In Vietnam, our formal school system is divided into levels: The 5-year primary level starting from the age of 6, the 4-year lower secondary level, and the 3-year upper secondary level However, the compulsory education only includes years of primary and lower secondary levels A Vietnamese academic year consists of 35 weeks (approximately months), from September to May There are terms in a year: the first from September to December, and the second from January to May At the end of each level, students have to take a graduation examination These examinations are organized nationwide in early June for primary, late June for lower secondary, and early July for upper secondary