Under the draft regulation now open for public feedback, students holding language certificates like IELTS will receive a maximum of 1.5 bonus points - down from the previous cap of 3 points.

The policy is part of broader reforms aimed at promoting fairness in admissions by limiting the excessive advantages some applicants gain through international test results.

Single-use of certificates, no double-counting

Bonus points are typically awarded for national and international academic achievements, special talents, or qualifications such as foreign language certificates.

However, MoET now plans to enforce stricter separation between these categories. For instance, a student with an IELTS certificate will only be able to use it once: either as bonus points or as a replacement for the English language test score, but not both.

This would end a long-standing practice where some universities both awarded bonus points and converted IELTS scores into top English exam results - effectively letting students count the same credential twice.

Conversion tables to be more transparent and standardized

Universities will still be allowed to convert language certificates into scores for the English subject, used in admissions combinations. However, that component cannot exceed 10 out of 30 total points.

Moreover, the ministry proposes a new requirement: all conversion tables must include at least five score bands, reflecting meaningful differences across the full range of test scores.

This is intended to stop schools from lumping wide score ranges into the same top rating. For example, a student with 6.5 IELTS and one with 9.0 might both be awarded 10 points - a practice now seen as unfair and misleading.

Reactions from experts and educators

A senior admissions officer at a major Hanoi university welcomed the move.

"Last year, many universities over-credited international certificates while also assigning inflated converted scores for English," he said. "Some students effectively gained a double advantage, pushing admission thresholds higher for programs with English-heavy subject groups."

He added that inconsistent conversion methods also created confusion. "One school may award 10 points for a 6.5 IELTS, while another might only give 8. This disparity is problematic, especially without knowing how hard or easy this year’s English exam will be."

The official suggested that the Ministry should oversee and unify the conversion process to avoid these discrepancies.

A shift toward core academic evaluation

Dr. Le Anh Duc, Director of Academic Affairs at the National Economics University, also endorsed the proposed reforms.

He noted that while certificates like IELTS are valuable indicators of certain skills, they should not overshadow core academic performance.

"University admissions should prioritize students’ foundational abilities as shown in national exams or competency-based assessments," he explained. "Excessive bonus points for language certificates introduce inequities."

Dr. Duc argued that with IELTS now increasingly common, the weight it carries should be recalibrated. A standardized national approach to conversion tables, coupled with a reasonable bonus point cap, would ensure consistency across the system.

If approved, the new policy will reshape how IELTS and similar certificates are treated in Vietnam’s university admissions process - limiting their influence and restoring a more level playing field.

Thuy Nga