Proposal to end university admissions via high school transcripts: What students say

According to the Higher Education Department, in 2025 there were 7.6 million registered applications across 17 admission methods. Among them, 42.4% of successful candidates were admitted via high school transcripts, higher than the 39.1% admitted based on the national high school graduation exam.

Concerns over losing a “safety ticket”
Many students worry that eliminating transcript-based admissions will reduce their chances of entering university. Võ Quang Nhựt (Lap Vo 2 High School, Dong Thap) argued that this method recognizes 12 years of consistent study and benefits students who perform steadily but struggle with high-stakes exams. For disadvantaged students unable to afford aptitude tests or international language certificates, transcripts provide an accessible path.

Nguyen Phuoc Huy Hoang (Nguyen Dinh Chieu High School for the Gifted, Dong Thap) planned to use transcripts to apply for Multimedia Communications at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, HCMC). He fears relying solely on the graduation exam is too risky, since it is a one-time test, while transcript scores are built up over multiple assessments.

Some teachers share this view. Vo Thi Hang Ni (Nguyen Dinh Chieu High School for the Gifted) noted that transcript-based admission scores at top universities are already very high, often 27–29 out of 30. Without consistent effort in high school, students cannot reach these levels. She suggested transcripts could still be used as bonus points in admissions to acknowledge students’ long-term efforts.

Support for eliminating transcript admissions to ensure fairness
Others welcome the proposal, saying it would reduce inflated grades. Vo Thi Bao Han (Nguyen Thuong Hien High School, HCMC) pointed out that grading standards vary widely among schools—some are strict, others lenient—making transcripts an unreliable basis for comparison.

Nguyen Phan Nhat Minh (Tran Hung Dao High School, HCMC) added that at some schools, average students can earn marks above 9, while at stricter schools, top students only get 8. This discrepancy undermines fairness and fuels “achievement disease,” where students focus on polishing transcripts or finding ways to artificially raise grades.

In summary, the proposal has divided opinion: some fear losing an accessible path to university, while others believe it is a necessary step toward fairness and transparency in admissions.