VSTEP · Guides · November 6, 2026 · 6 min read

VSTEP scores and levels: how the 0–10 score is calculated and what B1, B2 and C1 need

A VSTEP result is four numbers and an average. Each skill (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) gets a score from 0 to 10, and the overall score is the mean of the four. That average, not any single skill, decides whether you receive bậc 3 (B1), bậc 4 (B2), bậc 5 (C1) or no level at all. This guide explains the rules as they stand in November 2026, works through several real-looking calculations, and shows where a few extra correct answers make the biggest difference.

The rules in four lines

1. Each skill is scored 0–10, rounded to the nearest 0.5.
2. The overall score is the average of the four skills, also rounded to the nearest 0.5.
3. The overall score is converted to a level:

4. All four skills count equally: each contributes 25% of the overall score.

The fourth point has a consequence many candidates overlook. Raising one skill by a full point raises the average by only 0.25, but that 0.25 can be enough to cross a rounding boundary and move you into the next level.

Listening and Reading: from correct answers to a score

Listening has 35 questions and Reading has 40. No official table converting the number of correct answers into a 0–10 score has been published. Preparation sites, and our own practice tests, use a proportional conversion:

• Listening: correct answers × 10 ÷ 35
• Reading: correct answers × 10 ÷ 40

Treat this as an approximation. The real marking may differ, especially near the boundaries. Still, it gives useful targets:

Put simply: 40% correct is roughly a 4.0, and 60% correct is roughly a 6.0.

Writing: Task 2 counts double

The Writing score combines two tasks. The letter or email (Task 1) is worth one third, and the essay (Task 2) is worth two thirds. Examiners assess task fulfilment, organisation, vocabulary and grammar.

The internal marking sheet is not public, but the weighting alone shows why the essay matters. Compare two candidates who each have one stronger and one weaker task:

• Candidate A: Task 1 = 7.0, Task 2 = 5.5. Writing = 7.0 × ⅓ + 5.5 × ⅔ = 2.33 + 3.67 = 6.0.
• Candidate B: Task 1 = 5.5, Task 2 = 7.0. Writing = 5.5 × ⅓ + 7.0 × ⅔ = 1.83 + 4.67 = 6.5.

Same two marks, half a point apart, just because of which task was stronger. If your time is limited, practise the essay first. Our Writing Task 2 guide explains how to plan it in 40 minutes.

Speaking

Speaking is also scored 0–10. The criteria commonly cited are grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, fluency, and discourse management or content. As with Writing, the detailed marking sheet is not published, so a mock score in Speaking is always an estimate.

Worked calculations

Example 1: just reaching B2. Thu has 25 of 35 in Listening and 26 of 40 in Reading in a practice test.

Average: (7.0 + 6.5 + 5.5 + 5.5) ÷ 4 = 24.5 ÷ 4 = 6.125, rounded to 6.0: bậc 4 (B2). Her Writing and Speaking are at B1, but strong receptive skills carry the average over the line.

Example 2: a near miss. Khoa scores Listening 6.5, Reading 6.0, Writing 5.0 and Speaking 5.0.

Average: 22.5 ÷ 4 = 5.625, rounded to 5.5: bậc 3 (B1). He is only 0.375 below the B2 boundary.

What would change it? If his Writing rises from 5.0 to 6.0, the total becomes 23.5, the average 5.875, rounded to 6.0: B2. One extra point in a single skill moves him up a level. For Khoa, the cheapest point is probably Writing, where a better-planned essay counts double inside the skill. Raising Reading from 6.0 to 7.0 would do the same job but means about four more correct answers out of 40.

Example 3: securing B1. Ngân needs bậc 3 to graduate. Her practice scores are Listening 3.5, Reading 4.5, Writing 4.0 and Speaking 3.5.

Average: 15.5 ÷ 4 = 3.875, rounded to 4.0: bậc 3 (B1), but with no margin at all. If a single skill comes in one point lower on the day, the total falls to 14.5, the average to 3.625, and that rounds to 3.5: no level. She should aim for every skill at 4.0 or above rather than relying on rounding, and the fastest route is usually Listening Part 1 and Reading Passage 1, where the questions are at B1 level.

What level do you need?

Requirements are set by each university, employer or programme, not by the test itself. As of November 2026, the common patterns are:

• University graduation: many programmes require bậc 3 (B1); a large number, especially English-taught, high-quality or international programmes, require bậc 4 (B2).
• Master’s and doctoral studies: language requirements apply both at admission and at graduation, and bậc 4 (B2) is a frequent target. Check the regulations of your institution.
• Teachers: English teachers are expected to meet language standards that are usually bậc 4 or bậc 5, depending on the school level.
• Public sector jobs: recruitment and promotion may set a level in the job notice.

Always read the exact wording of your own requirement. “B2 or equivalent” may accept other certificates; “bậc 4 VSTEP” may not.

Is the certificate valid forever?

There is no legal expiry date on a VSTEP certificate. However, many universities and employers accept only certificates issued within the last two years. Check with the institution that will receive it before you plan your exam date.

Turning this into a study plan

Work out your current position first. Take a timed practice test, convert each skill with the rules above, and calculate the average. Then ask two questions: how far are you from the next boundary (4.0, 6.0 or 8.5), and which skill gives you that distance most cheaply? For most candidates aiming at B2, the answer is the Writing essay or Listening Part 2.

Our VSTEP mock tests do this arithmetic for you: they score Listening and Reading against the key with the proportional conversion and check Writing and Speaking on the VSTEP criteria. The results are estimates, not official scores, but they show which skill is holding your average down. For the full structure of the test, see the VSTEP exam format.

Nomto is independent and is not affiliated with the Ministry of Education and Training or any test centre. Only licensed centres issue VSTEP results.

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