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The formal school education system in Vietnam includes 2 levels: primary and secondary education. Children usually start primary school at the age of six. This level lasts 5 years. When they are eleven years old, they can move to lower secondary school lasting 4 years. Both of these stage are compulsory. To get a place at upper secondary school, students have to take an recruitment exam. High school which lasts 3 years, is optional. The academy year which lasts 35 weeks, runs from September to May. It is divided into two terms. The first term ends in January, the second one finishes in May before a long summer vacation. However, if students want to complete Grade 12, they must take the national examination for GCSE, the requirement to go to university or college. It often takes place at the end of June or the beginning of July. The exam grade is used as the first entry requirement to go to most of universities or colleges in Vietnam.