The educational system of Hungary

Pre-primary education
This educational level is considered as a crucially important integrated part of the school system. It caters for children from 3 to 6 years of age. Participation in pre-primary education at this level (kindergarten) is compulsory from the year 3.
Primary education
Children start primary school when they reach school-maturity, usually in the year in which they have their 6th birthday (7th if they were born after May 31).Primary education can last for 4, 6 or 8 years. 8-year education is the most widespread; the other two options were introduced in the early 1990s.Subjects include literature, grammar, mathematics, music, art, physical education, environmental studies (from 1st to 5th grade), biology (from 6th grade), geography (from 6th grade), history (from 5th grade), history of art, physics (from 6th grade), chemistry (from 7th grade), one or two foreign languages (usually English, German or French). Before 1990, Russian was compulsory.
Secondary education
Secondary education usually lasts for 4 years. In gimnáziums it can also last for 5, 6 or 8 years depending on how many years the student spent in primary school. Since 1997 the numbering of years in secondary school are following that of primary school (i. e. after the 8th grade of primary school the student goes to 9th grade, which is actually the 1st year of secondary school.)
There are three kinds of secondary schools:
• Gimnázium (non-vocational; prepares students for higher education; teaches at least 2 foreign languages)
• Szakközépiskola (vocational school but also prepares for higher education)
• Szakmunkásképző Szakiskola (vocational school)
After finishing secondary school, students take a school-leaving exam (érettségi in Hungarian). From 2005 this consists of exams on five subjects: written exam in mathematics, oral and written exams in Hungarian literature and grammar, a foreign language, history, and written and/or oral exam in a subject of the student's choice. These exams also serve as an entry exam to universities and colleges.
New secondary form until the school year of 2004/2005
Many of the gimnáziums have begun to teach a foreign language intensively (usually 12-14 lessons a week) and ICT (usually 3-4 lessons a week) in the first year. This is called nyelvi előkészítő évfolyam, literally "Language training class", or simply nulladik évfolyam (literally "0th grade"). After 2005, students will have less foreign language lessons and ICT.
At schools where there is no nulladik évfolyam (beginners classes), they may be required to introduce them because the majority of Hungarians do not speak more than one language. Most students will finish High School at the age of 18 or 19, or when they complete Year 13.
Those who had at least an intermediate level language exam weren't required to pass a language exam at school leaving exam, but has become compulsory since 2006. In language training classes, a student must pass an intermediate level language exam in the second year.
Higher education
Higher education in Hungary dates back to 1367 when Louis the Great founded the first Hungarian university in the city of Pécs.
Higher education is divided between colleges and universities. College education generally lasts for 4 years, while university education lasts for 4 to 6 years depending on the course undertaken. University PhD courses usually take 3 years to complete.
Before students get their degree, they must pass an intermediate level language exam in the foreign language of their choice. English and German are the most popular. The number of Spanish-learners has been growing in the last few years. Recently a high number of students chose Esperanto and Romani languages. The latter is said to have a relatively small vocabulary and easy grammar.