On March 15 and 16, 2025, Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) organized the first round of the 2025 Aptitude Assessment (HSA-501) exam. Accordingly, the total number of candidates on the exam registration list was 11,027, the number of candidates who completed the application form in accordance with the regulations to take the exam was 10,958; reaching 99.4% of the exam taking rate.

On the evening of March 16, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Tien Thao, Director of the Testing Center - Hanoi National University, Head of the Organizing Committee of the Competency Assessment Exam, said: "In the past two days, some exam preparation groups impersonated candidates (using fake accounts) to "review" the 501st Competency Assessment exam to promote and attract candidates to prepare for the exam.

Immediately after the first exam session ended at 11:00 a.m. on March 15, 2025, some fake accounts posted scores of 126/150 and 135/150 while no candidate achieved these scores on the first exam day, May 15. The candidate who achieved 126/150 was on the second day of the exam, March 16. Therefore, candidates need to pay attention and develop a suitable personal review plan for the next Aptitude Assessment exams."

Preliminary statistics show that the highest score of the first round of the exam (HSA) is 126/150 (2nd day of the exam, March 16), the second highest score is 125/150. Initial preliminary assessment, the average score of the 2025 Competency Assessment exam will be slightly higher than previous years because candidates can choose the third part of the exam to promote their personal abilities and strengths. Candidates also need to refer to the information on the admission plan of the universities requiring the corresponding admission combination.

Without a solid grasp of knowledge, test preparation is useless.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Tien Thao shared: " Normally, reviewing for exams according to traditional psychology will help candidates learn tricks, memorize a certain part, a certain form. But the capacity assessment test is a comprehensive assessment of the whole process. The test content covers the high school program, from grade 10, grade 11 to grade 12. Therefore, whether candidates review at the center, at home or at school, it is all within the content of the high school program or textbooks.

According to observations over the years, candidates who achieve high scores are often those who are highly systematic. Exam preparation in a short period of time cannot be solved with the ability assessment test.

Recently, the Hanoi National University Examination Center has compiled a set of documents "Guidelines for the Hanoi National University's 2025 Competency Assessment Test" published by Hanoi National University Publishing House. This is our first and only official document to support students in self-studying, reviewing and effectively preparing for the competency assessment test, which provides information about the test structure; the content, scope of knowledge, skills or groups of competencies assessed; sample questions and assessment methods, how to answer questions and how to choose to answer,..."

Regarding the exam questions, Professor Thao noted that when practicing for the exam, candidates often focus on “familiar types”. However, in the competency assessment test, in addition to the types of questions, the exam also asks questions from the textbooks from the perspective of students’ understanding from basic to advanced. Questions that students are vague about are very easy to “trap”, meaning that if they do not have a firm grasp of the knowledge, practicing for the exam will be useless.

"The competency assessment test is an assessment of the whole process, that is, not only focusing on one content, knowledge, or part, but distributing the knowledge of the entire 10th, 11th, and 12th grades. In particular, there are interdisciplinary parts between subjects, which are relatively comprehensive assessments. Candidates cannot only study one or two subjects or one or two chapters, one or two parts in a small scope to be able to meet the test requirements.

Therefore, if students want to get a good score on the competency assessment test, they must develop a relatively systematic study plan, not omitting any part of the high school curriculum. In addition, candidates should take reference tests, accumulate, practice, and practice test-taking skills on computers and practice time control to achieve high scores," emphasized Professor Thao.

Exam structure from grade 10 to grade 12

Professor Nguyen Tien Thao said that the VNU Competency Assessment Test will be applied from 2025 for candidates taking the new general education program. Candidates must complete two compulsory sections: Mathematics and data processing (50 questions, 75 minutes), Literature - Language (50 questions, 60 minutes) and the optional section of Science or English (50 questions, 60 minutes).

For the Science section, candidates must choose 3 out of 5 topics in the fields of physics, chemistry, biology, history and geography. Initial findings show that students in the city choose the third part, English, more than the Science section. Meanwhile, candidates in rural areas choose the Science section more.

The VNU Aptitude Test is designed based on modern measurement testing science. The test structure and test content are distributed from grade 10 to grade 12 in the proportions of 10-15%, 30-40%, 50-60% respectively. Short-term review is not very effective for candidates. The test organizer also recommends that candidates should have a scientific and systematic study and review plan instead of getting bogged down in promotional test preparation groups.

The next 502nd exam will take place on March 29 and 30, 2025 in Hanoi, Hai Duong, Thai Nguyen, Hung Yen, Thai Binh, Thanh Hoa, Ha Tinh, with nearly 20,000 candidates registered.

Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/nhom-luyen-thi-gia-danh-thi-sinh-dung-tai-khoan-ao-de-review-de-thi-danh-gia-nang-luc-post407497.html