The 2026 university admission regulations stipulating that candidates must achieve a minimum of 15 points for the 3-subject combination of the high school graduation exam (30-point scale) to be eligible for admission consideration are causing many 12th grade students to recalculate their university admission strategies. Before this change, many students are starting to adjust their study plans as well as admission methods to suit their abilities.
Sharing with Lao Dong reporters, Nguyen Xuan Hieu - a 12th-grade student at Ngo Quyen High School (Hanoi) - said that he plans to use high school graduation exam scores as the main admission method. According to Xuan Hieu, previously, he mainly focused on two strengths in the admission combination, but with the new regulations, learning needs to be more balanced between subjects.
You must pay attention to studying all three subjects in the admission combination to ensure that the total score is not too low. If one subject gets a low score, the total score will be affected" - Xuan Hieu shared.
The male student said that he currently spends more time practicing for the graduation exam and systematizing knowledge according to each topic. In addition to studying in class, Hieu often makes additional exam questions from previous years to get acquainted with the exam structure and practice skills in allocating time when doing the exam.
For Chu Dinh Ha - a 12th-grade student at Vietnam - Korea Vocational College, he is quite worried when learning about the new enrollment regulations. Ha expressed that his academic performance is average, so setting a university target also puts him under more pressure.
My grades in class are not too high, so I am also worried that if I only rely on school transcripts, the opportunities will not be many. Therefore, I must try harder to achieve the graduation exam score level to be eligible for admission" - Ha said.
The male student said that he is focusing more on the three subjects Literature, History and Geography in the C00 combination that he plans to register for admission. Every day after school hours, Ha spends more time reviewing basic knowledge and doing the common types of questions in the exam.
This year there is no sample exam, so I proactively looked for exam questions from previous years to practice and get acquainted with the question format. I also tried to study all three subjects in the C00 combination to ensure that the total score is sufficient for admission consideration" - Ha shared.
Besides, Ha also often studies in groups with some friends to exchange lessons and solve problems together. According to Ha, this learning method helps her understand lessons more easily and has more motivation in the review stage.
I don't set a goal for too high scores, but try to reach a level that is enough to have the opportunity to apply to some schools that suit my abilities" - Ha shared.
Meanwhile, Nguyen Thuy Linh (12th grade student at a high school in Dong Anh commune) said that she is considering using the method of admission based on transcripts. However, according to the new regulations, the admission combination must be based on the average score of 6 high school semesters of at least 3 subjects, in which Math or Literature must account for at least 1/3 of the weight.
Previously, I thought it was only necessary to have good scores in some subjects in the report card to be considered for admission. But the new regulations require calculating scores for all 6 semesters and must have Math or Literature in the combination, so I also have to review my scores" - Linh shared.
According to this female student, in the remaining time of the school year, she tries to improve the scores of the main subjects in class so that her report card is not lowered, and at the same time, she is still preparing for the high school graduation exam to have more admission options.
