On April 5, the National University of Economics organized a program called “A Day as a Student” to answer questions from prospective students regarding the admission procedure. During this event, many students wondered whether it was better to take the IELTS or the SAT to maximize their chances of admission.
Should you take the IELTS or SATÂ exam?
In response to this question, Dr. Le Anh Duc, director of the Department of Training Management at the National University of Economics, said that the SAT and IELTS are two completely different tests in terms of assessment objectives. IELTS aims to measure English proficiency, while the SAT is an American standardized test that assesses many skills such as reading comprehension, logical reasoning and mathematics, with English being just one aspect.
Currently, many Vietnamese universities use international diplomas, combined with baccalaureate results or aptitude and reasoning tests, for admission. However, the terms of conversion and the degree of recognition vary.
Mr. Duc said that at the National University of Economics, a candidate obtaining a score of 6.5 in IELTS can obtain 9 points in English. If he improves his score to 7.5, he gets 10 points. However, this increase from 6.5 to 7.5 only represents one additional point, a minimal improvement.
Furthermore, regarding the SAT, Dr Le Anh Duc indicated that if a candidate currently obtains a score of around 1200 points, he can invest to improve his score on this test and reach a higher level.
“However, it is difficult to give a precise answer as it depends on the applicant’s SAT/IELTS score and other factors that will be considered in the admission process,†Duc said.
In the current context, Mr. Duc believes that if a candidate does not obtain an SAT score of around 1400-1450 or higher, their competitive advantage will be less than if they have an IELTS score of 6.5 or higher combined with other criteria.
However, whether using SAT or IELTS scores, Duc advises candidates to set their strategy early and obtain these certificates by the second semester of grade 12, and then focus entirely on the secondary school leaving exam, as the results of that exam are still widely used in the admission process of most universities.
“A university degree is not a passport to life. HAS”
Addressing students undecided about their choice of major, Associate Professor Bui Huy Nhuong, director of the National University of Economics, stressed that whatever field or profession they choose, the choice should be based on each individual’s skills, strengths and career aspirations.
According to him, in a constantly changing world and job market, many students specialize in a specific field but end up working in a completely different profession after graduating. Therefore, higher education should primarily focus on equipping students with the fundamental knowledge, methods and thinking skills necessary for their adaptation to their future careers.
The director of the National University of Economics also said that a university degree does not constitute a “passport” guaranteeing a lifelong career. Indeed, technological and societal developments lead to fluctuations in various professions.
“Therefore, students must proactively adapt and acquire multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary knowledge. Learning should not stop at the four years of university, but continue after graduation in order to update knowledge and meet the increasingly high demands of the job market,” said Associate Professor Bui Huy Nhuong.
The Banking Academy will continue to use university transcripts for admissions, converting IELTS scores from 5.5 . The Banking Academy will maintain its independent method of evaluating university transcripts for 2026, contrary to the plan announced in January. Additionally, the school will convert IELTS scores from 5.5.
Source : https://vietnamnet.vn/ielts-hay-sat-se-co-loi-the-hon-khi-xet-tuyen-dai-hoc-2503595.html
