INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION

Tung Shing Square, Suite 505 2 Ngo Quyen, Hanoi, Vietnam Tel: (84-4) 935-0412 Fax: (84-4) 935-0418 E-mail: iiehn@iicvn.org Website: www.iievn.org

Dear Admissions Officer, I am writing this letter on behalf of a Vietnamese student who is currently applying for a place at your school. I wish to clarify the issue of grade point averages, which has been an ongoing problem for a number of students here applying to colleges and universities in the United States. The Vietnamese system has transformed from 1-10 point scale to 1.0-4.0 point scale, along the same lines as the U.S. system. However, the system is basically unchanged, i.e. the professors score the exam based on 1-10 scale, and then the grade is converted to letter grade and 1.0-4.0 scale. The details of the Vietnamese point grades are as follows: a. Pass marks, includes: Letter Grade Grade point (4 scale) Grade point (10 scale) A+ 4.0 9.510 A 4.0 8.59.4 B+ 3.5 8.08.4 B 3.0 7.07.9 C+ 2.5 6.56.9 C 2.0 5.56.4 D+ 1.5 5.05.4 D 1 4.04.9

b. Fail mark - Less than 4/10 (less than 1.0/4.0 or F) In the Vietnamese system a ten (A+ or Vietnamese 4.0/4.0 point) is near impossible; it is the un-attainable asymptote that all students strive for, but is never handed out by professors with any regularity. In contrast, a 4.0 in a US classroom is fairly commonplace, and even someone with a 4.0 GPA overall. A student with a 4.0/4.0 (all A+ or A scores) in Vietnam system is extremely rare. According to the Research Center for Vocational, Technical and Higher Education under the Vietnamese Ministry of education, someone with a 3.0/4.0 GPA will probably be in the top 10-15% of their class. I advise American Colleges and Universities to pay more attention to class rank and other skills reflected in the application process. Please be advised also that the practice of most Vietnamese institutions is not to provide official transcripts to other universities on behalf of their students. Students must request signed and stamped transcripts from the institution, and then have them translated and certified correct at a government office. Best Regards

Hoa P. Tran Educational Advisor Institute of International Education Hanoi, Vietnam Email: advisor@iievn.org OPENING MINDS TO THE WORLD