Student Competency Assessment Test: Will Be a Push to Innovate General Education

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Kim Son - Permanent Deputy Director of VNU

Comprehensive, secure and highly differentiated

-The method of assessing capacity for admission of Hanoi National University has received attention from society. It seems that Hanoi National University has contributed to realizing the idea of ​​external assessment into a practical assessment activity, sir?

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Kim Son:That's right. VNU Hanoi considers innovation, including innovation in examinations, as a mission, a pioneer for the entire Vietnamese higher education system. For the first time in Vietnam, people know what competency assessment is, serving the admission work. This method is built on the foundation of advanced testing and assessment in the world, and can overcome many shortcomings of previous exams when reaching the level of coverage, professionalism, safety and fairness. The 2015 admission course using the competency assessment method has organized its first semester of training. Many lecturers and staff have positively evaluated a generation of dynamic and quite comprehensive students.

- In 2015, the competency assessment exam was only for admission to member schools of Hanoi National University, but this year, 6 schools outside the system have registered to use the exam results...

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Kim Son:This year, the exam has initially been shared. 6 schools outside the Hanoi National University system participated in using these results, including: Capital University, Nguyen Trai University, Da Nang University of Architecture, Nam Dinh University of Technical Education, University of Natural Resources and Environment, and Hoa Binh University. This is the initial sharing but shows that other schools are enthusiastic and interested in our admission method. If from 2017 onwards, more schools participate in using the results as well as jointly organizing the exam, we are ready.

- For schools in the top group that require high differentiation of candidates, can the competency assessment exam meet that requirement?

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Kim Son:We believe that schools that recruit students at high scores need this kind of assessment method even more. Because with the general exam, the number of questions to classify candidates is not much. Meanwhile, our 140-question set of questions has the ability to classify candidates very well. The set of questions is screened to ensure a balance of difficulty between exams, while adding new questions at a reasonable rate, increasing open-ended questions, and linking them to practical knowledge.

Party Secretary and President of VNU directs the capacity assessment exam/Photo: Quoc Toan

Regular assessment and recruitment

- That's the point of view, but what are the conditions for sharing the results of the Hanoi National University's competency assessment exam, sir?

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Kim Son:One of the conditions for sharing the results is the test set. Compared to 2015, our test set this year has doubled. We are still expanding and perfecting the test set to have a large enough capacity for the number of candidates. The standardized test has been tested, screened, and balanced in difficulty. Regarding the software and online registration organization, the process, it is completely possible to meet the large number of candidates. So, in terms of viewpoint, we are ready; in terms of conditions, the most important is the test set and other conditions, we can also meet. The remaining story is, if this testing method is expanded to a very large number of candidates, schools must join forces. In addition, it is necessary to socialize in preparing facilities (transmission lines, equipment, etc.) in a systematic, regular manner, and for stable use for many years.

- In the long term, if we use the Hanoi National University's capacity assessment test, will the admission methods of universities have to change, sir?

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Kim Son:The admission method of universities needs to be adjusted. Universities should switch to the form of admission in two seasons a year, spring and fall, instead of one admission period. Regular assessment and regular admission will reduce stress for candidates, families and society. On the part of the Ministry of Education and Training, it is possible to coordinate within the system, have a common policy, as a basis for schools to organize admission according to the new method.

- Exams are only the result of a process. When the teaching and learning methods remain the same, innovation in the examination method only solves the surface problem. What is your opinion on this?

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Kim Son:There needs to be a certain compatibility between studying and testing. Up to now, it is clear that people will study the same way as the test. When taking the test, we also need to know how to study to calculate a suitable way to test. That is two-way. But we cannot wait for the entire general education system to change before changing the test format. We must introduce the new test format as a push, an impact that makes teaching and learning at the general education level change accordingly. Test makers also need to calculate a roadmap, step by step, suitable for changes at the general education level, without being too stressful, causing shock to candidates.

Thank you!

According to daibieunhandan.vn