Vietnam's National University of Ho Chi Minh City (ĐHQG-HCM) has reported record-breaking participation for its upcoming National Capacity Assessment (ĐGNL), with over 130,000 candidates having registered for the first testing session of 2025. The registration period commenced on January 20 and will conclude on February 20, 2025. This surge reflects the increasing reliance on standardized testing as part of the university admission process across the country.
According to the Center for Testing and Quality Assessment of ĐHQG-HCM, the total number of candidates who have completed their registration stands at 130,489, of which 127,964 have finalized their payment. Notably, the deadline for payment has been extended to February 23, 2025, from the initial target of February 21, indicating the potential for even higher registration numbers.
The first round of the ĐGNL test is slated for March 30, 2025, and will be conducted across 25 provinces and cities, including major urban areas such as Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hue, and Binh Dinh. Results for this testing session are expected to be released by April 16, 2025, which is just weeks after the exam date.
Ensuring convenience for students, ĐHQG-HCM has stated it will allocate testing locations close to candidates' high schools, providing them with easier access on test day. Candidates can access their test admission tickets online via their registered accounts one week prior to the exam, and they are required to present their identity cards during the examination process.
A significant change introduced this year is the shift to digital issuance of test result certificates. From 2025 onwards, candidates will receive their result certificates electronically instead of on paper, allowing for quicker access and ease of use for subsequent university admissions.
The structure of the ĐGNL has also been updated to align with the 2018 high school education program. The assessment will continue to incorporate language usage and mathematical reasoning but will feature increased question counts to improve reliability and differentiation among candidates. A new section titled 'Scientific Thinking' aims to evaluate candidates' logical reasoning and ability to analyze data as they navigate practical problems across various scientific, technological, economic, and social contexts.
For 2025, the ĐGNL will consist of 120 multiple-choice questions, to be completed within 150 minutes. The scoring system will utilize modern techniques grounded in Item Response Theory, where the weight of each question will depend on its difficulty level. The maximum score is set at 1,200 points, distributed evenly across four components: Vietnamese language (300 points), English language (300 points), mathematics (300 points), and scientific thinking (300 points).
The ĐGNL assessment, first held in 2018, has gained traction as a reliable admissions tool, contributing to the quality of selection not only for ĐHQG-HCM but for various other universities and colleges throughout Vietnam. The scale of the test has expanded significantly, hosting nearly 107,000 candidates across 26 cities and provinces last year—a staggering increase from just 5,000 candidates at its launch.
Over the past seven years, the test has helped ĐHQG-HCM successfully enroll over 9,200 students for the 2024 academic year, accounting for over 38% of the university's admission targets. The growing importance of the ĐGNL is underscored by the fact it is now used by more than 100 higher education institutions as part of their admission criteria, reflecting widespread confidence in its effectiveness.
For potential candidates aiming to sit for the ĐGNL, it is important to register online well before the February 22 deadline through platforms such as https://hsa.edu.vn or the specific testing portal. Candidates are advised to use only one device during the registration process, as accessing multiple devices could disrupt their registration.
With the upcoming test dates approaching, the excitement among prospective students is palpable. A structured, efficient registration process is now key to ensuring smooth operations leading up to the assessment days. The ĐNGL looks set to play a pivotal role once again in shaping the futures of thousands of Vietnamese students as they aspire for higher education opportunities.