SAT Adoption in Vietnam Surges, Domestic University Admissions Increase Tenfold

The Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT), an international college admissions test, is experiencing a significant surge in both examinee numbers and its application for domestic university admissions in Vietnam. According to a representative from College Board, the organization that owns the SAT and AP exams, over 10,000 Vietnamese students took the SAT last year. This represents a nearly 390% increase compared to four years ago. Even more striking is the tenfold increase in the proportion of students using SAT scores for admissions to Vietnamese universities over the same period. In 2021, only 4% of domestic university applicants submitted SAT scores, a figure that rose to 38% last year. The SAT is a standardized international test that assesses knowledge in natural sciences, social sciences, and logical reasoning. It is used for admissions, credit, or advanced placement by nearly all colleges and universities in the United States, as well as approximately 600 institutions in about 70 countries and territories. Mr. Haike Zhao, a representative from College Board, stated during a seminar on US education trends, jointly organized by College Board and IIG Vietnam on July 4th, that the number of SAT test-takers in Vietnam increased by 385% to over 10,000 in the past four years. This figure nearly doubled in just one year. The average SAT score for Vietnamese test-takers last year was 1355 out of a possible 1600, marking the highest average in five years. The average scores had ranged between 1334 and 1349 in the preceding four years. Mr. Zhao views the increase in test-takers and scores as an opportunity for Vietnamese students to "go global." Statistics show that Vietnamese students have submitted SAT scores to universities in over 30 countries and territories. However, he highlighted the most surprising trend as the use of the SAT for domestic university admissions. As mentioned, 38% of test-takers submitted their SAT scores to Vietnamese institutions last year, a significant jump from the 4% in 2021. The SAT, first introduced in 1926, consists of two sections: Reading-Writing and Math, with each section scoring a maximum of 800 points. The test is administered online and takes over two hours to complete. Scores are valid for five years. In Vietnam, dozens of universities incorporate SAT scores into their admission criteria, often in combination with other factors. Last year, Hanoi University of Pharmacy set the highest SAT requirement, a minimum of 1400 out of 1600 for candidates applying to its Pharmacy program through a combined admission process with academic transcripts. Following closely, Foreign Trade University requires an SAT score of 1380 or higher when combined with international language certifications for admissions.