Vietnam to scrap IELTS bonus points in university admissions
The Ministry of Education and Training has proposed eliminating university admission bonus points for IELTS certificates and excellent student awards starting next year.
Vietnam plans to eliminate bonus points awarded to university applicants based on their IELTS scores and other international language certificates from 2027. Current rules permit universities to grant up to 1.5 bonus points for these qualifications, in addition to up to three points for national student awards. Ministry officials argue this new policy aims to reduce inequality and eliminate disparities in the admissions process caused by factors like geographic location and economic background.
Students living in remote areas or meeting specific preferential policies would still receive priority points based on their residence or eligibility. High school students in Vietnam currently take a national exam in math, literature, and two elective subjects. Universities combine scores from three subjects, with a maximum possible total of 30 points.
The draft regulations, set for implementation next year, allow IELTS scores to be converted for language subjects only, preserving their validity for meeting requirements of programs taught in foreign languages. The ministry seeks public input on the proposed changes until September 23.
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