Students applying to schools abroad, or families completing an immigration file, often need a certified English translation of the hoc ba. It is the cumulative record that shows performance across school years, usually at high school level.

What it is

The hoc ba is the cumulative school report book that follows a Vietnamese student through their school years, most often across the three years of upper-secondary school. It is typically handwritten and runs several pages, with subject marks recorded per term and per year, a yearly academic ranking, and a conduct rating (hanh kiem: Tot, Kha, Trung binh, Yeu). It is signed and sealed by class teachers and the school principal at the end of each year. Because it is handwritten and accumulated over time, formats and handwriting vary widely from book to book.

Specimen certified English translation of a Vietnamese school report book (sample, fictitious data)
Sample layout, fictitious data. Your translation mirrors your own document.

When you need a certified translation

A certified English translation is needed when a foreign school, an exchange or scholarship program, or an immigration filing asks for a full school history rather than a single diploma. The marks are translated exactly as recorded and the conduct rating is kept as a defined band. For USCIS, the certified translation with a signed certificate of accuracy is accepted without notarization; schools and evaluators read the hoc ba alongside the THPT diploma when they need the year-by-year detail.

Key fields, and how each is handled

FieldHow it is handled
Subject marks per yearEach subject mark for each term and year is transcribed exactly as written on the 10-point scale.
Conduct rating (hanh kiem)Translated as a defined band, such as Good or Fair, not as a loose description.
Yearly academic ranking (xep loai hoc luc)The yearly classification band, such as Gioi or Kha, is rendered as a band consistent with the diploma.
School name and yearsThe school name and each school year are carried faithfully so the record is anchored to the institution and period.
Teacher and principal signaturesSignature and seal lines are noted so the certifying authority for each year is clear.
Handwritten remarksComments and notes are translated where legible, and marked as illegible where they cannot be read with confidence.

Common pitfalls on this document

Illegible entries are flagged

Where handwriting cannot be read with confidence, the entry is marked as illegible rather than guessed. Guessing a mark would falsify the record.

Conduct as a band

Hanh kiem Tot or Kha is translated as a defined band. It is a formal rating, not a casual comment, and is kept as such.

Marks per year, in full

The hoc ba is long and accumulates across years; every year and subject is translated so the school sees the complete history, not a summary.

🏛 Who accepts it

A certified English translation of the hoc ba is accepted by foreign high schools and undergraduate admissions offices, by exchange and scholarship programs, and by USCIS where an immigration file requires a full school history. It is commonly submitted together with the certified THPT graduation diploma.

Send a scan of your school report book for an exact price and turnaround, usually within 10 minutes.

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FAQ

My hoc ba is handwritten and hard to read. What happens to unclear entries?

Any entry that cannot be read with confidence is marked as illegible in the translation. Marks and remarks are never guessed, because a guessed grade would misstate the record.

Is the conduct rating translated?

Yes. The hanh kiem rating is translated as the defined band it is, such as Good or Fair, so the school reads it as a formal rating.

Does the hoc ba need notarization for USCIS?

No. A certified translation with the translator certificate of accuracy is accepted by USCIS without notarization.

Is the hoc ba the same as the THPT diploma?

No. The hoc ba is the year-by-year record book, while the THPT diploma is the single graduation certificate. They are separate documents and are often submitted together.

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