The exams in this book are all taken by secondary school students who have decided to continue their education in colleges and universities. The national curricula in England and Wales, France and Japan ensure that all students up to a certain age are exposed to the same common core of subject matter. In France, differentiation occurs at age 15, in England and Wales at age 16. In both countries, students at those ages who want to continue in school choose between college-preparatory and vocational programs, and most take a series of examinations prior to entering those programs. Though the national curriculum is taught at all high schools, a clear hierarchy of quality exists, and some schools have higher concentrations of college-bound students than others.
Formal tracking takes place at the earliest age in Germany.
Each of the three tracks has its own separate schools and curricula. In the United States, no formal differentiation system exists in elementary and secondary schools. With the exception of certain disabled or disruptive students, all children attend comprehensive schools. All rights reserved.