Aptitude tests are the best method for assessing and developing candidates' abilities.

ButSir, this is the first year that Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) is organizing admissions using the Competency Assessment method.Public opinion, and especially students, are very interested in this exam.As the Vice-Rector in charge of training at the member university, could you share more information about this new examination method?

First and foremost, I deeply sympathize with the students and their parents regarding their concerns about this exam and the registration process for admission to Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU). Along with that empathy, I feel very proud that these concerns demonstrate that this university has truly become the preferred choice for many young people seeking a career path, commitment, and contribution. As a member of the Board of Directors, I respectfully express my gratitude and appreciation for the students and their parents' interest in VNU in general and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in particular.

In the upcoming competency assessment exam, there are three important things I want to emphasize to the students:

First: Don't be afraid of the National Competency Assessment Exam because it's actually designed to suit high school students who are preparing for exams in their respective subject areas, just like in previous years.

The National Competency Assessment Exam is the best method of evaluating students' academic abilities, regardless of their chosen field of study, even for those aiming for the humanities/social sciences (Block C), because the content is still based on the high school curriculum, primarily grade 12, and the exam structure ensures that students' strengths are utilized effectively in their university entrance exam preparation. I mention this first because it's the most common concern among students.

For example, for students who have planned to prepare for the humanities/social sciences (Block C), in the 195-minute exam with 140 questions, they will focus on two areas of expertise: Literature (compulsory) and Social Sciences (optional). The remaining compulsory subject is Mathematics. However, in my opinion, this is not a significant obstacle for them. Because in this year's exam, even those aiming for Block C will still have to take the Mathematics exam in the National High School Graduation Examination for graduation. Therefore, the preparation process for the Mathematics exam in the National High School Graduation Examination will help those aiming for Block C to better prepare for the mathematics content in the National Competency Assessment Exam.

It's important to note that the National Competency Assessment Exam only uses two types of multiple-choice questions: selecting only one correct answer from four options and filling in a numerical value. This is a very favorable opportunity for students to prepare for the exam because the assessment requirement here is...The focus should be on understanding and analyzing the exam questions, not just rote memorization.This will reduce pressure on students during their studies because traditional exams mostly require memorizing a lot, and in traditional exams, sometimes even a few details can affect the results.

Understanding this concern of the candidates, the School's Admissions Council has planned an online admissions counseling session for candidates taking the competency assessment exam, focusing on effective study methods for the program.Online Consultation #2: Effective Preparation for the Competency Assessment Exam - Sharing from Experts and University StudentsIt will take place at 9:00 AM on Saturday, March 28, 2015.

The format of the National Competency Assessment Exam is not unfamiliar to high school students, as they have already taken multiple-choice exams in various subjects. While the computer-based exam might cause some anxiety, mock exams organized by the Vietnam National University have shown that students only need minimal computer skills to pass. Furthermore, the National Competency Assessment Exam software is designed to provide maximum support to learners and ensure exam security in all circumstances, so students don't need to worry too much about how to take the computer-based exam.

Secondly: The timing of the competency assessment exam effectively supports students preparing for the National High School Graduation Exam and provides an opportunity for candidates to be recognized as admitted to university right before the National High School Graduation Exam.

I am very concerned about this because at any university or college, including Vietnam National University, Hanoi, students must graduate from high school to meet the necessary conditions to become university or college students.

The National High School Graduation Examination was held during the first four days of July 2015, which was a very suitable time for students planning to apply to member universities of the Vietnam National University, Hanoi. This was because the first round of the National Competency Assessment Exam took place on May 30th and 31st, 2015 (five days after students finished their high school program), thus avoiding overwhelming them with exam preparation. Furthermore, participating in the National Competency Assessment Exam provided students with valuable experience in how to answer multiple-choice questions, a format widely used in many subjects of the National High School Graduation Examination.

Furthermore, the exam results were announced just a few days after the exam (June 6, 2015). Following that, from June 10 to June 25, 2015, students submitted their applications for university admission, and the results of the admissions process were announced on June 30, 2015. Therefore, if admitted to university (provided they had graduated from high school) at this time, students would be much more confident the following day when they took the National High School Graduation Exam, allowing them to focus on doing well in the exam.

With this roadmap, I believe that students' participation in the National Competency Assessment Exam will not hinder their preparation for the National High School Graduation Exam, but rather support and motivate them. The issue I want to emphasize more is choosing a future career and a field of study that can help them achieve their dreams at this time, as the exam is for admission to prestigious universities in Vietnam's higher education system.

Thirdly: To be admitted to the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, one must take an aptitude test.

From 2015 onwards, only students who achieve good results in the National Competency Assessment Exam will have the opportunity to study at leading higher education institutions in the country and the region in social sciences and humanities. This is a difference that I want all students to remember.

Universities within the Vietnam National University, Hanoi, only consider the results of the National Competency Assessment Exam (ĐGNL), not the results of the National High School Graduation Exam (THPTQG). Therefore, if you have chosen this university, the challenge for young people to overcome is the ĐGNL exam, followed by the necessary requirement of graduating from high school.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Kim (Photo: Thanh Long)

ButSir, another concern that many students have is how valuable the results of the second aptitude test (held in early August 2015) will be for their admission to the University?

Separating exams from admissions is a general policy in university and college admissions nationwide, in order to implement the roadmap of Resolution 29 of the 11th Party Congress on fundamental and comprehensive reform of higher education. Therefore, first and foremost, it is necessary to understand that the competency assessment exam and the admissions process are two independent processes but work together towards a unified goal: selecting the best students to study at university.

The results of the competency assessment test are valid for 24 months.This has been stipulated in the Regulations on Admission to Regular Undergraduate Programs of Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) and has been agreed upon by the Ministry of Education and Training. This means that in June 2015, when students taking the National Competency Assessment Exam received their results and met the quality assurance threshold (70/140 points) as stipulated in VNU's 2015 Regular Undergraduate Admission Scheme, from that time until June 2017, candidates were eligible to apply for admission to VNU's programs that required an aptitude test score of 70 points. Therefore, the first or second exam of 2015 was not solely for the purpose of admission to VNU in 2015.

For candidates, it is essential to carefully read the admission information of the universities they are interested in, whether within or outside the Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU). This is crucial to avoid misunderstanding or misinterpreting university admission information, which could negatively impact their educational opportunities. If you have any questions, please ask the admissions officers. At the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, the admissions secretariat not only posts information online but also enhances interaction with students and parents through online counseling programs and via Facebook (the page).https://www.facebook.com/tuvantuyensinh.ussh?fref=ts&ref=br_tf), via telephone (numbers: 04.38585237, 04.35575892) to provide timely support to candidates.

Returning to your question, in short, you need to remember that if a major has already filled its quota in the end-of-June 2015 admission round, it will NOT conduct a supplementary admission round in the end-of-August 2015. This information will be announced along with the admission results on June 30, 2015. Therefore, the results of the second round of the National Competency Assessment Exam remain valid for 24 months, but for the 2015 admissions period, they can only be used for majors that still have quotas and have a minimum application score of 70 points.

However, students should note the following two points regarding the second round of the 2015 National Competency Assessment Exam:

- If you took the first round of the competency assessment test, you can still take the second round as usual, and if you register for the second round of admissions, you will use the higher score.

- If you took the first round of the National Competency Assessment Exam and were accepted at the end of June 2015, you will NOT be considered for the supplementary admission round, even if that major still has vacancies and your exam score meets the major's requirements.

On this occasion, on behalf of the Admissions Council and the faculty of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, I would like to extend my best wishes for good health to all students, and wish you all the best in making the right career choices and achieving success in your entrance exams!

Thank you, Teacher, for sharing.