The current formal school education in Vietnam consists of three levels : pre­school, primary and secondary educations. Now there are two school systems in pre­school and primary education in big cities: stale and private schools. In state schools, parents have to pay tuition fee. The academic year, from September to May, is divided into two semesters: from four to five months each. Children usually start the pre-school at the age of 3, when they go to nurseries, but this stage is not compulsory. When children reach the age of 6, they must go to primary schools. The primary education last five years. When they complete their primary education, they can go to secondary schools, including Lower and Upper schools, from grade 6 to 12. However, children must pass a recruitment exam at the end of grade 9, the final year of Lower schools, to enter the upper secondary education. They will stay there until they complete grade 12. At the end of this stage, they must take the National Examination for GCSE, the requirement to go to university or college. This examination often takes place at the end of May or early June.