The benchmark for the competency assessment test may not be higher than last year.

Master Pham Thai Son, Director of Admissions and Communications at Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade, said that the maximum total score for the entire test is 1,200, in which the highest score of the candidate was 1,060 and the lowest was 40 points. The score distribution shows a large difference in ability between candidates in the same test.

Master Son said that compared to the exam results of the same period last year, the average score in 2025 tends to decrease slightly (about 25 points) because this year's exam questions were adjusted to a new exam structure to match the 2018 General Education Program.

Ho Chi Minh City National University's competency assessment exam scores are used for admission by more than 100 universities and colleges.

PHOTO: DAO NGOC THACH

Predicting the admission scores for this exam to Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade, Master Son said that the admission scores for some majors will be highly competitive such as: international business, marketing, information technology, food technology, business administration, accounting...

Master Cu Xuan Tien, Head of Admissions and Student Affairs Department of the University of Economics and Law (Ho Chi Minh City National University), commented: "The score distribution in 2025 is slightly skewed to the left compared to 2024 and 2023, showing that this year's exam results are slightly lower. In addition, the width of the score distribution in 2025 is larger than in previous years (shown through the standard deviation), showing that this year's exam's ability to classify candidates is better, helping to clarify the difference in ability between groups of candidates."

However, according to Master Tien, the rate of candidates with over 600 points decreased by about 12% compared to 2024, but because the number of candidates taking the exam this year is much higher than the same period last year (up 34.3%). Therefore, the absolute number of candidates in 2025 will be 83,741 candidates with 600 points or more (an increase of nearly 10,000 compared to 2024). "This makes it easier for schools to consider admission, but competition among candidates will be fiercer. The top majors with below-standard scores may remain the same or decrease slightly. The top majors are likely to have a slightly increased standard score compared to 2024. However, this increase or decrease depends largely on the quota of each major, the quantity and quality of applications submitted this year," Master Tien predicted.

Score distribution of the first round of the 2025 Ho Chi Minh City National University's capacity assessment exam

Photo: Ho Chi Minh City National University

Master Tien also said that this year's benchmark score is also affected by the new score of the admission regulations when the method of considering the competency test scores must be converted to the same scale as other methods for general consideration and taking candidates from high to low. "Therefore, the converted benchmark score of the competency test score method will still fluctuate depending on the conversion method of each school. Therefore, candidates should carefully refer to the score conversion method, information on bonus points, and priority points of each school in the admission announcement to come up with a reasonable and scientific registration strategy and arrangement of wishes," Master Tien advised.

Sharing the same view, Associate Professor, Dr. To Van Phuong, Head of Training Department of Nha Trang University, said that this year's capacity assessment test scores are lower but the number of candidates taking the test is higher, which does not create too many fluctuations in this year's admission benchmark scores. This expert analyzed: "The factor that has the most impact on the benchmark scores is not only from the method of considering capacity test scores but also the high school graduation exam, perhaps from the change in the admission method. When all methods are considered in the same round, there is no longer a distribution of quotas according to each method. This method will overcome the situation where a certain method considers admission later, the remaining quota has few standard points and is pushed up. On the contrary, the method previously implemented in the early stages, now considered in general, also has a level of competition for standard points equivalent to other methods". From the above context, Associate Professor Phuong said: "The admission benchmark score for the capacity assessment test this year will not be higher than last year".

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/diem-chuan-thi-danh-gia-nang-luc-co-the-khong-cao-hon-nam-ngoai-185250417194349199.htm