InBritainallchildrenhavetogotoschoolbetweentheagesof5and16.IntheUSchildrenmustgotoschoolfromtheageof6tobetweentheagesof14and16,dependingonthestatetheylivein.SubjectInEnglandandWalesthesubjectstau

　　InBritainallchildrenhavetogotoschoolbetweentheagesof5and16.IntheUSchildrenmustgotoschoolfromtheageof6tobetweentheagesof14and16,dependingonthestatetheylivein.

　　Subject

　　InEnglandandWalesthesubjectstaughtinschoolsarelaiddownbytheNationalCurriculum,whichwasintroducedin1988andsetsout indetailthesubjectsthatchildrenshouldstudyandthelevelsofachievementtheyshouldreachbytheagesof7,11,14and16,whentheyaretested.TheNationalCurriculumdoesnotapplytoScotland,whereeachschooldecideswhatsubjectsitwillteach.

　　IntheUSthesubjectstaughtaredecidedbynationalandlocalgovernments.WhereasBritishschoolsusuallyhaveprayersandreligiousinstruction,Americanschoolsarenotallowedtoincludeprayersortoteachparticularreligiousbeliefs.

　　Examinations

　　At16studentsinEnglandandWalestakeGeneralcertificateofSecondaryEducation(GCSE)examinations.Theseexaminationsaretakenbystudentsofalllevelsofabilityinallsubjectsandmayinvolveafinalexamination,anassessment,orbothofthesethings.At18somestudentstakeA-levelexaminations,usuallyinnomorethanthreesubjects.ItisnecessarytohaveAlevelsinordertogotoauniversity.

　　InScotlandstudentstaketheScottishCertificateofEducation(SCE)examinations.Ayearlater,theycantakeexaminationscalledHIGHS,afterwhichtheycaneithergostraighttoauniversityorspendafurtheryearatschoolandtaketheCertificateofSixthYearStudies.InScotlandtheuniversitysystemisdifferentfromthatinEnglandandWales.Coursesusuallylastfouryearsratherthanthreeandstudentshavetostudyalargernumberofsubjectsaspartoftheirdegree.

　　IntheUSschoolexaminationsarenotasimportantastheyareinBritain.StudentsinHighSchoolsdohaveexamsattheendoftheirlasttwoyears,butthesefinalexamsareconsideredalongwiththeworkthatthestudentshavedoneduringtheschoolyears.

　　SocialEventsandCeremonies

　　InAmericanhighschoolsthereisaformalceremonyforgraduation.Studentswearaspecialcapandgownandreceiveadiplomafromtheheadoftheschool.Studentsoftenbuyaclassringtoear,andayearbook,containingpicturesoftheirfriendsandteachers.Therearealsosp