University Admissions 2025: Candidates worry about benchmark scores, what do universities say?

With the different levels of difficulty of the exam questions in the 2025 high school graduation exam, university representatives have made predictions about the benchmark scores and advised candidates to register for admission in the coming time.

The above content was shared at the online TV consultation program organized by Thanh Nien Newspaper with the topic "What are the university admission scores and high school graduation exam questions?", which took place yesterday afternoon (July 1). The program was broadcast online at: thanhnien.vn , Facebook fanpage, YouTube channel, TikTok Thanh Nien Newspaper.

Guest consultants give candidates useful advice to prepare for the 2025 university entrance exam.

PHOTO: DAO NGOC THACH

Highly differentiated test, assessing candidates' abilities

Present at the program, Dr. Vo Thanh Hai, Permanent Deputy Director of Duy Tan University, commented: "This year, the math and English exam questions have received many mixed opinions. The reason is that this is the first year that candidates take the exam according to the 2018 General Education program with a fundamentally different foundation compared to the 2006 program. Teaching and learning has shifted from equipping knowledge to developing comprehensive capacity. Therefore, the exam questions are based on the orientation of assessing capacity, with links between subjects, especially knowledge of grades 10, 11, 12, focusing on grade 12. At the same time, knowledge is applied to solve practical problems."

According to Dr. Hai, this year's math and English exams have a higher level of differentiation, so students with good and average academic performance feel confused. "However, the difficult exam does not affect the graduation exam. It is just that university entrance exam combinations with math and English subjects such as math, physics, English; math, literature, English... may have lower scores than previous years. The exam also serves the purpose of university entrance exam, so the higher the level of differentiation, the more accurate the admission exam," said Dr. Hai.

Meanwhile, Master Vuong Van Khoi, Deputy Director of the Admissions Consulting Center of the University of Economics and Finance, Ho Chi Minh City, said that before the exam, the Ministry of Education and Training also announced the exam structure and sample questions. "With a high level of differentiation, the exam will accurately assess the candidate's ability, making studying and reviewing for the upcoming exam more practical, avoiding rote learning to cope with the exam. This year, the number of 9 and 10 points in math and English may decrease," Master Khoi said.

Master Ho Thanh Tinh, Deputy Director of the Admissions Consulting Center of Nguyen Tat Thanh University, also commented that this year's high school graduation exam has many innovations, so candidates may encounter some difficulties. "Math and English questions are very clearly differentiated. However, difficult questions will be difficult in general. Universities will certainly calculate appropriate benchmark scores."

The combined score of math and English may decrease.

Master Chung Quoc Phong, Head of Admissions Department of Ho Chi Minh City University of Foreign Languages ​​and Information Technology, predicts that the score distribution of subject groups that combine math and English will not be high. Meanwhile, the score distribution of some other subjects such as history, geography, economic education and law may be higher. The standard score for university admission will also be predicted based on the trend of the score distribution as above.

Dr. Vo Thanh Hai said that this year's benchmark scores will be stable or decrease not only because of the difficulty of the questions, but also because of changes in university admission regulations. "Accordingly, this year all admission methods will be considered in the same round, there will be no early admission, so it is predicted that this year's benchmark scores in the high school graduation exam method will not be pushed up too high like last year. The benchmark scores for Duy Tan University are also predicted to be not much different from last year," Dr. Hai informed.

Similarly, Master Ho Thanh Tinh said that this year's benchmark score is expected to be stable. Master Vuong Van Khoi commented that with the general level of this year's exam, the average score for math and English may decrease, so the benchmark score may remain the same or decrease by 1-2 points.

Master Vo Ngoc Nhon, Deputy Director of the Admissions Consulting Center of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, said that it can be seen that the subject groups containing math and English are expected to have a lower benchmark score, while the C00 group (literature, history, geography) benchmark score may remain stable as last year, and the subject groups containing economic education and law may have a higher benchmark score.

"But in general, in 2025 there will not be a rain of 10s like in previous years. With this year's exam, candidates who know how to apply the test can achieve 8 points or more. This is an opportunity for universities to screen candidates in the entrance exam," said Master Nhon.

Experts say that TS should not worry too much about the difficulty of math and English. With this year's admission regulations, TS has many advantages.

Photo: Dao Ngoc Thach

Advantage because all admission methods are applied in one round

Experts say that TS should not worry too much about the difficulty of Math and English. With this year's admission regulations, TS has more advantages.

Dr. Vo Thanh Hai informed: "In 2025, all methods will be considered for admission in one round, from August 16 to 28, and these methods will all be converted to a common score scale. Technically, when registering for admission, candidates do not need to register for a method or subject combination, the system will automatically select the method and subject combination with the highest result for consideration. Candidates do not need to worry if their graduation exam scores are low. The system will choose the optimal method and combination for them to increase their chances of admission."

Not only that, this year universities also have many changes in subject combinations so that candidates have more choices. Master Chung Quoc Phong informed that Ho Chi Minh City University of Foreign Languages ​​and Information Technology has a major that uses up to 8 admission combinations, with new subjects such as math, information technology, English; math, technology, English; math, physics, information technology; literature, economic and legal education, English... In addition, candidates who do not choose to take the English exam can use their foreign language certificate to convert to English scores.

This year, Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance uses a total of 11 subject combinations, including literature, math, English, physics, history, geography, economic education and law... Nguyen Tat Thanh University also recruits students using a number of new subject combinations such as math, literature, information technology; math, literature, technology; math, biology, information technology; math, literature, economic education and law...

A new point of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology is to increase the number of admission combinations, with each major using 6 combinations, including new subjects appearing for the first time. The school also uses 4 methods: high school graduation exam scores, Ho Chi Minh City National University's competency assessment test scores or V-SAT exam, 2 admission methods based on academic records.

Meanwhile, the majors of business administration and marketing, English and linguistics, international hotel and tourism management, international business, multimedia communications, accounting - finance and logistics management of Gloucestershire Vietnam use 4 admission methods including high school graduation exam scores, Ho Chi Minh City National University's capacity assessment scores and 2 admission methods based on academic records.

However, Dr. Vo Thanh Hai noted that candidates need to read the admission plan of the major or school they want to apply to see which subject combinations and methods the major or school uses. "This avoids situations where students lose opportunities. For example, students have very high competency assessment test scores compared to other methods, but that major or school does not use competency assessment test methods; if candidates do not know and still register their wishes, they will most likely lose the opportunity to be admitted," Dr. Hai commented.

Candidates who are worried about the high school graduation exam results still have other methods such as reviewing transcripts, considering competency assessment test scores, etc.

Master Chung Quoc Phong , University of Foreign Languages ​​and Information Technology, Ho Chi Minh City

Universities will try to optimize the admission process to ensure candidates have the best chance of being admitted.

Master Vo Ngoc Nhon , Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology

At this time, you should not panic, you should rest and regain energy, follow the important milestones of the upcoming admissions, and carefully study the admission plan.

Master Nguyen Ba Anh , Deputy Director of Gloucestershire Vietnam

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/xet-tuyen-dh-2025-thi-sinh-lo-lang-diem-chuan-truong-dh-noi-gi-185250701192053236.htm