42% of candidates choose transcripts, but is this university admission method about to be abolished?

The Ministry of Education and Training has just sought opinions on whether to abolish or maintain the consideration of academic records, at a conference on higher education.

Responding to Tien Phong reporters, representatives of many schools said they have chosen to maintain this method but have plans to stop it in the next few years.

Dr. Nguyen Trung Nhan, Head of Training Department, Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry, stated that the school will stop recruiting students based on academic records from 2026.

According to Dr. Trung, the school wants to improve the quality of its recruitment sources, so it will consider not considering academic records but using a combination of many factors, in which high school graduation exam scores and competency assessment test scores are the two main factors.

According to Mr. Trung, 2 years ago, Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry analyzed and evaluated learning outcomes between methods and the results were similar. However, in 2025, through analyzing high school learning outcomes (report cards) and high school graduation exam scores, the school found that the correlation was growing.

“Therefore, the school will stop recruiting students based on academic records. But obviously, we still support the idea of allowing schools to be autonomous in recruiting students,” the head of the training department admitted.

Master Pham Thai Son, Director of the Admissions and Communications Center, Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade, said that he does not support the removal of high school transcripts as admission criteria, but supports the view that universities make their own decisions on admission.

According to Mr. Son, the school has a roadmap to gradually reduce and then eliminate admission based on high school transcripts in 2028. In 2022, the admission target based on high school transcripts is 40% of the target, and in 2023 it will be 35% or more.

According to Mr. Son's opinion, schools should keep the method of considering high school transcripts for admission.

Firstly, considering the transcripts of all three years of high school will help evaluate the learning process throughout the three years of high school, not just the results of a final exam. This helps to recognize the efforts and progress of candidates throughout the study period, instead of just evaluating through a single exam.

Second, it reduces stress for candidates. If only based on the high school graduation exam, candidates may face many risks of bad luck on the exam day. Considering transcripts helps reduce this pressure and creates opportunities for candidates who study well but have not shown their ability in a high school graduation exam.

Third, considering high school transcripts also encourages students to focus more on studying throughout the school year instead of just focusing on the final exam, which promotes comprehensive development and the ability to continuously learn in high school.

“Admission based on high school transcripts is correct, but we need to review the teachers' evaluation methods. Because there are cases where high school transcripts are given indiscriminately by teachers, there is an unfairness in the evaluation method because some high schools evaluate strictly, while others are lenient, especially private high schools,” Mr. Son stated his opinion.

Because of the unfairness, Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade has gradually increased the admission quota by the capacity assessment test scores of Ho Chi Minh City National University, about 15% of the quota.

Dr. Le Viet Khuyen, former Deputy Director of the Department of Higher Education (Ministry of Education and Training) said: "My point of view is that considering academic transcript scores and eliminating the high school graduation exam is the goal we are aiming for. But at the present time, negativity is rampant and a mass solution is not good" - Dr. Khuyen expressed his opinion.

Mr. Khuyen said that in the current conditions in Vietnam, the situation of asking for points, even more sadly, buying points still appears. The results of academic records cannot be trusted to be included in an admission process that is very selective.

According to Mr. Khuyen, university admission requires competition. Sometimes, a difference of only 1/4 of a point between candidates determines whether they pass or fail.

“We should not completely abandon the admission based on academic records. Academic records can be a secondary criterion for further selection, along with other secondary criteria. Middle-ranking universities, especially lower-ranking universities, when supply exceeds demand, should not be completely banned. However, universities should use the results of high schools that have shown credibility with society. The Ministry of Education and Training should announce such high schools,” Mr. Khuyen emphasized.

In 2025, about 42.4% of nearly 850,000 candidates registered for admission based on this score, which is the largest group. Next is the group based on graduation exam scores (39.1%), the rest are in 15 other methods.

According to the Ministry of Education and Training, the average grade point average is 1-2 points higher than the high school graduation exam.