Does score conversion help universities recruit the right people for the right majors, or is it more administrative?
Parents and students attentively listen to advice on admission methods at the 2025 Admissions and Career Counseling Day organized by Tuoi Tre newspaper - Photo: TRINH NGUYEN THU
The university admission system in Vietnam for many years has maintained the admission method based on total exam scores or transcripts and based on score conversion - from competency assessment scores to high school graduation exam scores, from international certificates such as IELTS to foreign language exam scores, or from other forms of admission to a common standard as recently planned by the Ministry of Education and Training.
Some people are concerned that not converting scores could make the admissions system lose its consistency as each school has its own criteria, causing difficulties for candidates and administrators. But in reality, consistency does not mean that all candidates must follow a common formula.
Is point conversion scientific?
Score conversion appears as a solution to create a common scale, helping schools easily compare and consider admission when there are many different admission methods. When a school has candidates applying for admission based on both high school graduation exam scores, competency assessment tests and international certificates, score conversion helps them to bring them to a common reference system for evaluation.
But if we look deeper, this is actually a simplistic approach to the problem.
A more effective approach is that instead of relying on the total converted score, universities can consider admission based on priority subjects that are suitable for their training program. Instead of requiring a common total score for the admission combination, schools can set more specific conditions for each major.
For example, a training program on artificial intelligence may require candidates to have a minimum score of 9.0 in math, 8.0 in physics, 10.0 in foreign language, or an IELTS certificate of 6.0 or higher.
A medical school might base its admissions criteria on minimum scores in biology, chemistry, and math. This allows schools to select applicants with backgrounds that are best suited to their field of study, rather than selecting based on a composite score that does not accurately reflect the core knowledge required for a particular field of study.
Some people are concerned that eliminating the conversion of scores and switching to subject-based admissions could complicate the admissions process, making it difficult to process data and meet enrollment targets. But in reality, with the support of information technology, subject-based admissions can be faster and more accurate than the current total score method.
If the admission system is properly designed, when a candidate registers for a major, the system will automatically check whether the candidate meets the requirements for each subject of that major.
Schools do not need to manually filter, but only need to look at the list that has been screened by the system. If the number of successful candidates is lower than expected, schools can open additional admission rounds or flexibly adjust the criteria.
Another concern is whether subject-based admissions will affect schools' enrollment targets?
The answer is no, with appropriate adjustments. Instead of requiring extremely high scores in certain subjects, schools can set reasonable minimum scores to ensure a more diverse pool of applicants while still selecting candidates with the right abilities.
If the first admission round still does not meet the quota, schools can adjust the criteria or open another admission round. In addition, schools can completely combine many admission methods, such as considering high school graduation exam scores, considering academic records, the school's own exams, or using international certificates, to ensure there are enough enrollment sources while still maintaining input quality.
How is the world?
In the world, most developed countries such as the US, UK, Japan or Germany do not use the total score converted according to many combinations like Vietnam for admission, but allow each school to have its own criteria suitable for their training program.
Their admissions system still operates smoothly, not chaotically, but on the contrary, creates more opportunities for candidates, while helping schools choose the right students for their training programs.
The abolition of score conversion does not mean creating a lack of control in admissions, but rather moving towards an open admissions system where universities have real autonomy in selecting candidates according to appropriate criteria.
If we want to reform admissions in a substantive way, it is time to abandon the "scoring" management mindset and move to an open system where schools have full authority to decide their own admission criteria.
Removing the conversion of scores does not mean losing fairness, but on the contrary, it helps schools to consider admissions based on more objective criteria. Maintaining the old scoring system is just an administrative measure, not a scientific admissions method.
If we change our mindset, apply technology in admission management and let schools be autonomous in admissions, the admissions system will become more flexible, more transparent and fairer for both candidates and universities.
University admissions are not simply a data management problem, but a process of finding the most suitable people for each major and each university. If we continue to convert scores in the same old way, higher education will be stuck in a vicious cycle with no way out, all year round only absorbed in admissions, making it difficult to think of strategies to innovate higher education.
Building a common data platform
The Ministry of Education and Training can still play a general management role, but instead of imposing a rigid score conversion formula, the ministry can focus on building a common data platform, helping schools access information and recruit students more flexibly.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/quy-doi-diem-va-tu-chu-tuyen-sinh-20250306092217259.htm
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