Only one way to choose to use a foreign language certificate
Reader P.V. T asked: Can candidates with IELTS certificates both convert English subject scores in admission consideration and receive bonus points?
The Ministry of Education and Training answers this issue on the Government Electronic Information Portal as follows:
According to current regulations, foreign language certificates (e.g. IELTS) are not allowed to be used simultaneously for both purposes: both to convert English subject scores in the admission combination and to add bonus points.
Based on Clause 4, Article 6 of the Regulation issued together with Circular No. 06/2026/TT-BGDĐT of the Minister of Education and Training: "Foreign language certificates are only used for converting foreign language subject scores in the admission combination or for incentive points".
This regulation clearly shows the principle that candidates are only allowed to choose one way to use a foreign language certificate; they are not allowed to simultaneously replace the English subject score and add bonus points from the same certificate.
Is having a foreign language certificate exempt from the high school graduation exam?
In addition to the above content, a question that readers are interested in is whether foreign language certificates are exempt from the high school graduation exam or not.
According to the Ministry of Education and Training, for the use of foreign language certificates in university admissions, candidates can use foreign language certificates to replace English subject scores in the admission combination. However, the application is not uniform but depends on the regulations of each training institution, including the method of converting scores from certificates to admission score scales.
According to the Enrollment Regulations issued with Circular No. 06/2026/TT-BGDĐT, schools are responsible for developing and announcing the conversion table of foreign language certificate scores. At the same time, this certificate is only used to convert foreign language subject scores in the admission combination or calculate bonus points.
Thus, candidates can use certificates to replace English subject scores in university admissions but must follow the regulations and specific conversion tables of each school.
Regarding the exemption from the English subject in the high school graduation exam, the exemption from the foreign language subject is not within the scope of adjustment of the university admission regulations but is implemented according to the current high school graduation exam regulations.
In addition, Circular No. 06/2026/TT-BGDĐT also indirectly mentions this content when stating: "Foreign language certificate (foreign language certificate used for exemption from the high school graduation exam according to the regulations in the current High School Graduation Exam Regulations)..." (Clause 4 and Clause 6, Article 6).
Thus, foreign language certificates can help candidates in university admissions, but the exemption from the English subject in the high school graduation exam will be decided by the specific regulations of this exam, not by universities.
