1. Upper Intermediate
AEP Level 5
Reading Practice – ‘Raising the Grade’ Article
Vocabulary - match the words from the text with their meanings.
1.) overhaul (vb) a.) To make ineffective or powerless
2.) prestige (n) b.) The state of being independent
3.) crossroad (n) c.) Official approval
4.) hamstrung (vb)
d.) To examine thoroughly and make necessary
adjustments.
5.) autonomy (n) e.) A crucial point where a decision must be made
6.) unregulated (adj) f.) Not under the control of authority
7.) optimistic (adj)
g.) A distinction or reputation attaching to a person
or thing
8.) accreditation (n) h.) To anticipate the best possible outcome of
actions
T/F questions
1. Thailand’s universities are ranked ahead of Vietnam. T F
2. Dr. Kim D. Nguyen believes that the issue of Vietnamese higher education is funding
and facilities T F
3. According to the article, there is no need for an independent, third-party accreditation
system in Vietnam T F
4. All universities in Vietnam have their own library for students to use. T F
5. The article suggests that the Vietnamese education system is inefficient in preparing
Created by Ha Trieu for AEP, March 2010
Link to ‘Raising the Grade’ article in AsiaLife, Volume 12.

2. Upper Intermediate
AEP Level 5
students for the global workforce. T F
Short Answer Questions
Write a phrase or sentence answer.
1. What does the title of the article, ‘Raising the Grade’ mean?
2. What is the ultimate goal of an accreditation system in Vietnam?
3. What is the ‘IER’ and its function?
4. What does Dr. Kim D. Nguyen mean by saying, “there’s not a culture of evidence in
Vietnamese Universities”?
5. How long will an overhaul of Vietnam’s education system take?
Created by Ha Trieu for AEP, March 2010
Link to ‘Raising the Grade’ article in AsiaLife, Volume 12.

3. Upper Intermediate
AEP Level 5
Week 2 – Article: ‘Raising the Grade’ (ANSWERS)
Vocabulary
1. d
2. g
3. e
4. a
5. b
6. f
7. h
8. c
T/F Questions
1. T
2. F
3. F
4. F
5. T
Short Answers
1. To improve the quality of higher education in Vietnam.
2. To expand the focus on learning outcomes and the effectiveness of Universities.
3. A small-scale accreditation programme that reviews universities in Vietnam.
4. Inference – the best answer is that Vietnamese culture does not require a proper
system of measuring and recording the effectiveness of universities in Vietnam.
5. It’s going to take time and will depend on policy decisions made from the government.
Created by Ha Trieu for AEP, March 2010
Link to ‘Raising the Grade’ article in AsiaLife, Volume 12.