This year, the numbers of university and school students entering the final round are equal, with the youngest in the eighth grade, which means that information technology and computer skills have attracted an increasing number of younger students.

What is more, it was the first time in a decade that the finale of the annual competition had seen a record number of 82 out of the total 120 finalists, or 68.3 percent, reaching the maximum score of 1,000.

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The annual contest for students aged 13 to 22 is constituted of three different events: Microsoft Office 2013, Microsoft Excel 2013, and Microsoft PowerPoint 2013.

According to the organizers, this year's finale will select outstanding students for three first, six second, nine third prizes and many honors, with a total award value of VND 1 billion (USD 43,193).

The three winners of the final round will receive a financial support of VND 80 million (USD 3,440) each from Viettel to participate in the World Championship to be held in the US from July 29 to 31 this year. The first prize of the World Championship values USD 7,000, while the second and third prizes are USD 3,500 and USD 1,500, respectively.

The award ceremony to honor the national winners will be held in mid-May.

The contest has been organized worldwide since 2002 and was first held in Vietnam in 2010. Vietnamese candidates won medals at every edition of the World Championship in the past seven years, making the country one of the top ten strongest teams at the competition.

Translated by Thu Nguyen