The National University of Ho Chi Minh City (NHU HCMC) is once again gearing up for its widely anticipated competency assessment exam, with registration ending today, February 20, marking the culmination of one month of open enrollment for this significant academic event.<\/p>
This year’s exam, which will take place for the eighth consecutive time, is noted as the largest university admission test within the country, aimed primarily at high school seniors and others seeking to use their results for college or university admission.
Dr. Nguyen Quoc Chinh, Director of the NHU HCMC’s Testing and Quality Assessment Center commented on the registration process. Each candidate registers online through the exam portal, allowing them to print their admission slips, check exam results, and download outcome certificates all from their personal accounts.
“Candidates will be assigned to the closest testing location at the time of the exam,” Dr. Chinh added, highlighting a streamlined system to ease the testing process.
Admission slips are generated roughly one week before the exam date, necessitating candidates to log back onto their accounts to print this document, which is required for entry. Notably, students will also need to produce their official identity card or citizen identification card on exam day.
For the first time, starting from the 2025 assessment, NHU HCMC will issue only electronic certificates of examination results, with no physical copies being provided. Students will be able to download their results from their accounts for use during the admissions process.
Scheduled for March 30, the first round of testing will span 25 provinces and cities across Vietnam, including major areas such as Da Nang, Ha Tinh, Ho Chi Minh City, and others, confirming the wide reach of this pivotal examination.
The assessment consists of 120 multiple-choice questions, with test-takers allotted 150 minutes to complete it, and the scoring system is scaled to a maximum of 1,200 points, with varying weights for each question depending on its difficulty level.
Significantly, as of February 20, the registration figures have already surpassed 120,000 candidates, representing the highest registration numbers since the exam’s inception, and showcasing nearly 25,000 more students than the previous year. The bulk of the candidates—over 40,000—are from Ho Chi Minh City, with other regions showing uniform increases of about 20%.
“The increase in candidates is largely due to heightened awareness of the exam and the competitive nature concerning admissions,” Dr. Chinh stated, as more students strive to secure placements at esteemed institutions. He urged registered candidates to thoroughly review their personal information and confirm payment completion by the deadline.
The registration process requires payment of the examination fee, set at 300,000 VND per attempt, before it concludes on February 21. Candidates have several payment options, including via e-wallets such as Viettel Money, Foxpay, Momo, and Payoo.
Currently, 100 universities and colleges have adopted the exam results for their admission processes for 2025, including eight member universities of NHU HCMC, 83 from other systems, and nine colleges, highlighting the exam’s importance within the Vietnamese educational framework.
The competency assessment serves not only as a test for academic readiness but also as a pivotal tool for institutions seeking to streamline their admissions based on reliable and standardized metrics.