Phase 1 of the competency assessment exam of Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM) in 2026 will officially take place on the morning of April 5 with more than 137,000 candidates participating.
The exam is organized in 15 provinces and cities (according to administrative units after merger), including: Hue, Da Nang, Quang Ngai, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Khanh Hoa, Lam Dong, Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Tay Ninh, Dong Thap, Vinh Long, An Giang, Can Tho and Ca Mau.
Ho Chi Minh City National University said that 112 universities and colleges will use competency assessment exam scores for admission consideration in 2026.
According to the regulations of the Exam Council, all violations are recorded and handled depending on the severity.
At a light level, candidates who look at papers or exchange papers for the first time will be reprimanded. This form is decided by the exam supervisor right in the exam room.
If they re-offend or commit more serious violations such as exchanging papers, scratch papers; copying other people's papers or letting others copy papers, candidates will be warned. These cases will all be recorded, accompanied by exhibits if any.
At the highest level, candidates may be suspended from the exam if they continue to violate after being warned, bring unlicensed items into the exam room, take exam papers out or receive answers from outside. In addition, acts such as writing unrelated content into the exam paper, threatening invigilators or other candidates will also be suspended.
Exam supervisors will make a record, collect exhibits and report to the head of the exam site to issue a suspension decision. Suspended candidates must return all exam papers, exam questions, scratch paper and leave the exam room immediately afterwards, and are only allowed to leave the exam area when the exam time is over.
In addition, the regulations also clearly stipulate the levels of points deduction and annulment of exam results. Candidates who are reprimanded will be deducted 25% of the exam score, and warnings will be deducted 50%. Exam papers with markings when grading will also be deducted 50% of the score.
Notably, suspended candidates will receive a score of 0 and are not allowed to use the results for university or college admission.
For particularly serious violations such as taking exams for others, asking people to take exams for others, correcting papers after the time is up, using other people's papers or causing trouble, assaulting people participating in organizing exams, the exam results will be completely cancelled. In case there are signs of crime, they will be transferred to functional agencies for handling according to legal regulations.
