Ngo Kim Khoi, Deputy Director of the University Education under MOET confirmed that the number of registrants for university entrance exams this year is lower than 2009 for a number of reasons. First of all, schools have done their work in giving career guidance. Students now understand that they have many choices, and they do not have to study at universities. Besides, Khoi added in a recent interview with Tuoi tre newspaper, higher enrollment fees have forced students to think carefully before registering.

Tuoi tre: Does the lower number of registrations to take university entrance exams this year mean eased competition and more opportunities to pass the exams?

Ngo Ba Khoi: It is true that the number of registrations decreased this year, but this only mean a decrease in “virtual” registrations, or a decline in the number of students who have registered, not a decline in the numbers who show up to take exams in reality. I think that the number of examinees in 2010, especially high school students who graduate this year, will not decrease in accordance with the decrease in the number of registrations.

Although registration is down and the competition ratio is lower, competition among examinees will still be stiff. I must say that the lower number of registrations just shows the decrease in the number of “virtual” registrations, but this does not truly reflect the real number of examinees.

You can see that competition among examinees will still be very quite strong if noting that some universities have lower registrations, but others have seen the number rise much higher than in previous years

Tuoi tre: Which study branches do you think will have the highest competition ratio?

Khoi: In general, this year’s list of favored study branches is the same as previous years. We are currently classifying registrations by study branch. I think that economics-related fields will get the most registrations. Therefore, these will be the areas with the highest competition ratio.

Tuoi tre: So what do you think about the marks to be required by universities this year? Will there be any changes in the floor mark to be set by MOET?

Khoi: As I said above, only the number of “virtual” registrations has dropped. Therefore, I think that this will in no way affect decisions by universities in setting up required grades. The floor mark will be set by MOET and the standard mark required by universities will still depend on the exam questions and on how students respond.

Source: Tuoi tre