Vietnam Ministry of Education proposes removing IELTS bonus points

The Ministry of Education and Training is considering a draft amendment to university admission regulations that would eliminate the practice of awarding bonus points for IELTS certificates starting in 2027. Under the proposed changes, foreign language certificates would only be used to convert scores for specific English language subject requirements rather than serving as additional bonus points.

Data from 2026 admissions shows that over 35,900 students used IELTS for bonus points, with an IELTS 6.0 score being the most common. Experts have noted significant disparities in how different universities convert these scores, with some providing up to 26 different bonus point levels for the same certificate level, raising concerns regarding admissions fairness and accountability.

While some high school principals express concern that removing bonus points might reduce motivation for English language learning, others argue that certificates should serve as evidence of actual proficiency rather than a dominant factor that overshadows national exam results. Educational experts suggest that while the policy shift aims to ensure equity, the role of IELTS will likely transition from a bonus point tool to a method for score conversion in specific subject combinations.