Assessment of High School Students’ Developmental Competencies: An Overview and a Proposal for Vietnam

University admissions through entrance examinations assessing student competencies have become increasingly prevalent in recent years in Vietnam. These so-called competence-based assessments are predominantly designed based on students’ mastery of the high school curriculum. However, “developmental competencies” - such as critical thinking and problem-solving-are widely recognised as essential skills for successful learning at the tertiary level. This paper presents a literature review that explores current trends in the use of developmental competency assessments in university admissions, both in Vietnam and internationally. It further examines the feasibility of designing assessment tools targeting three competencies that are currently receiving significant attention within the educational community: critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and adaptability. Based on these findings, the paper proposes several recommendations for developing developmental competency-based assessment tools to support university admissions in Vietnam.