- Mr. Deputy Director Nguyen Hoang Hai, could you please provide information about the 2021 National University of Hanoi's high school student competency assessment test?
Based on the application of educational quality measurement science to the competency assessment exams in 2015 and 2016, Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) assigned the Testing Center as the specialized unit to develop the competency assessment exam for high school students.
Unlike previous years, the upcoming National Competency Assessment Exam will approach the assessment of high school students' abilities in a more comprehensive way, in line with modern testing science. The three main competency groups to be assessed include: Creativity and problem-solving; Mathematics, Vietnamese language, linguistic thinking, reasoning, logic, calculation, and data processing; and Self-discovery and application of technology/science (natural and social sciences). Therefore, the results of the National Competency Assessment Exam will serve multiple purposes: assessing high school students' abilities for classification after graduation; advising on teaching and learning activities and ensuring educational quality; forecasting the quality of the general workforce; serving university admissions and predicting academic results; and career guidance for students…
Deputy Director General of Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Nguyen Hoang Hai
- Could you please tell us about the new features of the high school student competency assessment test compared to the one organized by the Vietnam National University, Hanoi in 2015-2016?
The National Competency Assessment Exam (ĐGNL) adopts a non-traditional approach (learning and testing by subject group or combination) to comprehensively assess the abilities of high school students currently studying under the old general education program (issued in 2006) and continuing the overall general education program (2018). Therefore, the ĐGNL exam for high school students approaches the assessment of students' comprehensive abilities rather than simply serving university admissions as in the 2015-2016 period.
Structurally, the competency assessment test consists of three components:
- Part 1: Quantitative reasoning consists of 50 questions to be completed in 75 minutes;
- Part 2: Qualitative Reasoning has 50 questions, 60 minutes;
- Part 3: Science consists of 50 questions covering natural sciences, technology, and social sciences, 60 minutes.
Candidates take the exam on a computer, consisting of multiple-choice questions (selecting one of four answers) and fill-in-the-blank questions. The exam duration is 195 minutes, and the total score is 150 points.
In 2021, the scoring process was as follows: 1 point for each correct answer, 0 points for incorrect answers. Candidates knew their scores for each section and their total score immediately after completing the exam, and checked their results on the portal:
www.khaothi.vnu.edu.vnThe exam results certificate will be sent to candidates 14 days after the exam.
Since 2020, Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) has assigned the VNU Testing Center as the specialized unit to organize the high school student competency assessment exam in a professional, efficient, and cost-effective manner, while ensuring maximum benefits for students.
To date, we have developed a detailed exam script for the 2021 exams. The exam questions were reviewed from over 12,000 questions in the 2016 National Competency Assessment Exam question bank to select question groups suitable for the three aforementioned competency groups, combined with over 3,500 questions developed between 2017 and 2020. This diverse range of questions will ensure the comprehensiveness of the exam, providing a balanced level of difficulty for students participating in multiple sessions throughout the year. Sample exams will be published before March 15, 2021.
This year, the VNU Hanoi Examination Center will organize multiple exam sessions, lasting from May to November. Candidates can register online for the first exam session from April 1, 2021 at the following address:
www.khaothi.vnu.edu.vnCandidates can choose their exam date, session, and exam period to suit their personal schedule; they can change their exam time up to 14 days before the exam. Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) maximizes the use of information technology to increase candidate autonomy and save social costs.
Based on the actual situation, the examination organizing unit will determine the appropriate scale for each examination session and examination location. According to the report from the Examination Center, in 2021, the expected scale is approximately 10,000 candidates registering for the exam, mainly in Hanoi.
As mentioned above, the high school student competency assessment test serves multiple purposes, including university admissions and career guidance. The examination and admission processes are completely separate. All undergraduate programs at Vietnam National University, Hanoi will allocate appropriate quotas and criteria for admission based on the results of the high school student competency assessment test (test code Q00), in addition to the admission methods applied in 2020.
- If external universities use the results of the competency assessment test for admissions, will they encounter any obstacles, sir?
Currently, the examination and admission processes are completely separate. Universities within and outside the Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) have various admission methods. Regarding the examination organizing unit, VNU is ready to share resources and the results of the high school student competency assessment exam with educational institutions to achieve the set goals. Specifically for university admissions, reducing the number of "ghost" candidates (candidates who apply but don't actually enroll) is always a priority, so if universities cooperate in the admissions process, it will limit the number of "ghost" candidates from various admission sources. VNU creates all the necessary conditions to ensure that the admission and filtering process runs smoothly.
- What advice would you give to candidates registering for the 2021 National University of Hanoi's competency assessment exam?
The VNU (Vietnam National University, Hanoi) aptitude test aims to assess the abilities of candidates (high school students and independent candidates). Students registering for the exam should avoid rote learning, selective studying, or cramming at any center, and instead dedicate time to reviewing knowledge, practicing skills, and developing a professional demeanor and attitude before the exam. If candidates intend to use the test results for university admissions, they should familiarize themselves with the admission plans of higher education institutions and refer to sample test papers before registering. The online registration portal opens on April 1st, 2021 at the following address:
www.khaothi.vnu.edu.vnor
www.cet.vnu.edu.vn.
Thank you very much, Deputy Director, for this interview.
