Hoang Giang in Hanoi spent 1.5 years and nearly VND100 million (US$3,824) taking the IELTS twice, only to learn recently that its advantage could soon disappear.
He said he struggled to earn a 6.5 score, aiming for admission to Thuong Mai (Commerce) University. Last year that score was converted to a perfect 10 in English and paired with a 2.5-point bonus, leading him to believe he had secured a reliable ticket to university.
But a draft admissions regulation released by the Ministry of Education and Training on Jan. 28 seems set to wipe out that edge.
It proposes cutting the maximum bonus from 3 to 1.5 points and allowing IELTS to count either toward English score conversion or bonus points and not both as is now the case.
Conversion tables would also have to include at least five distinct score levels, preventing multiple certificate bands from being grouped within the 9-10 range.
Vietnamese students are admitted to universities based on several academic results, including mainly their scores in the high school graduation exam, which comprises two compulsory tests in mathematics and literature, and two other tests where students can choose from seven subjects including those in natural sciences, social sciences and foreign languages.
Previously many universities allowed IELTS scores from 7.0 to 9.0 to be converted into a perfect 10 in English.
“Just as I felt confident about my results, I suddenly became anxious and uncertain,” Giang says.
“This feels unfair to students who invested everything in IELTS.”
He said that while both assess English proficiency, IELTS and the national high school graduation exam differ significantly in structure and requirements, prompting many students to prepare for only one pathway.
Ngoc Linh, a 12th-grade student in Bac Ninh Province near Hanoi, had similar concerns.
She worries an IELTS score of 7.0 may no longer provide a strong advantage when applying to the Marketing Communications program at the National Economics University.
The university by Feb. 25 announced that it will allow IELTS scores from 7.5 to be converted into a perfect 10 in English for admission to the school this year. A 7.0 score will be converted a 9.5 in the English test.
Having planned her IELTS preparation two years in advance, Linh says she had expected the certificate might lose some popularity but was surprised by the prospect of a sudden reduction in its admissions value.
“I may retake the test.”
12th graders of Trung Vuong High School in HCMC before taking the high-school graduation exam in June 2024. Photo by Read/Quynh Tran |
IELTS and several other foreign-language certificates have been used in university admissions since 2016 and quickly gained prominence.
Applicants have benefited from score conversion, bonus points, and combined evaluations with exam or transcript results.
Last year many universities reported tens of thousands of applicants holding IELTS certificates, up 1.5 to four times from a few years earlier.
On online forums, the tightening of IELTS-based admissions has sparked widespread debate. Students who invested heavily in preparation, like Giang and Linh, largely express disappointment and frustration.
Professor Nguyen Tien Thao, director of the higher education department at the ministry, says the proposed changes aim to better reflect candidates’ actual language proficiency while preserving fairness in admissions.
Many admissions experts also support stricter use of IELTS.
Le Anh Duc, head of academic management at the National Economics University, said the move is reasonable given the growing prevalence of IELTS and similar certificates. He notes that such credentials measure language ability rather than the core academic skills required for university study.
Pham Thai Son, director of admissions and communications at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade, called the proposal a “positive step.”
It addresses cases in which some universities both convert IELTS into English scores and awarded additional priority points, allowing candidates to gain up to 13 of 30 admission points from the certificate alone.
“International certificates offer strong career advantages, but indiscriminate score conversion and bonus policies can distort admission benchmarks.”
Nguyen Minh Tung, head of the admissions and student affairs department at the Vietnam Aviation Academy, says tightening IELTS-based admissions could also help narrow the gap between urban and rural applicants and restore a more accurate assessment of academic readiness aligned with program requirements.
Many students in rural and disadvantaged areas lack the resources to take IELTS online and must often travel to major cities to take the exam in person. Urban students have easier access to preparation classes and are more likely to have parents able to invest heavily in such courses.
But Duc stresses that the effort and value behind IELTS should not be dismissed.
A survey by the National Economics University found that students admitted through IELTS and competency-based assessments often perform strongly academically.
Duc says: “To obtain a 6.5 or 7.0 IELTS score, students and their families have invested substantial time, money, and effort. With strong language foundations, soft skills, and academic ability, this group represents a high-quality future workforce.”
He suggested universities could continue to prioritize IELTS holders within specific programs and admission tracks, as long as the weighting complies with ministry regulations.
Experts advise students to remain calm, review each university’s programs and admission methods carefully, and make strategic choices.
Rather than rely on a single criterion, they should diversify their preparation to maximize opportunities, they add.
Giang is now considering additional English classes to prepare for the national graduation exam. He is also waiting for updates from Thuong Mai University to decide whether retaking IELTS would be worthwhile.
“I’ll prepare for both pathways and choose whichever offers the greatest advantage when admissions decisions are made,” he adds.
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