Ministry of Rites
The students enrolled for three to seven years. They had minor tests each month and four major tests per year. Success in the exams, certified by the Ministry of Rites (Bộ Lễ, 禮部) qualified them to sit the national exam (Hội Examination - "Thi Hội"). Success at the Hội Examination qualified the student to sit the royal exam, the Đình Examination ("Thi Đình"), held at court. At this exam, the monarch himself posed the questions, responded to the candidate's answer and then ranked those who passed into different grades. The Imperial Academy was the largest centre in the country.