Many universities have announced their tentative admission plans for 2025. As in previous years, IELTS and TOEFL certificates are favored by numerous schools. The Vietnamese VSTEP certificate is rarely accepted.

The HCMC University of Technology and Education has announced a formula for converting IELTS and TOEFL scores to English exam scores as follows:

Those who get 4.5 IELTS score will be recognized as scoring 7.5 in English exam, 5.0 IELTS will be equal to 8.0 score in English exam. Meanwhile, 6.0 IELTS will be equal to 9, 6.5 IELTS to 9.5, and 7.0 IELTS to 10 score, the perfect score in the Vietnamese marking scale.

For TOEFL iBT, 35-39 score will be equal to 7.5; 40-45 score = 8, 46-61 = 8.5; 62-67 scores = 9, and 78-93 score = 9.5 and more than 94 score = 10.

As for TOEFL iTP, 466-482 score = 7.5; 483-499 score = 8 and above 500 score = 8.5.

Meanwhile, the conversion method applied by the HCMC University of Technology is different. 5.0 IELTS score = 8; 5.5 scores = 9 and 6 score = 10. As for TOEFL iBT, 63-79 score = 9.2-10; 48-62 score = 8.3-9, while 46-47 score = 8.

TOEIC results can also be converted into English exam scores. For the TOEIC scores of 610-703 (listening and reading) and 240-280 (speaking and writing), students will get 9.2-10 score. 

Meanwhile, for 490-605 (listening and reading) and 203 (speaking and writing), students will get 8.2-9 score; and for 460-485 and 230, respectively, students will get 8 in the English exam.

At HCMC NongLam University, IELTS: 5.0-5.5 = 8; 6.0-6.5 = 9; 7.0+ = 10. The University of Saigon starts from IELTS 4.0: 4.0-5.0 = 8; 5.5-6.5 = 9; 7.0+ = 10. TOEFL ITP: 450-499 = 8; 500-626 = 9; 627+ = 10. TOEFL iBT: 30-45 = 8; 46-93 = 9; 94+ = 10.

It also converts TOEIC, PTE Academic, Linguaskill, Aptis, and VSTEP.

Foreign Trade University only accepts IELTS 6.5+ for conversion.

Many other schools have not converted IELTS or TOEFL scores but have used their own calculations.

The National Economics University admits students based on the combination of IELTS, aptitude tests from Vietnam National University (Hanoi or HCMC), and Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA) from Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST), or high school exam scores of Maths plus one non-English subject.

HUST pairs IELTS with TSA and adds talent admission bonuses.

The University of Information Technology under the Vietnam National University, HCMC, awards priority points for IELTS holders. 

The University of Medicine and Pharmacy HCM City combines high school exam scores with certificates—IELTS 6.0+ or TOEFL iBT 80+ qualifies for Medicine, Preventive Medicine, Traditional Medicine, Pharmacy, and Dentistry; and 5.0+ or 61+ for Nursing, Nutrition, Dental Technology, and Public Health.

How to ensure fairness for students?

Critics argue that varied conversion scales create inconsistency and unfairness for students. They suggested setting up a standardized, scientifically grounded scale.

Pham Thai Son, Admissions Director at HCM City University of Industry, said it is not a good idea to mandate a uniform standard. He believes schools should set their own rules based on output goals. Some schools choose IELTS/TOEFL, and others choose TOEIC or Vietnam’s 6-level framework, reflecting enterprise demands.

Son believes that universities should not be required to use international English certificates because each school has different outcome standards, and some schools focus on research while others focus on application. Therefore, some schools will convert IELTS 6.0 to 10 points, but some schools will require 8.0 to convert to 10.

“It’s not unfair if schools have different output standards. Those aiming high set tougher English benchmarks, leading to better job prospects and pay. The labor market decides,” Son said.

Associate Professor Bui Hoai Thang, Head of Training at the HCM City University of Technology, said there are two purposes for conversion - learning and admissions. For learning, the Ministry of Education and Training’s Circular 23/2021 provides guidelines for mark scale conversions. 

However, all conversion methods are just approximate - no linear formula is perfectly accurate. 

For admissions, schools will determine conversion methods themselves, based on academic results, certificate equivalence, or will simply encourage talent, tailoring to their needs.

Thanh Hung