In a surprising turn of events, over 130 students found themselves denied admission to Hanoi University due to a misunderstanding about the use of their IELTS scores in the university's admission process. The issue arose when these students believed that their IELTS certification, which exempted them from taking the English language exam for high school graduation, would also be accepted for university admissions.

On July 14, the final day for submitting university applications, a parent was shocked to learn that their child's application to Hanoi University had been rejected. The student had applied under the combined admission method and had a SAT score of 1230 and an IELTS score of 7.0, meeting the other criteria required by the university.

According to the university’s admission guidelines, students must meet specific requirements, including having a minimum SAT score of 1100 out of 1600 and a high school graduation certificate. Additionally, students are required to have an average score of 7 or higher in their foreign language subject and the overall average of three subjects: Mathematics, Literature, and English.

However, the university stated that the students did not have a foreign language score, which led to their rejection. This situation has garnered significant attention on social media over the past few days, as many students were unaware of the distinction between high school graduation requirements and university admission criteria.

Dr. Nguyen Tien Dung, Vice President of Hanoi University, explained that students need to differentiate between graduation examination regulations and university admission criteria. The Education Ministry allows the use of IELTS for exemption from the English language exam in high school graduation, but each university has its own rules regarding the acceptance of such certifications for admission.

Hanoi University clarified that their admission policy, enacted on March 30, specifies that the university does not convert IELTS scores into equivalent scores for the foreign language exam for admission purposes. Instead, IELTS scores are only considered for additional points in the evaluation process.

The minimum score threshold for applicants this year is set at 22 out of 40, with one subject weighted more heavily. Students applying under the combined admission method must meet all criteria published by the university.

As universities in Vietnam gain more autonomy in their admission processes, the regulations regarding the use of language proficiency certificates like IELTS have changed. This year, universities can only use IELTS scores for additional points, unlike previous years where they could be converted into equivalent exam scores.

During a recent education consultation event, Professor Nguyen Tien Thao, Director of Higher Education, emphasized that while students can use IELTS to exempt themselves from the English language exam for graduation, whether it can replace the subject in the university admission evaluation depends on the institution.

Consequently, the affected students still have the opportunity to gain admission if they apply to universities that accept the conversion of such certificates.