The aptitude test contributes to improving the quality of university entrance.

As the first institution to organize the exam this year, Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) has received considerable trust from candidates and universities and colleges. We had a discussion with Professor Nguyen Tien Thao, Director of the VNU Examination Center, to better understand this exam.

Professor, how has the approach to admissions at Vietnam National University changed this year?

In 2022, the admission methods of Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) remained basically stable compared to 2021. The only difference was that the quotas allocated to each method might change compared to 2021. Majors/groups of majors with high admission scores will allocate more quotas to the method of admission based on the results of the High School Student Competency Assessment Exam (HSA). The 2022 admission process will also be more flexible and proactive for schools/faculties in terms of timing. Units will have appropriate admission plans to ensure the rights of students from various sources and to select high-quality candidates.

ButProfessor, why are the results of this exam being used by more and more schools?

Currently, including faculties/universities of Vietnam National University, Hanoi and Thai Nguyen University, there are more than 60 training units using HSA test results for admissions. There may be several reasons for this, such as: the increasing autonomy of higher education institutions in admissions; flexible admission timelines and methods suitable to the current context; the proven quality of the HSA test; additional opportunities for candidates to apply to majors/universities with high admission scores; universities being able to select high-quality candidates; and the admission method based on competency assessment test results aligning with international admission practices…

- It has been suggested that the majority of high school students in disadvantaged areas cannot afford to travel to major cities to take the National Competency Assessment Exam. This has affected the rights of the candidates. So, what support does the center have for candidates from disadvantaged areas and those who are members of the military?

The National Competency Assessment Exam serves multiple purposes, including university admissions. It's important to note that most universities use at least three admission methods. Therefore, candidates have many pathways to university.

For the HSA exam, Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) has a policy of supporting exam fees for candidates from impoverished households, families receiving preferential treatment, ethnic minorities, and mountainous regions, etc., to help them participate. The VNU Examination Center also organizes exams in many provinces and cities nationwide to bring the exam closer to candidates and create favorable geographical conditions for them. Furthermore, the HSA exam is only conducted in one session, and candidates are allowed to choose their exam time, thus giving them more flexibility in planning their travel. Military personnel candidates also face no difficulties if they have access to the internet to register for an online exam session. Registration only takes a maximum of 5-10 minutes. The rights of military personnel and independent candidates are equal.

ButThe Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) recently held the first round of the National Competency Assessment Exam. Could the professor please tell us what common mistakes candidates often make and what candidates in subsequent exam rounds should be aware of?

We held the HSA-201 exam over two days, February 26th and 27th. With the HSA exam sample questions already published and available for online practice at http://khaothi.vnu.edu.vn/, candidates did not encounter any difficulties. Some candidates were slightly confused when answering fill-in-the-blank questions because they had little practice with this type of question. Candidates need to interact with the computer continuously to ensure a stable internet connection. After 10 minutes of inactivity, the invigilators will remind candidates to interact with the computer. Therefore, for difficult questions, please skip them and return later if you have time to answer as many questions as possible.

But Professor, what effective study strategies should candidates employ to perform well on the National Competency Assessment Exam?

The first thing you need to do is familiarize yourself with the exam structure and question format. Therefore, you should practice with sample tests before registering for the exam and 1-2 days before the exam. Practicing with sample tests will give you information about the skill areas the exam will assess. From there, candidates can identify their weaknesses and plan their supplementary studies. Secondly, you should have a serious study plan and avoid getting bogged down in tutoring groups that waste time and don't yield good results.

For those with a strong background in natural sciences (or social sciences), don't be overconfident and don't neglect reviewing social science (or natural science) subjects. HSA exam questions require candidates to have a solid grasp of the basic knowledge of the high school curriculum, applying it from basic to advanced levels, rather than being trick questions, difficult questions, or tricky questions. Before the exam, practice with sample tests to manage your time effectively, familiarize yourself with the exam structure, and better control your progress. This will help you achieve the highest possible score according to your abilities. Another important point is that candidates should familiarize themselves with the registration instructions and exam information on the official website. This will help them understand and feel more confident about the exam. Some candidates get confused by irrelevant information on social media forums and receive unofficial information, which can lead to further anxiety before the exam.

Professor, what is the planned adjustment schedule for the proportion of questions integrating interdisciplinary knowledge, in line with the goals of general education reform?

One of the unique and distinctive features of the National Competency Assessment Tests (HSA) is that they have few questions and a short time limit, yet they assess the main competency groups of the test-takers. Therefore, interdisciplinary integrated questions are a mandatory requirement of the HSA test. Currently, candidates are studying the 2006 general education program concurrently and are beginning to access the 2018 comprehensive program, so the HSA test is designed according to a roadmap of gradual changes and additions throughout the 2023-2024 school year. Therefore, in 2024, we will add some more interdisciplinary integrated questions.

Thank you very much, Professor!