Circular 16/2025/TT-BGDDT joint organization of exams for foreign language proficiency certificates

CIRCULAR

Providing joint organization of exams for issuance of foreign language proficiency certificates

Pursuant to the June 14, 2019 Law on Education;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 37/2025/ND-CP of February 26, 2025, defining the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Ministry of Education and Training;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 86/2018/ND-CP of June 6, 2018, on foreign cooperation and investment in the field of education; and the Government’s Decree No. 124/2024/ND-CP of October 5, 2024, amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Government’s Decree No. 86/2018/ND-CP of June 6, 2018, on foreign cooperation and investment in the field of education;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 143/2025/ND-CP of June 12, 2025, on the delegation of powers and decentralization in the fields under the state management of the Ministry of Education and Training;

At the proposal of the Director of the Education Quality Management Agency;

The Minister of Education and Training promulgates the Circular providing joint organization of exams for issuance of foreign language proficiency certificates.

Article 1. Scope of regulation and subjects of application

1. This Circular provides joint organization of exams for issuance of foreign language proficiency certificates, covering entities involved in joint exam organization, foreign language proficiency certificates; assurance of safety and quality in joint exam organization; responsibilities for assurance of safety and quality in joint exam organization; and responsibilities of state management agencies.

2. This Circular applies to:

a/ Education and training institutions or organizations lawfully established and operating in the field of education in Vietnam (below referred to as Vietnam-based exam organization institutions);

b/ Language proficiency assessment agencies, organizations and institutions lawfully established and operating in foreign countries (below referred to as foreign language proficiency assessment institutions);

c/ Organizations and individuals involved in joint organization of exams for issuance of foreign language proficiency certificates in Vietnam

Article 2. Interpretation of terms

In this Circular, the terms below are construed as follows:

1. Foreign language proficiency certificate issuing institution means a foreign language proficiency assessment institution having the responsibility and competence to issue foreign language proficiency certificates.

2. Joint exam organization institution means a Vietnam-based exam organization institution that enters into an agreement or cooperation contract with a foreign language proficiency assessment institution and takes the prime responsibility for organizing exams for issuance of foreign language proficiency certificates in Vietnam.

3. Coordinating exam organization institution means a Vietnam-based exam organization institution that enters into a written agreement or cooperation contract with a joint exam organization institution to perform one or more than one jobs, including exam registration, and provision of locations, physical facilities and equipment and personnel.

Article 3. Entities involved in joint exam organization

Entities involved in joint exam organization are joint parties, including:

1. The Vietnamese party, which is the joint exam organization institutions defined in Clause 2, Article 2 of this Circular.

2. The foreign party, which is the foreign language proficiency certificate issuing institutions defined in Clause 1, Article 2 of this Circular, or foreign language proficiency assessment institutions authorized or permitted by the foreign language proficiency certificate issuing institutions to organize exams and issue the certificates.

Article 4. Foreign language proficiency certificates

1. A foreign language proficiency certificate is a document certifying foreign language proficiency test results issued by a foreign language proficiency certificate issuing institution to candidates. Foreign language proficiency certificates are not certificates of the national education system.

2. A foreign language proficiency certificate is neither a certificate that assesses academic performance in other subjects in a foreign language nor a certificate that assesses professional competence for practice in a foreign language.

3. A foreign language proficiency certificate is legally recognized in a host country when that country’s competent authorities permit the organization of exams for issuance of such certificate, or when such certificate is used for consideration and approval of dossiers for immigration or naturalization, and issuance of entry visas for citizens of foreign countries wishing to settle, work, conduct researches or study, or certification of entry or graduation standards of training programs for international students in countries where candidates’ language proficiency is tested is used as an official language.

4. A foreign language proficiency certificate shall be valid around the world when it is recognized or used by multiple countries under Clause 3 of this Article, or when exams for issuance of such certificate is organized in multiple countries in the world.

5. The approval of joint organization of exams for issuance of foreign language proficiency certificates does not include the recognition of the levels of such certificates as equivalent to the levels of Vietnam’s six-level foreign language competency framework for use in the national education system.

Article 5. Assurance of safety and quality in joint organization of exams

The joint organization of exams for issuance of foreign language proficiency certificates in Vietnam must ensure safety and quality, specifically as follows:

1. To comply with the foreign party’s regulations concerning:

a/ Exam organization: confidentiality of exam papers; procedures for exam organization, exam locations and facilities and equipment serving exam organization; managers, exam supervisors, markers, support staff, technicians, and other related matters;

b/ Financial management, including collection and expenditure; dossier archive; accountability;

c/ Other regulations of foreign language proficiency assessment institutions (if any).

2. To clearly specify and fully discharge responsibilities and exercise powers of the joint parties, coordinating exam organization institutions (if any), managers, exam supervisors, markers, support staff, and technicians in the organization of exams and issuance of certificates, and rights and responsibilities of candidates.

3. To adopt regulations on facilities, equipment, and personnel, and apply measures to prevent fraud throughout the entire examination process; to strictly comply with anti-fraud regulations; and to prevent impersonation and other forms of exam fraud.

4. To organize exams in a safe, disciplined, fair, and objective manner, ensuring equal treatment across exam sessions and among candidates while preventing any leaks or disclosure of exam papers.

Article 6. Responsibilities for assurance of safety and quality in joint organization of exams

1. General responsibilities of joint partners

a/ To organize exams for issuance of foreign language proficiency certificates in a safe and quality-assured manner in accordance with the approved scheme, ensuring that no fraud or impersonation occurs. If there is change in the approved scheme, the joint partners shall report thereof in writing to competent agencies for consideration and decision on adjustments;

b/ To discharge the responsibilities of the joint partners in accordance with the Government’s regulations on foreign cooperation and investment in the field of education, and ensure the protection of the rights and interests of candidates taking exams for foreign language proficiency certificates;

c/ To safeguard the personal data protection rights of candidates and persons engaged in organization of exams. To prevent disclosure or leaks; not to use candidates’ biometric data for any purpose other than the prevention of exam fraud and impersonation.

2. Responsibilities of foreign language proficiency certificate issuing institutions

a/ To ensure exams are organized in a transparent, safe, serious and objective manner accurately assess candidates’ foreign language proficiency and strictly comply with regulations of foreign language proficiency assessment institutions.

b/ To keep confidentiality of exam questions; to ensure fairness and objectivity in assessment across different exam sessions and among all candidates; and to absolutely prevent disclosure or leaks of exam questions.

c/ To coordinate with joint exam organization institutions in ensuring the publicization of information about the joint organization of exams for issuance of certificates on their websites and take responsibility for the accuracy of such information; to protect candidates’ rights and interests.

d/ To provide clear and adequate instructions on how to search for exam results; to take responsibility for receiving and addressing candidates' inquiries about their right to take foreign language proficiency exams, exam results and certificate issuance; to take responsibility for verifying exam results and certificate issuance when requested by competent state management agencies.

3. Responsibilities of joint exam organization institutions

a/ To make public information in Vietnamese and take responsibility for the accuracy of such information posted on their websites immediately after decisions on approval, extension or adjustment of the joint organization of exams are approved or after the information is updated in the course of implementation. To-be-publicized information includes decisions of agencies competent to approve, adjust, extend or terminate the joint organization of exams; information about the certificates that have obtained approval for the joint organization of exams: name, sample, validity period, value and scope of use in the world and in Vietnam; exam schedule (including time and locations); exam registration process and exam organization process; regulations or rules regarding exam organization, sample exam questions; candidates’ rights and responsibilities; exam fees and other fees (if any); methods for searching for exam results; phone numbers, emails, and hotlines (if any) to receive and handle related issues and ensure candidates’ rights and interests.

b/ To take responsibility the organization of, and supervision and inspection of the process of organization of exams for issuance of foreign language proficiency certificates at approved exam locations, ensuring the safety, quality, seriousness and objectivity of exam organization.

c/ To keep dossiers on joint organization of exams and issuance of foreign language proficiency certificates. To take responsibility for verifying foreign language proficiency certificates issued to candidates at the approved exam locations. To promptly provide documents related to the organization of exams and issuance of certificates; and evidence of safe and quality exam organization with no fraud when requested by competent state management agencies.

d/ To receive and handle problems related to certificates and candidates and feedback and recommendations related to exam organization and certificate issuance.

dd/ To implement reporting regimes and update the database on joint organization of exams and issuance of foreign language proficiency certificates under Government’s regulations. The update of information in database shall be made according to the form provided in the Appendix to this Circular. Database updates must be made between June 15 and December 15 annually.

4. Responsibilities of coordinating exam organization institutions

a/ To coordinate with joint exam organization institutions in ensuring safe and quality exam organization according to agreements or contracts on cooperation with the latter.

b/ To fulfill the responsibilities specified at Points a and d, Clause 3 of this Article in case of taking charge of exam registration and ensuring candidates’ rights and interests.

Article 7. Responsibilities of management agencies

1. The Ministry of Education and Training shall manage joint organization of exams for issuance of foreign language proficiency certificates in accordance with the Government’s regulations; publicly announce and update on its website the list of institutions that have joint organization of exams for issuance of foreign language proficiency certificates approved, adjusted, extended, or terminated by the Minister of Education and Training.

2. People's Committees of provinces and cities shall manage joint organization of exams for issuance of foreign language proficiency certificates in their localities in accordance with the Government’s regulations; publicly announce and update on their websites the list of institutions that have joint organization of exams for issuance of foreign language proficiency certificates approved, adjusted, extended, or terminated by the Minister of Education and Training.

3. Provincial-level Departments of Education and Training shall advise provincial-level People's Committees to manage and inspect joint organization of exams for issuance of foreign language proficiency certificates in their localities, and handle violations (if any); guide joint parties to comply with Article 6 of this Circular.

Article 8. Effect and implementation responsibility

1. This Circular takes effect on October 12, 2025.

2. This Circular replaces the Minister of Education and Training’s Circular No. 11/2022/TT-BGDDT of July 26, 2022, providing joint organization of exams for issuance of foreign language proficiency certificates.

3. The Chief of the Office, the Director of the Education Quality Management Agency and heads of related units under the Ministry of Education and Training; chairpersons of People’s Committees of provinces and cities and directors of provincial-level Departments of Education and Training; and related organizations and individuals shall implement this Circular.-

For the Minister of Education and Training

Deputy Minister

HOANG MINH SON