At a hearing organised by the National Assembly Committee on Culture and Society, Minister of Education and Training Hoang Minh Son said the plan to adjust bonus points for foreign‑language certificates was based on admissions data.

He explained that when a programme requires English, universities should count English directly in the subject combination, not add extra points for certificates after the fact.

The minister noted that IELTS bonus points can reach 1.5 points on a 30‑point scale, which can decide the fate of candidates scoring between 26.5 and 28 points. MOET rules already cap total bonus points at no more than 10% of the maximum score.

Experts and university representatives argue that unrestricted certificate bonus points distort the selection score scale and put applicants without access to international certificates at a disadvantage.

Some officials, such as Pham Thai Son, director of admissions at HCMC University of Industry and Trade, suggest a gradual reduction with a transition period instead of an immediate ban, to protect students who have already invested time and money in the IELTS exam.

A transition period would give applicants, parents and universities time to adapt, reducing the risk of sudden backlash while moving toward a fairer admissions system.