Many new subject combinations

N FIRST APPEARANCES

Many universities have announced draft plans for this year's admissions, including a major adjustment related to the subject combinations for admission.

According to the draft circular amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Regulations on university and college admissions for preschool education, the subject combination used for admission includes at least 3 subjects suitable to the characteristics and requirements of the training program, including math or literature with an assessment weight of at least 1/3 of the total score. Combinations in the same major must have a common number of subjects accounting for at least 50% of the total score.

Candidates taking the high school graduation exam in 2024. This year, there are some adjustments in the subject combinations for university admission to suit the new education program.

From this draft, universities will simultaneously adjust the admission combinations in 2025. The University of Economics and Law (Ho Chi Minh City National University) plans to apply 5 admission combinations for all majors. Specifically: math - English - literature, math - English - physics, math - English - information technology, math - English - economic and legal education, math - physics - chemistry. These combinations apply to all majors, all of which include math, of which up to 4 combinations also consider English. In 2025, the school will use 2 new subjects of the 2018 General Education program: information technology, economic and legal education.

Many universities are also introducing new subjects into the admissions combination of the 2018 General Education program for the first time. For example, Duy Tan University plans to adjust the subject combination for admissions to economics majors. Instead of considering the combination of math - physics - chemistry as in previous years, it may now be math - physics - economic education and law. In the same economic major, Nguyen Tat Thanh University has added a new subject combination such as math - literature - economic education and law.

Universities need to announce the admission combinations for each major as soon as possible. This is the first year that students in the new General Education program will take the high school graduation exam and apply for university admission. It would be a "sin" for them to announce this information late.

Mr. NGUYEN THANH HAI (Principal of Truong Dinh High School, Tien Giang)

MATH IS A COMPULSORY SUBJECT IN MANY COMBINATIONS

The University of Finance and Marketing (HCMC) also plans to use the scores of 3 subjects for admission, of which math is a compulsory subject. In addition, candidates can use the remaining 2 subjects from the high school graduation exam to have the highest chance of being admitted.

Ho Chi Minh City University of Agriculture and Forestry stipulates that each major uses 6 admission combinations, most majors of the school use combinations with math (except English language major).

For some other schools, the compulsory subjects in the admission combination for each major can be math, literature or English. For example, Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade plans to have 4 admission combinations and each combination consists of 3 subjects. Of which, math is the main subject in the admission combination for majors: information technology, accounting, finance and banking and engineering. Literature is the main subject in the admission combination for majors related to administration and society such as: tourism and travel service management, economic law. English is the main subject in the admission combination for majors of English language and Chinese language.

Ho Chi Minh City University of Technical Education also stipulates that each major has no more than 4 admission combinations, most of which use math as a compulsory subject. Among the remaining majors, candidates can choose combinations that include math or literature combined with other subjects. This year, the school added industrial technology to the admission combination, replacing the previous natural science combination.

Representatives of universities said that the admission combinations expected to be used in 2025 will basically remain stable compared to the previous year. Dr. Tran Thanh Thuong, Head of Admissions and Student Affairs Department of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technical Education, said that the school adjusted the admission combinations in accordance with the draft regulations but basically did not cause any disruption to candidates. For example, all 4 admission combinations of more than 30 technical training majors this year have math (similar to last year). The only difference is that one of the 3 combinations has replaced the industrial technology subject instead of the natural science exam to match the new curriculum subjects.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Phung, Deputy Head of Admissions, Communications and Corporate Relations at the University of Finance and Marketing, said: "This year, the school has stipulated that math is a compulsory subject in the admission combinations. But last year, math was also a subject in all admission combinations of the school. Therefore, basically, the use of math for admission has not changed compared to last year. The new point is that this year the school allows candidates to choose the remaining 2 subjects in the admission combination to get the highest admission results."

Grade 12 students want universities to announce their admission plans early so they can prepare.

photo: peach jade

SUGGESTIONS FROM STUDENTS AND SCHOOLS

Before the information about adjusting the subject combinations for university admission, students expressed mixed opinions.

A student from Luong The Vinh High School (HCMC) acknowledged that this adjustment is both favorable and difficult for students participating in the admission exam this year, and said: "Students who are strong in certain specific subjects such as math or literature will have more opportunities if schools require that subject to be considered in the combination. The diversity of the combination also helps students have more options that are more suitable for their abilities. Adding specific subjects to the combination, for example subjects related to technology, economics, or law, can help select candidates more suitable for the profession."

However, this student also said that the above change requires candidates to study more subjects equally to meet the new admission combinations, especially subjects that were not previously focused on. "Universities also need to consider adjusting the subject combinations, the constant change in combinations can cause confusion for students, especially those who have prepared according to traditional combinations," a student from Luong The Vinh High School suggested.

TTV, a student at Nguyen Huu Tho High School (HCMC), said that in 2025, universities should temporarily prioritize keeping traditional admission combinations. If there are any adjustments, schools need to inform students a few years in advance so that students can prepare. "Currently, students in the 2018 General Education Program start choosing subjects based on their career orientation when they enter grade 10. By grade 12, if universities suddenly change the admission subject combinations, it will affect students' choices," TTV explained.

According to this student, the new subjects included in the admissions exam should only be used for majors with characteristics corresponding to that major. At that time, students who have had early career orientation and intend to choose this subject will have more opportunities when applying for university admissions.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hai, Principal of Truong Dinh High School (Tien Giang), expressed his agreement with the school's decision to include math or both math and literature in the admissions combination. This is because these are two compulsory subjects in the current general education program as well as in the four subjects in the high school graduation exam according to the new exam regulations this year. Of course, the school must calculate to choose 1-2 remaining subjects in the combination to suit the orientation of the major.

"The use of new subject scores such as technology and economic and legal education may be due to the school's attempt to meet the exam regulations this year with the addition of these two subjects. However, it is predicted that the number of students choosing this subject for the high school graduation exam is quite low. The reason is that this is the first time it has been included in the exam regulations, so students are still unfamiliar with it and the number of majors that use this subject score for admission is quite small," Principal of Truong Dinh High School further analyzed. However, Mr. Hai emphasized: "Universities need to announce the admission combinations for majors as soon as possible. This is the first year that students in the new general education program take the high school graduation exam and apply for university admission. Delaying the announcement of this information is a "sin" for them."

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tuyen-sinh-dh-2025-nhieu-to-hop-mon-moi-185250117224459582.htm