Vietnam Ministry of Education proposes major 2027 exam and admissions reforms

The Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training is planning significant reforms for the 2027 high school graduation exam and university admissions process to enhance fairness and prevent misconduct.

To mitigate risks of cheating, officials are considering a policy to “mix” students from different schools at the same testing locations. This proposal follows irregularities at the Tuyen Quang High School for the Gifted testing site. The Ministry of Public Security has also suggested stricter supervision of exam staff and more rigorous assignment of proctors.

Regarding university admissions, the Ministry aims to streamline the selection process by reducing the number of admission methods from 19 in 2026 to 11 core methods in 2027. This move is intended to prevent universities from fragmenting quotas across too many different pathways, which has previously driven up admission scores unnaturally. Additionally, the Ministry plans to tighten rules on bonus points, potentially ending the practice of awarding extra points for foreign language certificates and student excellence awards to ensure standardized testing remains the primary metric.