{
  "id": 9527695,
  "title": "Students dread losing edge after slog as Vietnam mulls over scrapping IELTS bonus points for university entry",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/students-dread-losing-edge-after-slog-as-vietnam-mulls-over-scrapping",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-24T08:57:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "VnExpress International",
    "slug": "vnexpress-international",
    "url": "https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/education/students-dread-losing-edge-after-slog-as-vietnam-mulls-over-scrapping-ielts-bonus-points-for-university-entry-5124305.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A uniform national high school graduation exam in Vietnam consists of math, literature, and two electives, with universities using a combined score of three subjects, depending on the major, for admissions. Each university can award additional points to applicants for academic awards, language certificates like IELTS or SAT, and extracurricular achievements. Currently, IELTS bonus points only add 1.5 points out of 30. The Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training is proposing to scrap these bonus points for university entry starting in 2027, awarding only regional and beneficiary-group priority points. This change would disproportionately impact high-achieving students from urban areas, particularly Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The ministry claims the change aims to reduce inequality, as access to IELTS certificates depends on economic conditions and local resources. However, experts argue that the change would make admissions more merit-based and force students to focus on core subjects instead of bonus points. Students like Hong Minh, who invested significant time and money in IELTS preparation, express concern about the potential loss of an edge in admissions.",
  "summary": "Students who spent several years preparing for IELTS now fear losing a university admission advantage after the Ministry of Education recently proposed scrapping bonus points for language certificates from next year.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}