In Vietnam, early admission refers to the practice of universities admitting a certain number of students based on academic transcripts, aptitude test results, etc., before the official high school graduation exam. Globally , some countries also have similar preferential admission methods, such as direct admission for students with outstanding academic achievements or holding early admission rounds before the regular admission period.
DIVERSE ADMISSION METHODS
In Asia, several countries organize national university entrance examinations similar to Vietnam's, such as China (gaokao), South Korea (suneung), and Japan (kyōtsū, formerly known as sentā shiken). For local students, the results of these exams can be an important "gateway" to university in their country or one of the options alongside other methods. At specialized or top-tier universities, candidates may have to take aptitude tests, interviews, etc., to be eligible for admission.
High school students in New Zealand. This is one of many countries that use grades from secondary, post-secondary, or standardized tests as a basis for university admissions.
According to the Korea Accreditation Information Center (KARIC), under the Korean Council for Higher Education , Korea currently has two admission periods: early admission (susi) and regular admission (jeongsi). In the early admission period, students are evaluated based on their academic transcripts, essays, extracurricular activities, practical exams, etc. In the regular admission period, the suneung exam score is the key factor.
A significant trend in South Korean university admissions is the increasing interest in early admissions, accounting for approximately three-quarters of applicants in recent years. Specifically, data from the South Korean Ministry of Education shows that 262,378 applicants were admitted through early admissions in 2022, representing 75.7%. This number increased to 78% in 2023 and further to 79% in 2024, although the total number of applicants each year did not differ by more than 5,000.
In contrast to South Korea, China has increasingly emphasized the use of gaokao exam scores in university admissions in recent years. Previously, the country allowed elite universities to admit students based on gaokao scores and their own criteria, known as the "Independent Admission Program for New Students" (IFAP). IFAP was launched in 2003 with the hope of diversifying admission methods and preventing gaokao scores from potentially determining a student's entire future.
Since 2020, China decided to abolish IFAP following a major reform related to the gaokao (national college entrance examination) called the "Foundation Strengthening Plan" (FEP). According to research by scholar Xiaofeng Wan published in the International Higher Education Journal, the FEP requires universities to prioritize gaokao scores, although it still allows for a combination with academic transcripts and other criteria. This is because gaokao scores must account for at least 85% of the weighting, instead of prioritizing academic awards, patents, or scientific publications as before. Eligible candidates can register for admission early, before the gaokao takes place, according to the Chinese Ministry of Education.
Expanding the scope beyond the score
Instead of holding nationwide university entrance exams, many Western countries such as Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and France rely on scores from secondary school, post-secondary, or standardized tests as a basis for university admissions. Many universities even accept predicted scores or previous year grades to facilitate early applications, and some even accept results from international secondary school programs like IB and AP.
According to information from the Australian Department of Education, admissions for domestic students are based on the Australian University Admissions Ranking (ATAR) score. The ATAR score is calculated by the state or territory university admissions centre and is based on Year 12 academic performance. The ATAR scale ranges from 0 to 99.95 and indicates a student's ranking; for example, an ATAR score of 90.00 means the student is in the top 10% of high-achieving students.
Vietnamese students studying abroad at their graduation ceremony in the US.
Before the official ATAR scores are released, some Australian universities conduct early admissions based on Year 11 ATAR scores and other factors. If students do not attend high school, universities also offer other early admission methods such as vocational certificates, completion of a university foundation course, or relevant work experience (if over 25 years old), according to the Australian Department of Education.
In the UK, depending on their goals and needs, students can enroll in various programs after graduating from high school and take corresponding exams, such as A Level, T Level, or vocational qualifications. The scores from these certificates, along with other factors such as essays and letters of recommendation, are criteria used by universities to select domestic applicants.
This year, according to the UK Department of Education, A Level and T Level exam results will be announced on August 15th. Although there is no early application period, students in the UK must submit their applications quite early, even as early as October of the previous year, for top universities and in "hot" subjects. If they are not accepted, candidates can continue to apply to universities through the Clearing system or wait until the following year to retake the exams.
In the United States, federal and local governments do not organize a common college entrance exam. High schools are free to design their own curricula, and there is no nationwide standardized program. Therefore, universities proactively select students based on various factors such as academic transcripts, academic achievements, extracurricular activities, essays, and scores on standardized tests like the SAT and ACT.
A distinctive feature of university admissions in the US is that schools typically have about three admissions cycles: early admissions with restrictions (requiring applicants to choose only one school), early admissions without restrictions (allowing applications to multiple schools), and regular admissions (receiving acceptance results later than the previous two cycles). Each admissions cycle has different application deadlines, usually at the end or beginning of the year.
Southeast Asia largely maintains university entrance examinations.
To facilitate university admissions, several Southeast Asian countries have developed their own aptitude tests for high school graduates, such as Thailand (GAT/PAT, mandatory for public universities), Malaysia (UEC, for students of Chinese-language high schools), and Indonesia (SBMPTN, mandatory for public universities). The general trend in these countries is to maintain a nationwide university entrance examination.
In Singapore, the Ministry of Education states that students can participate in the Polytechnic Early Admission Program (Poly EAE). This is a talent-based admissions process that allows local students or permanent residents to apply and receive conditional offers of admission to polytechnics before receiving their O-Level exam results or Higher NITEC certificates.
How other countries select Vietnamese students for university admissions.
According to study abroad experts and government agencies in various countries, many foreign higher education institutions in traditionally popular study abroad destinations accept direct admission based on Vietnamese academic transcripts, or consider them as one of the important criteria for admission.
For example, all New Zealand universities offer direct admission to students with a GPA of 8 or higher. This is similar in many Australian universities, including the Go8 alliance of eight leading universities. Countries like South Korea and Malaysia also consider GPA as the primary criterion, followed by language proficiency.
In the UK, international students, including Vietnamese students, must apply through the UCAS system. Besides GPA, this system requires applicants to submit a personal statement, letters of recommendation, and complete application forms. The US also has several common admissions systems, the most popular being the Common App. This is where international students submit transcripts, essays, letters of recommendation, personal information, etc., for university consideration.
In China, 2024 marks the first year that international students are required to take an entrance exam, applicable to those applying for government scholarships or to 142 universities participating in the "Double First-Class" project (5% of the country's top universities). Japan has always required international students to take the Japanese University Entrance Examination (EJU), and only those who pass are considered for admission. Both countries only apply this requirement at the undergraduate level.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/cac-nuoc-tuyen-sinh-dh-ra-sao-co-xet-tuyen-som-nhu-viet-nam-18524081318541251.htm
