Over one million students around Vietnam entered the first day of the most important exams of their student life on Wednesday, the national high school examination.

Students from across the country have flocked to major towns and cities, where the exam is held.

Instead of taking part in the traditionally separated high school graduation and university entrance exams like previous years, from this year on, students will only sit for one national exam, also called the national high school exam.

The exam lasts from July 1 to 4.

The results of the national exam will be used for both high school graduation and university admission.

Earlier, students who had finished 12th grade had to take a high school graduation exam with Ministry of Education and Training tests on mathematics, literature and two other subjects they were allowed to choose from a designated group.

About a month after the graduation exam, they would then take the university entrance exam, held by the same education ministry.

Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper captured a series of photos showing how students, their parents, volunteers, and even police across Vietnam are taking part in the national high school exam:

Police in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong have helped students by using six trucks to carry more than 130 students to their exam venue at Da Lat University. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A volunteer helps Phan Thi Tam, a student from Mai Thuc Loan High School in the northern province of Ha Tinh’s Loc Ha District, walks with a crutch to her exam venue for registration in Vinh City in Nghe An Province on June 30, 2015. Tam said she broke her right leg in a road accident a month ago. She added that she was about to give up because she thought she could not come to the exam venue, but thanks to the support from family and friends, she is determined to pass this important exam. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Nguyen Van Dat and Dinh Bat Hao from southern Binh Phuoc Province review their lessons the night before the exam in the Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City’s boarding house, where they stay free-of-charge. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Students from the south-central province of Binh Thuan taking the exam at Ton Duc Thang University in Ho Chi Minh City watch a children’s show in District 7, where they have stayed for free during the exam period. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A group of students in Bac Tu Liem District, Hanoi enjoy ice cream to ease stress the night before the exam. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Nguyen Phan My Duyen, from the central province of Quang Nam, reviews her lessons in the dormitory of the University of Science and Technology under the University of Da Nang on June 30, 2015. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Ly Thanh Huy from Binh Phuoc Province treats his son to a good dinner one day before the exam at a goat meat eatery on Le Loi Street in Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Tuoi Tre

On June 30, 2015, only one day before the exam, teachers and students at Pham Ngu Lao Middle and High School in Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City were still busy reviewing their knowledge until 7:40 pm. Nguyen Van Phuc, vice principal of the school, said the method helps students create the best stepping stones for the important exam. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Many students arrived at Thuy Loi (Irrigation) University early in the morning of July 1, 2015 for the first two subjects, math and foreign languages, despite the 39-degree Celsius heat in Hanoi. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Nguyen Danh Dao, from Quang Loc Commune, Can Loc District in the north-central province of Ha Tinh, listens to the radio while waiting for his son to take the exam on July 1, 2015. Photo: Tuoi Tre

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