One of the new points of this year's admission season is the conversion of equivalent benchmark scores between methods. Many schools have announced the conversion method, each school has a formula that confuses candidates between the matrix of admission information. Lao Dong Newspaper had a conversation with Dr. Hoang Ngoc Vinh, former head of the Department of Vocational Education, Ministry of Education and Training, about this issue.
Many opinions say that converting equivalent benchmark scores makes enrollment confusing, causing difficulties for parents, students and even schools. What is your point of view?
- This year the situation of recruiting students is really worse than previous years. In theory, the Ministry of Education and Training requires schools to convert scores using the decentralization method to ensure fairness between admission methods. However, in reality, the implementation methods of schools are very inconsistent and transparent.
Some schools have publicly announced specific conversion tables, while others have only released final conversion results without clearly explaining how to calculate. With the same transcript score of 8.0, some schools have assigned 6.3 exam scores, while others have 7.0 scores - the difference can be up to 1.5 points, or even more, causing students to panic and this is understandable.
When each school builds a different scale to convert from the classification to the standard score, the scoreboard becomes a melee, and the candidates are like lost. Not standardizing, not publicizing statistical models, not controlling errors - that is the formula of injustice.
While there are only a few days left until the expiration date for wish registration, students have to "travel" through hundreds of admission methods. Not to mention that each industry and each combination has different formulas or references. We cannot both call on them to be proactive and leave them alone in such an IT matrix.
I think that, to effectively implement enrollment autonomy, the Ministry still needs to establish a unified regulatory framework in terms of technology, while building a centralized lookup portal - where all schools must fully update the conversion method and equivalent scoring threshold. Only when information is transparent and easy to access, will learners truly have the opportunity to access fairly.
How can the lack of synchronization in converting equivalent benchmark scores affect the rights of candidates, sir?
- To make a decision on how to arrange and register wishes in a very short time is a huge pressure for candidates. Students need to have access to clear, transparent information and be able to compare and contrast options - that is the basic condition for making the right decision.
Students not only have the right to know but also need to clearly understand how to convert, because that is the basis for them to estimate their admission ability and arrange their wishes accordingly. In university admissions, learners cannot be passive.
In countries such as the US, Canada, Australia... candidates taking the standardized exam such as SAT, ACT, ATAR are provided with parameters such as %, average score, standard deviation - that is, have a clear reference system to proactively choose majors and schools. In Vietnam, although the Ministry of Education and Training has required the use of the decentralization method, if there is no transparent conversion table and it is widely disseminated to candidates, the process will still be "unclear in one direction".
I think that if there cannot be a centralized information portal as mentioned, at least each school must publicize the calculation method, formula and clear search instructions, so that students do not have to "scrutine" or bet on luck in the future. Self-admission cannot be exchanged for the insecurity of learners.
What advice do you have for the contestants at this time?
- A short advice for candidates is: know yourself - know others - know the rules of the game. First of all, students should determine which combination they have the highest score, then compare it with the conversion method of the schools they are interested in. Prioritize your truly favorite industry as your top wish - do not "ai khap" because the system only looks down from top to bottom. At the same time, we should consider more safe options, that is, nearby majors, schools that are affordable - to ensure a chance of being admitted.
Most importantly, if you are not sure, you should proactively contact the school, call to ask directly or ask a teacher, let them know in advance for further advice. Don't give up your right choice because of information harassment. In a turbulent admission period like this year, whoever understands the rules of the game and acts promptly will have a clear advantage.
