VNU-HCMC implements innovation in admission based on capacity assessment

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dinh Duc - Head of Training Department, VNU

- As someone who has worked and been attached to VNU for many years, and also as Head of the Training Department of VNU, could you please tell us clearly the basic contents of the enrollment innovation plan of VNU?

After carefully studying the admission plans of advanced countries in the world, VNU chose to innovate admission plans in a form basically similar to that of the United States, with consideration and adjustment to suit the circumstances and specific conditions of Vietnam, specifically as follows:

Candidates must take a standardized test that assesses general abilities and a test that assesses specific abilities (similar to the US SAT1 and SAT2 tests).

The standardized test measures general ability (similar to the SAT1), and is a multiple-choice test.The General Competency Assessment Test is constructed with a complete structure of 4 components: (i) Mathematics; (ii) Literature; (iii) Natural Sciences; and (iv) Social Sciences. There are a total of 180 objective multiple choice questions. The test duration is 215 minutes (in 1 session). The weighting according to the ability level is 20% easy; 60% medium and 20% difficult; The content of the components covers the entire 3 years of high school, but is weighted according to the content in grade 12. The two components of Natural Sciences and Social Sciences cover the entire content of grades 11 and 12, with a focus on grade 12. The test is graded according to 4 separate scores of the 4 components.

In 2014, VNU applied this test to recruit students who passed the 3rd general exam to study high-quality, talented, advanced, international standard programs (on September 10, 2014). Therefore, the 2014 National High School Graduation Exam was designed more simply, including 3 parts: 50 questions on Math knowledge, 50 questions on Literature knowledge (with a structure of 10% in the 10th grade program, 20% in the 11th grade knowledge program and 70% in the 12th grade program) and 40 questions in the optional part (candidates can choose a part including 40 questions on Physics, Chemistry, Biology or 40 questions on History, Geography, Civic Education (with a structure of 30% in the 11th grade knowledge and 70% in the 12th grade knowledge). The 2014 National High School Graduation Exam has a total of 140 questions. Question (each correct answer is worth 1 point, incorrect answers or no answers are not counted), test time is 195 minutes.

After having the results of the general entrance exam, to enter VNU, students must also take the following:specialized competency assessment test(similar to the US SAT 2) to assess the ability and knowledge to select candidates to study specific professions at university level. For example, those who take the entrance exam for natural sciences and technology such as Mathematics, Mechanics, IT... can choose the specialized subject of mathematics; those who choose chemistry and biology can take the specialized subject of chemistry; those who choose to study social sciences and humanities can choose the subject of literature, etc. These specialized subjects are considered and decided by the Science and Training Council of each school for each major/group of majors/fields. Candidates only take one specialized competency assessment test according to regulations.

The point I want to emphasize is that VNU is built and developed in the direction of an advanced research university model, so it is necessary for candidates to take an additional specialized competency assessment test. Other schools do not necessarily apply this test, but can also organize an additional single subject test in essay form, open questions or aptitude test to have more information to evaluate candidates selected for programs with special requirements.

At VNU, students who register for high-quality, talented, advanced or international standard training programs, in addition to the standardized test scores to assess general capacity and specialized capacity assessment tests with high scores, are also evaluated through their records and other achievements. For example, the talented program requires excellent academic performance in 3 years of high school, or achievements in excellent student teams of provinces, countries, and international countries, etc.

Thus, it can be seen that VNU's enrollment is evaluated comprehensively and objectively, in line with the general trend of advanced countries in the world.

- Could you please tell us the bases and conditions for VNU to feasibly implement the above new form of enrollment?

First of all, it is based on scientific foundations. The method of designing and standardizing multiple-choice tests to measure competencies in the VNU exam is designed and standardized based on psychometric theories as well as modern testing theories, similar to the SAT, ACT, GMAT, GRE, etc.

Second, VNU's admission method for the Advanced Placement Test is learned from the experiences and practices of advanced countries in the world, especially the United States, combined with the reality in Vietnam. VNU's Admission Method has the participation and support of experts in developing international assessment tests (from Educational Testing Service - ETS, USA) as well as consultants on US admissions policies. The US has SAT1 and SAT2 tests, VNU has chosen a standardized test to assess general ability and a specialized ability test, with reference to the ACT test (increasing the knowledge test content in the Advanced Placement Test compared to the SAT) and has been absorbed, selected, supplemented, and perfected to suit the reality of Vietnam.

The third point, in my opinion, is the most important point for VNU to be confident and steadfast in implementing the innovation of the competency assessment, is that we have had a direction and carefully prepared step by step for the innovation of admission based on competency assessment for a long time. Originating in 1997 when we deployed the selection of excellent students to study in the talent system, followed by the research results from the State-level Project on tools for assessment, selection, discovery and training and nurturing of talents from 2004-2005, to date VNU has built 4,000 source questions and trained about 50 experienced and qualified staff who specialize in writing questions for standardized competency assessment tests. VNU has the strength of being a multi-disciplinary university with a full range of experts in all fields, from Natural Sciences - Technology to Social Sciences, Economics - Law, Foreign Languages, etc., so it has proactively built quality source questions. Furthermore, VNU has also established the Institute for Education Quality Assurance and the Testing Center, which have been put into effective operation; has a team of managers and lecturers who have been trained in enrollment innovation, which has been tested at both undergraduate and graduate levels.

One point that needs to be emphasized is that the software for the assessment of capacity by the National University of Hanoi is also built by experts of the National University of Hanoi. The test taking and grading are done directly on the computer, thus ensuring objectivity, accuracy and fairness in the test taking and grading process. These are solid foundations and favorable and feasible practical conditions for the National University of Hanoi to continue to implement enrollment innovation effectively and firmly.

- So can you tell us about the roadmap for enrollment innovation at VNU?

To implement the above policies, since the beginning of 2013, VNU has proactively established the Steering Committee for Admission Innovation, headed by Director Phung Xuan Nha, with Rectors of member universities and the Director of the Institute for Quality Assurance participating in the Steering Committee. The Training Committee is the standing body. The current roadmap for undergraduate admission innovation of VNU is agreed upon by the Steering Committee as follows:

- 2014,Applying standardized tests to select students for high-quality, talented, advanced programs, strategic missions (international standards) at VNU after passing the 3 general entrance exams to VNU (and therefore not applying specialized capacity assessment tests). The test will be done on the computer.

- 2015, applying the admission method based on capacity assessment for training programs with talented, advanced, high-quality, and internationally standardized bachelor training programs. The general and specialized capacity assessment exam will be held before the 3rd general university entrance exam. Therefore, candidates applying for these programs, after taking the capacity assessment exams, still have the opportunity to participate in the 3rd general exam to try their hand at other standard training programs in VNU or other universities recruiting according to the 3rd general exam of the Ministry.

- 2016: Based on the experiences that have been implemented, apply mass enrollment in the direction of capacity assessment for all university training majors before the university entrance exam according to the 3 common form of the Ministry of Education and Training.

However, the above roadmap will be adjusted in accordance with the policies and decisions on the national high school graduation exam of the Ministry of Education and Training. For example, if the common national high school graduation exam of VNU is recognized by the Ministry and used for high school graduation nationwide, VNU will accelerate the national high school graduation exam roadmap according to the general roadmap of the industry, and at the same time, there will be plans to add more source questions, coordinate with localities and other units to ensure the material and technical conditions to serve the implementation of online testing of the common national high school graduation exam nationwide.

- To make this implementation more meaningful, could you please tell us about the possibility of sharing and applying it to units outside of VNU?

My point of view and perception is that autonomy in admission does not mean that each school has its own separate entrance exam. When the 3 common exam is eliminated, a student planning to take the entrance exam for 3 schools cannot simultaneously prepare for 3 exams with different orientations, which would not be feasible. One of the successes of the 3 common exam is to orient the admission work and orient the preparation of candidates. The innovation in admission work to be successful must also meet this criterion.

Furthermore, admission and admission organization are two very different activities. Many years of experience in directing admission activities shows that in order for admission organization to be successful, it is necessary to ensure the most important factors such as: the set of questions must be standard and of good quality to accurately assess the candidates' abilities, and through the exam results, candidates must be selected;two isThe organization of the exam, from the creation of questions, the preparation of the test to the grading and announcement of results, must be closely monitored, objective, and trusted by society;three ismust be consistent with the current education system of Vietnam (training program, curriculum system, learning materials, ...) and importantlyWednesday(For innovation in admission based on competency assessment) there must be a strong, modern, and standard IT infrastructure that meets the requirements for exam registration, test taking, and grading on computers, online.Five isVNU's plan is flexible, universities can recruit candidates to their schools with different scores of the general national aptitude test. The specialized aptitude test is also only applied to a number of key universities, universities with research orientation, so the recruitment will be suitable and respond to the stratification of universities in Vietnam in the future andSix isIt is possible to do "two in one", through the results of the General Competency Test, not only to consider admission to universities and colleges, but also to use the floor score of this test to consider high school graduation (if permitted by the Ministry of Education and Training).

The advantage of VNU's admission method is that it fully meets such criteria. The general trend of the world, and in my opinion, Vietnam is no exception, is that the organization of exams should be assigned to large organizations and centers with capacity in terms of staff, facilities and experience to carry out the exam so that the exam work has high quality and reliability. Based on the results of the standardized test to assess the general capacity of VNU, different schools can choose different benchmark scores to enroll students, select successful candidates for different majors of their school, thus ensuring both the quality of input and saving costs for families, training institutions and society.

The advantage of the VNU's innovative admission plan is that the standardized test to assess general capacity can be held regularly, many times a year. Candidates can proactively register for the assessment test at the appropriate time and of course can take the test before the 3rd general exam. From this method of organizing and implementing admission, along with the organization of training according to credits, it will inevitably be the premise for admission and calling for admission to university twice a year like in developed countries, thus reducing the pressure of society on a university entrance exam like today, and at the same time will be a new wind to fundamentally change university admission activities in Vietnam.

I firmly believe that with such steady, careful, methodical steps and thorough preparation, with scientific basis and practical experience, the innovation in enrollment at VNU will be successful and have widespread influence.

- With the information about many innovative plans for entrance exams, as a university lecturer and also a permanent member of the Steering Committee for Entrance Exams of VNU, what message do you have for high school students who aim to prepare to pass the entrance exam to enter university next year?

Innovation in admission methods essentially means changing the form of examination and assessment, but the essence is still cognitive capacity, knowledge and other capacities that candidates have acquired, trained and accumulated in high school.

The general assessment test is not difficult and does not go beyond general knowledge. With assessment tests like the US SAT1 and SAT2, the knowledge content covers both middle and high school levels, while the assessment test of VNU still focuses on grade 12 knowledge, only 20% of knowledge in grade 11 and 10% in grade 10. Moreover, if approved by the Ministry, it can be used to replace the high school graduation exam, and the test can be taken in multiple sessions. If the first session does not have satisfactory results or the results are still low, students can register to retake the test to meet the requirements, or to improve their scores with higher test results. The assessment test will create more opportunities for students. In addition, VNU still has a specialized assessment test for excellent students and gifted students to have the opportunity to demonstrate. Students can be completely assured in preparing to adapt and get used to the innovations in admissions according to VNU's plan.

Getting into university is difficult, but ahead is the process of studying, striving and training during the years at university. The basic knowledge equipped at university level is an extremely important foundation for each individual's career. The philosophy of VNU is to combine training with research, learning with practice, theory with practice. Training at VNU not only aims to equip students with full knowledge, creative ability, moral qualities, not only so that after graduation they can have good jobs, but also focuses on training students with skills and organizational capacity, especially developing thinking and vision, creating students with full courage and determination to enter life and start a career. Wishing you confidence, full of ambition and success,"Happiness only smiles on those who persevere and work hard."The doors of VNU are always open to welcome you!

Thank you very much!