Why are scores lower than previous years?

The competency test, organized by VNUHCMC, has run for eight years. Compared to the past seven years, this year’s test was adjusted to align with the new 2018 General Education Program.

This change reflects students’ diverse subject choices. Keeping the 2018-2024 test structure would limit accurate assessment of candidates under the 2018 program, as most students don’t study all five subjects corresponding to the problem-solving section’s five domains.

The adjustment also ensures fair evaluation of university-level competency, promoting equity and equal access to higher education amid varied subject selections.

This year saw the highest number of test-takers ever. However, as candidates faced the revised test format for the first time, scores have been surprising.

Of 126,297 candidates, only two scored between 1,051 and 1,100, and 140 scored between 1,001 and 1,050. The average score was 618.4. The top score was 1,060, the lowest 40.

Compared to previous years, these figures are lower in all the average scores, top scores, and high-score counts.

In 2024’s first round, 93,828 candidates took the test. The average score was 643.4, with 80 scoring above 1,000. The highest was 1,076, the lowest 203.

In 2023, 88,052 candidates attended the first testing campaign, averaging 639.2. The top score was 1,091, the lowest 238. A total of 152 scored 1,000 or higher.

In 2022, 79,372 candidates participated in the test, averaging 646.1, with 117 above 1,000. The highest was 1,087, the lowest 210.

In 2021, 68,400 candidates tested, averaging 688, with 199 above 1,000. The top score was 1,103.

Explaining the lower scores this year, Nguyen Quoc Chinh, Director of the VNUHCMC’s Testing and Quality Assurance Center, said each year’s candidate pool differs, affecting competency levels. 

Since this year’s examinees follow the new 2018 education program, and changes in exam questions have been made, the outcomes must differ. 

Still, Chinh noted the score distribution remains similar due to standardized tests. The wider range this year stems from more candidates and better test differentiation.

Converted benchmarks set for volatility

Pham Thai Son, Admissions Director of the HCMC University of Industry, said this year’s score distribution shows that most questions effectively distinguished candidates, aiding recruitment goals. 

The top score was 1,060 out of 1,200, with 142 candidates above 1,000. The lowest was 40, highlighting a wide competency gap.

Son noted that high scores (above 1,000) were rare, fitting the aim of selecting top talents. If compared to 2024, the 2025’s average dropped slightly (about 25 scores).

“This reflects the 2025 test’s alignment with the 2018 general education program, emphasizing scientific reasoning, demanding stronger deduction and comprehension,” Son said.

Though 2025’s score distribution mirrors last year’s, with a lower average (618.4 vs. 643.4), its wider range and strong differentiation stand out. 

He believes that at his university, converted competency benchmarks will be highly competitive for some majors like International Business, Marketing, and Information Technology, and slightly lower for Food Technology, Business Administration, and Accounting.

Phung Quan, an admissions consultant at the HCM City University of Natural Sciences, said schools will convert scores for admissions, but final benchmarks depend on high school graduation exam results and other methods. High competency scores give candidates a competitive edge.

Cu Xuan Tien, Head of Admissions and Student Affairs Division at the University of Economics and Law, noted that 2025’s score distribution slightly skews left compared to 2024 and 2023, indicating lower results. The wider spread (shown by standard deviation) suggests better differentiation, clarifying competency gaps among candidates.

Candidates scoring above 600 dropped 12 percent compared with 2024. However, with a 34.3 percent increase in examinees, 83,741 scored 600 or higher in 2025, nearly 10,000 more than 2024. This aids admissions but intensifies competition.

Tien predicted that the benchmarks of the less-favored majors may hold steady or dip slightly, and more favored ones could rise compared to 2024. Changes hinge on program quotas, application numbers, and quality.

“Under this year’s revised admissions rules, schools using competency test scores must convert them to the high-school final exam score scale. Students will be selected from the highest to lowest scores until quotas are met. Thus, converted competency benchmarks will vary widely based on each school’s conversion method. To strategize and prioritize choices wisely, candidates are advised to study conversion rules, bonus points, and priority policies in universities’ admission notices.   

Le Huyen