In 2023, universities not only sharply increased their enrollment quotas and opened new majors, but the number of exams to assess their ability and thinking skills also increased to dozens of exams.
Increased exam pressure
Of the more than 80 schools that have announced their enrollment plans for 2023 at this time, there are nearly 10 universities and colleges holding aptitude and thinking tests for entrance consideration.
For example: Competence assessment exam of Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi National University of Education, Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, assessment exam of the Ministry of Industry and Trade. an exam, the thinking assessment exam of Hanoi University of Science and Technology, the aptitude test of the schools majoring in Fine Arts and Music.
The organization of separate exams is considered to open more opportunities for candidates to enter university. However, many argue that this trend is increasing exam pressure for students because many 12th graders have to bear the pressure of at least 2 exams, including: high school graduation exam and exam. assess the capacity or mindset of a university.
Trinh Minh Chau, a 12th grader at Nguyen Hue High School (Hanoi), said that in order to increase her chances of being admitted to university, Chau plans to register for two competency assessment exams of the Vietnam National University, Hanoi and Hanoi Pedagogical University.
However, taking part in many private exams makes Chau face academic pressure. In addition to reviewing knowledge to prepare for the high school graduation exam, Chau spends a lot of time on tutoring, practicing illustration questions for the online competency assessment.
Candidates take the exam to assess their ability and thinking skills in one of two forms: on the computer or by doing the test directly on paper, depending on the organization of the exam. However, regardless of the form of the exam, candidates must also move to the test locations specified by that school to take the test. Meanwhile, records show that the locations of the schools’ exams are quite limited, in some localities.
According to Ms. Nguyen Boi Quynh, Principal of Viet Duc High School, there are many students who wish to take many exams to assess the school’s ability. Just arranging the time to participate in these exams is a big problem that students and parents need to clearly define.
Besides, Ms. Quynh also said that the children also cannot have much time to study more and review the exam questions to assess the capacity and thinking of all schools. Thus, they will not guarantee their learning in class and limit their knowledge acquisition. Therefore, students should clearly determine which exam they need to take, and where their knowledge goes to register for the exam.
How many separate exams is enough?
In the face of many concerns regarding the exam pressure that will increase for candidates as more and more private exams bloom, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thu Thuy – Director of the Higher Education Department (Ministry of Education and Training) said, the Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Higher Education Law to give schools a very high degree of autonomy in enrollment. Schools are autonomous in the method of enrollment.
According to Ms. Thuy, the opening of their own exams is actually the schools that create more opportunities for candidates to get into university. On the other hand, this is not the only admission method of a university. Schools also set aside many criteria for other methods of admission.
Candidates taking the exam to evaluate the thinking of Hanoi University of Science and Technology in 2022.
Statistics from the Ministry of Education and Training in the enrollment season in 2022 show that traditional methods still prevail. The percentage of candidates who are admitted by the method: high school transcripts, high school graduation exam scores account for a large proportion, over 80% of the total admission target of schools. Therefore, Ms. Thuy affirmed: “This is an extra opportunity for candidates, especially for schools with a high level of competition, requiring high classification of candidates. This is also the reason why schools organize their own exams.”
Talking regarding exam pressure, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Tien Thao – Director of the Hanoi National University Examination Center said that the pressure of candidates stems from many things, including pressure from parents. After many years of working in admissions, Mr. Thao said, many candidates do not want to apply for this major, but parents want to put more pressure on them.
Prof. Dr. Nguyen Tien Thao noted that candidates who decide to enter this field should find out if the schools or their enrollment projects use this method. You should not take too many exams because each exam has a certain nature and serves a certain audience.
Mr. Thao also emphasized that the high school graduation exam is a compulsory exam for all candidates that most schools use and spend most of the quota by this method of admission. If you study well for the exam, you will be sure to get good results in any exam.
“Children take a path where knowledge and ability are certain to be able to reach their desired destination without necessarily taking too many exams, making it a challenge for them to expand their opportunities to enter university. students”, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Tien Thao shared.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thu Thuy said that in fact, the separate exams in some groups of schools are different, not the same. Among the separate exams, there is the competency test of the two Vietnam National University, Hanoi and the Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, which has a relatively universal level of assessment, many schools use the results of the exam. this exam in the entrance examination. As for some other exams, schools focus on certain sectors and groups of industries.
Therefore, Ms. Thuy noted, when candidates have determined their career direction and selected schools to apply to their aspirations and abilities, they do not need to take many exams but only choose one exam. best fit. The rest, they should focus on knowledge for the high school graduation exam. It is a great opportunity for them to apply to universities.