Representatives of the Ministry of Education and Training present the recognition decision for Oxford Test of English to Oxford University Press in Việt Nam

HÀ NỘI — Oxford University Press (OUP) has announced that its Oxford Test of English (OTE) has been recognised by the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training as equivalent to levels of Việt Nam’s six-level Foreign Language Competency Framework under Decision No. 1429/QĐ-BGDĐT, dated May 29, 2026.

The announcement was made at the Choose Oxford event, organised by OUP in cooperation with the Vietnam Education Publishing House (VEPH) and UKTA International Education JSC.

The recognition gives Vietnamese learners another internationally developed option for English proficiency assessment and marks a new step in the nearly decade-long cooperation between VEPH and OUP.

Iain Frew, UK Ambassador to Việt Nam, speaks at the event

The event brought together education experts and managers from Việt Nam and abroad to discuss emerging trends in foreign language teaching, testing and assessment in the digital era.

Linking learning materials, training and assessment

Speaking at the event, Nguyễn Chí Bính, Standing Deputy General Director of VEPH, said the publishing house had, for nearly 70 years, accompanied the development of Việt Nam’s education sector and remained committed to bringing knowledge to millions of students nationwide.

Nguyễn Chí Bính, Standing Deputy General Director of Vietnam Education Publishing House (VEPH), speaks at the event

Amid ongoing fundamental and comprehensive education reform, he said, quality learning materials alone were not enough. A more integrated approach was needed, linking learning materials, training and assessment to help learners develop practical competencies.

“The words on the pages of books and the results of tests must ultimately lead in the same direction — the real competence of learners,” Bính said.

The cooperation between VEPH and OUP has developed over nearly a decade, with the two sides working together on a number of English learning resources, including the Family and Friends series and the Friends English textbook series for grades 1 to 12 under the 2018 General Education Programme.

The partnership on OTE represents a further step in developing an education ecosystem that connects learning materials, teaching and assessment, according to VEPH.

International English test expands presence in Việt Nam

Developed by OUP and validated and certified by the University of Oxford, OTE is a computer-based English proficiency test using adaptive assessment technology.

Richard Grazier, Global Sales and Marketing Director at Oxford University Press, speaks at the event

The test assesses four skills — listening, speaking, reading and writing — in line with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), and is designed to measure practical English proficiency for study, work and everyday communication.

The Ministry of Education and Training’s recognition of OTE certificates as equivalent to levels of Việt Nam’s six-level Foreign Language Competency Framework provides learners with an additional internationally benchmarked assessment option and contributes to diversifying the country’s foreign language assessment system.

OTE is currently accepted by more than 1,200 schools, organisations and educational institutions worldwide as evidence of English proficiency. In Việt Nam, the network of institutions accepting OTE results is also gradually expanding.

VEPH to support nationwide development of OTE

Earlier, VEPH and UKTA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on developing the OTE testing system in Việt Nam.

Under the agreement, UKTA will remain the exclusive distributor of OTE in Việt Nam, while VEPH will serve as the National Strategic Partner, working with OUP and UKTA to develop the testing network nationwide.

Nguyễn Uyên, Head of OUP’s Representative Office in Việt Nam, presents flowers to Nguyễn Chí Bính of VEPH and Hoàng Tùng of UKTA

With its extensive education network and longstanding experience in the sector, VEPH will help connect educational institutions, expand the network of testing centres, and organise seminars, training programmes and other activities to support the development of OTE in Việt Nam.

The parties have committed to complying with Vietnamese law and ensuring quality, security and integrity throughout the testing process.

Supporting national foreign language development

Tạ Ngọc Trí, Deputy Director of the Department of General Education under the Ministry of Education and Training, said the recognition of additional international foreign language certificates would help diversify English assessment tools, create more opportunities for learners and contribute to the international integration of Việt Nam’s education sector.

He called on organisations involved in administering the test, including VEPH, to strictly comply with regulations governing cooperation in administering foreign language examinations and issuing foreign language certificates.

They should also ensure quality and transparency, prevent malpractice and place learners’ interests at the centre of the process, he said.

VEPH said it would continue investing in internationally benchmarked learning materials, digital resources and modern education solutions, while working with international partners to develop a more comprehensive education ecosystem.

“Our goal is not only to provide another internationally benchmarked test, but also to help English gradually become a tool for everyday learning and communication among Vietnamese students. This is also how VEPH continues to fulfil its mission of supporting education reform and improving the quality of human resources as Việt Nam integrates further into the international community,” Bính said.- VNS