Thang, a second-year student in Hanoi, recounted joining an IELTS preparation course in 11th grade with the goal of achieving a score of 6.0 or higher. The tuition fee was 55 million dong. After two attempts at the exam and additional one-on-one tutoring to improve his listening and speaking skills, Thang’s family, despite not being wealthy, spent over 100 million dong. In return, his 6.5 certificate earned him a 10-point English score and an additional 2,5 bonus points, securing him a spot at a mid-tier university.

In the same graduation exam season, where the English test was surprisingly difficult, Thang only scored 5,25 in the subject.

"Without the IELTS certificate, I probably would have had to attend a lower-tier university or retake the university entrance exam", Thang reflected.

Thang's experience is a common one for tens of thousands of high school students in recent years, as they recognize the advantages of foreign language certificates in university admissions.

Quan, a 10th-grade student in TP HCM, asked his parents to pay over 30 million dong for a course guaranteeing a 7.0 score, even though he had not yet decided on a major or university. He reasoned that "it would be beneficial anyway". Ngoc Hoai, 18 years old, from Phu Tho, spent a similar amount and achieved a 5.5, now preparing to retake the test hoping to reach 6.5.

"Even if the bonus points are removed as planned, this certificate can still help me convert to a 9-10 point English score for many universities", Hoai stated, noting that achieving a similar score in the graduation exam would be far more challenging.

Candidates complete graduation exam procedures at Le Quy Don High School, TP HCM, on 10/6. Photo: Thanh Tung

This trend began in 2015 when the Ministry of Education and Training started using foreign language certificates for exam exemptions and graduation score conversions. Two years later, National Economics University (NEU) became a pioneer, using certificates for admission. Today, over 100 universities convert scores, offer bonus points, or combine IELTS with other admission criteria.

Many universities convert an IELTS score of 5.0 or higher, or its equivalent, into 7-10 points for the English subject. Others added up to 3 points to the total admission score, before reducing it to 1,5 this year as required by the Ministry.

Since then, the number of applications with IELTS certificates submitted to universities has soared. At National Economics University, this figure jumped from 50 applications in 2017 to 22,000–23,000 in recent years. Between 2020 and 2026, the number at the University of Economics and Law (Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City) increased by 73 times, while at Vietnamese-German University, it rose by 7 times.

Statistics from the Ministry show that over 35,900 candidates used IELTS for bonus admission points this year.

"When the admissions benefits are substantial, the market inevitably reacts, leading to a certificate race. This is also why many 'super' IELTS test prep centers have emerged", commented Dang Thi Ngoc Quyen, Senior Manager at British University Vietnam (BUV).

The two organizations that administer the IELTS exam in Vietnam, the British Council and IDP, do not disclose the number of test-takers each year. However, IDP’s annual reports for 2023 and 2024 state that Vietnam is one of the three fastest-growing markets globally.

The network of IELTS organizations and instructors in Vietnam, including language centers, high schools, universities, and educational companies, has also expanded over the past five years. From 2021 to 2025, the number of top partners of the British Council increased from about 70 to nearly 130, according to the organization's website.

The "Teaching and Learning Foreign Languages in Vietnam 2023" report by the Institute of Educational Strategy and Policy and the National Foreign Language Project Management Board, indicates that the number of IELTS test-takers aged 16-18 increased by 20 times between 2018 and 2022.

At NBA English Center, the number of students preparing for IELTS has increased by at least 10% annually from 2024 to 2026, with 70% aiming for domestic university admissions, according to founder Doctor Nghiem Bao Anh.

A VnExpress survey of over 10 foreign language centers revealed that in-person IELTS preparation courses from 5.0-5.5 to 6.0-6.5 cost 10-16 million dong, with prices increasing for higher scores.

Beyond external centers, many high schools also offer test preparation classes. For example, at the Nguyen Khuyen private school system in TP HCM, approximately 60-65% of students enroll in these classes, according to a teacher in charge. The teacher noted that certificate preparation classes have existed for 15 years, but student numbers surged after the Ministry began converting IELTS 4.0 to 10 points for the graduation English exam and the explosion of combined admission methods or bonus points for the certificate.

However, Ong Gia Khanh, former Academic Director at PISA IELTS, believes that university admissions policies are a strong catalyst but not the sole motivation for IELTS learners. The market's boom also stems from parents and students increasingly recognizing the value of an international proficiency standard, combined with improving economic conditions.

Undeniably, the IELTS race brings positive values. Associate Professor Ha Le Kim Anh, Vice Rector of the University of Languages and International Studies (ULIS), Vietnam National University, Hanoi, stated that test preparation helps students access foreign languages according to international standards, developing all four skills comprehensively instead of focusing only on reading comprehension and grammar—a weakness of the high school curriculum. This fosters foreign language learning, especially in the context of integration and the policy of making English a second language in schools.

It also helps elevate the overall English proficiency of students at many universities. Upon admission, about half of new students at the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City and Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology already have IELTS 5.5-6.0 or higher, equivalent to the exit standards of some training programs. At National Economics University, this figure is about 80%, with scores commonly 6.5 or higher.

This provides a foundation for students to access international textbooks and research, engage in international exchanges, and subsequently secure job opportunities in a highly competitive labor market, according to Dang Thi Ngoc Quyen.

Nevertheless, the downsides of this trend are also evident. In eight years of interviewing scholarship applicants, Quyen observed that preparing for the exam using "tricks" sometimes leads to scores that do not accurately reflect actual proficiency. On several occasions, she encountered applicants with IELTS 7.0-7.5 who did not listen or speak as well as those with 6.5.

More concerning, the bonus point policy can cause inequality in admissions, according to the Ministry of Education and Training. Statistics for top 5% high-scoring fields (from 26,09/30 points or higher) show that over 30% of new students benefited from bonus points. Many fields with cut-off scores around 28, but allowing up to 1,5 bonus points for certificates, led to many students with lower scores being admitted, while thousands who scored 26,5-28 points failed.

Considering three methods alone—high school graduation exam scores, academic transcripts, and a combination of both—over 51% of candidates with original scores below the cut-off were admitted thanks to bonus points.

"These figures indicate that bonus points can become a decisive factor in highly competitive fields, creating inequality in admissions", a Ministry representative noted.

Master Le Dang Hoa, Head of Admissions and Communications at Thu Dau Mot University, pointed out that in fiercely competitive fields like Pedagogy, a small difference can determine success or failure. In such cases, the advantage clearly belongs to urban students who have the financial means to access native English teachers and early test preparation, compared to rural students.

Given these issues, the Ministry plans to abolish bonus points for certificates and achievements starting in 2027, while the right to convert IELTS scores to replace English exam scores will remain.

In the long term, even if admission policies tighten, Khanh believes many students will continue to prepare for IELTS due to the demand for overseas study, international integration, or personal skill validation. Experts suggest that the core issue is for candidates to shift from chasing scores to structured, genuine learning.

"Students need to learn so that their band scores accurately reflect their language proficiency, rather than turning IELTS into a score race", Quyen stated.

Group of reporters

*Student names have been changed