Recently, the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam promulgated Circular 24/2021/TT-BGDĐT amending to the Regulation on foreign language competency assessment exam according to the 6-level foreign language competency framework for Vietnam. From October 24, 2021, the organization of the foreign language ability assessment exam will have many new points, specifically as follows:
Article table of contents
Vietnam: 06 new points on organization of foreign language proficiency test from October 24, 2021 (Illustration image)
1. Adding a unit to organize the foreign language ability assessment test
In Clause 2, Article 1 of Circular 24/2021/TT-BGDĐT of Vietnam, the following units have been added to hold exams to assess foreign language ability:
- Higher education institutions providing foreign language disciplines (under Foreign language and culture discipline group) or foreign language pedagogy (under Teacher training discipline group), public service providers assigned to administer language proficiency tests: are entitled to administer language proficiency tests according to test formats from level 1 to 6 according to Vietnam's language proficiency framework.
- Continuing education centers, occupation education and continuing education centers, foreign language centers, informatics and foreign language centers approved for establishment by the President of People’s Committee of province or Director of Department of Education and Training (if authorized by the President of People’s Committee of province): are entitled to administer language proficiency tests according to test formats from level 1 to 6 according to Vietnam's language proficiency framework (for general education students)
2. Requirements for the staff of the test organizing unit
In order to organize a foreign language proficiency test, the test organizers must have managerial staff, examiners, test paper-makers, test data-analysts, technicians that meet requirements pertaining to quantity and qualifications to administer language proficiency tests; these people are public employees who are employed and managed under law on public employees or non-public employees who have entered into an indefinite-term employment contact under Labor Code
Currently, only managerial staff, examiners, test paper-makers, test data-analysts, technicians must meet the quantity requirements of qualifications to organize a foreign language ability assessment test (according to Clause 2, Article 5 of the Regulation on foreign language ability assessment exam promulgated together with Circular 23/2017/TT-BGDĐT ).
3. New requirements for exam question banks and test papers
According to the new regulations, the question bank shall be controlled by software to ensure security and authorization in use and must satisfy the following requirements:
- From July 1, 2022, the numbers of equivalent test papers at a time for test formats intended for primary, lower secondary and upper secondary students are as follows: at least 50 equivalent English test papers; at least 30 equivalent test papers in other languages; in which the similarity rate of test questions between test papers does not exceed 10%;
- From July 1, 2022, the numbers of equivalent test papers at a time for test formats intended for other entities are as follows: at least 70 equivalent English test papers; at least 30 equivalent test papers in other languages; in which the similarity rate of test questions between test papers does not exceed 10%;
- Every year, the test-administering entity shall review, modify the question bank, and add at least 10% of questions in respect of every skill;
- The test-administering entity may cooperate with a test center which has available test questions and question papers developed and managed in accordance with this Regulation to administer language proficiency tests under Vietnam's language proficiency framework; ensure that the rights and obligations of the parties are clearly specified and reported to the Ministry of Education and Training (via Department of Quality Management) before administer a test.
4. Notice of eligibility for administering language proficiency tests by the test-administering entity
Clause 4, Article 1 of Circular 24/2021/TT-BGDDT of Vietnam stipulates that If entities seek to administer language proficiency tests under Vietnam's language proficiency framework, they shall prepare projects for administering language proficiency tests and send them to the Ministry of Education and Training (via Department of Quality Management) for verifying if they meet the eligibility requirements. The Department of Quality Management shall send a notice of eligibility for administering language proficiency tests, if any, to the entity so as to execute the project.
Currently, Article 6 of the Regulation promulgated together with Circular 23/2017/TT-BGDDT stipulates that the Minister of Education and Training of Vietnam considers and assigns the task of organizing a foreign language proficiency test for organizations that fully meet the requirements.
5. New regulations on test form
According to the new regulations, from July 1, 2023, all skills will be tested on computers.
Currently, listening, reading and writing skills are tested on papers or computers
6. Amendment to regulations on test papers
Clause 8, Article 1 of Circular 24/2021 provides as follows:
Each written and oral test must be marked by two examiners independently in two separate rooms (except for the direct speaking test).
Currently, according to Circular 23/2017/TT-BGDDT of Vietnam, each written and oral exam must be marked by two examiners independently in two separate places (except for the direct speaking test).
Therefore, the new regulations have specified a separate place for marking exams for written and oral exams of two examiners.
Bao Ngoc
