2021 University Admission Benchmarks for USSH: A Perspective

This year, the Korean Studies major at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Hanoi) has a benchmark score of 30 points for block C00. Therefore, to be admitted to this major, candidates must achieve 3 points out of 10 (on a 30-point scale) or must have additional points. This is the second consecutive year that this major has a benchmark score of 30/30.

New students of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities on the 2020 admission day

Discussing more about this field of study, sharing with Vietnam Education Electronic Magazine, Professor Hoang Anh Tuan - Principal of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Hanoi) informed:

Admission scores to universities in 2021 increased in most training fields. This was predicted right from the high school exam results, so when schools announced the admission scores on the evening of September 15, candidates and parents were not too surprised.

This year's score distribution tends to increase more in the admission combinations of the traditional C and D groups. For the training programs of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, the average increase is about 0.5 to 1.5 points - basically as predicted before.

The increase in benchmark scores in 2021 can be attributed to the following main reasons:

Firstly, the 2021 high school exam score distribution increased slightly in subjects in groups C and D, so of course the increase in university admission scores is understandable.

Second, universities are increasingly using admission methods other than high school exam results, such as considering transcripts, direct admission through international certificates, international and national awards, and competency assessment exams, etc.

The increase in the admission ratio as above causes the quota of universities for admission based on high school results to decrease. The high school exam score distribution increases while the quota for admission based on high school exam results decreases, so the standard score increases, which is understandable.

Third, the complicated developments of the pandemic have caused many candidates' study abroad plans to be delayed; candidates have chosen to study domestically. They all have good foreign language skills, so their entrance exam scores for group D are high.

Professor Hoang Anh Tuan and Humanities students

Finally, Professor Hoang Anh Tuan explained that the sudden high benchmark scores only occurred in some majors, not across all majors and training programs. For example, the benchmark score for the C00 combination for the Korean Studies major at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Hanoi) continued to stand at the maximum threshold of 30/30 points for the second consecutive year. Some of the main reasons are:

The enrollment quota for Korean Studies is very low: out of a total of 50 quotas, 15 candidates were directly admitted based on international certificates, national awards, etc., so there are only 35 quotas left for admission based on high school exam scores.

High number of wishes (nearly 1,800 registration quotas for Korean Studies divided by the remaining 35 quotas, so the average competition rate of the combinations is up to the threshold of more than 51 wishes for 1 pass, for combination C00 the competition rate is even higher).

Priority points according to regions and policy subjects according to State regulations make the total score (after adding priority points, up to a maximum of 2.5 points for ethnic minority candidates in region 1) of the candidates exceed the threshold of 30/30. In reality, no candidate achieved the maximum score of 30/30, but because of the priority points added, they reached or exceeded the threshold of 30/30.