LookAtVietnam – Student grades in postgraduate entrance English exams are dropping according to HCM City National University reports.

62.13 percent of students sitting the postgraduate entrance exam in 2007 got more than 50 marks, while the figure was just 50.76 percent in 2008.

Meanwhile, universities report a very low percentage of examinees receiving more than 50 marks. The HCM City University of Social Sciences and Humanity, for example, only had 19.38 percent of students who scored more than 50 in 2008.

The year 2009 continues to witness the decrease in English exam’s marks with only 20.79 percent of examinees gaining average marks. The figure was 29.58 percent for the economics faculty and 9.76 percent for the HCM City University of Social Sciences and Humanity.

As the result, the HCM City National University has had to reduce required scores for English exams from postgraduate trainees. In 2008, students had to get 45 marks to pass, now they only need 40 in 2009.

The lower requirements mean HCM City National University can enroll students as planned. However, Dr Nguyen Hoi Nghia, head of the university and Postgraduate Training Division of the HCM City National University, said this will not encourage students to improve their English.

Dr Nguyen Duc Nghia, deputy director of the HCM City National University, also said it is against setting easier conditions to let students through, because lower English standards would badly affect the quality of postgraduates. He stressed English is a very important tool for postgraduates to access important documents and the “knowledge of the world”.

Attempting to explain the low marks in English exams, deputy president of the HCM City University of Social Sciences and Humanity Truong Thi Kim Chuyen said many examinees come from provinces and rural areas, where there is not the support required to study English well. In addition, many examinees did not concentrate on learning English at universities, because they thought study options did not require good English skills.

Meanwhile, Dr Le Trung Chon from the HCM City University of Technology said that it is because examinees did not have enough time to practice to get used to styles of exam questions. Especially, examinees found the audio exam especially.

VietNamNet/NLD