam scores or competency assessment test scores were considered.

The complexities arising from score conversions between different admission methods have also prompted universities to change direction, according to Dr. Quach Thanh Hai, Vice Rector of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Engineering. He noted that last year, conversion faced difficulties due to incomplete data and numerous variables, such as score discrepancies between different subject combinations. Errors in this stage have previously affected the rights of more than 1,000 candidates.

Admission season disrupted by score conversion

Consequently, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Engineering adjusted its admission method to eliminate the conversion step. Instead of evaluating each factor—academic transcripts, national high school graduation exam scores, or competency assessment test scores—and then converting them to a common scale, the university now assesses all three score components using a specific formula. It is anticipated that national high school graduation exam scores will play a primary role.

"This avoids confusion and difficulty for both candidates and the university", Dr. Hai observed.

Additionally, this method ensures fairness. All candidates possess academic transcript scores and national high school graduation exam scores to participate in admissions. For those who do not take the competency assessment test, the university will have a separate scoring formula based on the remaining two factors.

Le Nguyen