August - easy reading

August is named after Emperor Augustus, the first Roman emperor. It’s the last month of summer in England and it is usually hot.

All the schools and universities are closed so a lot of families go on holiday in August. English people like to go to another country or they go to the seaside in the UK. It’s the most expensive time to travel and tourist destinations are crowded.

August is an important month for young people who are waiting for their exam results. 18-year olds get their A level* results in the middle of the month. They need good results to get into their chosen university. A week later, 16-year-olds get their GCSE* results. These are usually less important but they might need good grades to go to a new school or a college.
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The last Monday in August is a national holiday (or bank holiday). A lot of special events take place during this long weekend. The most famous  is the Notting Hill Carnival. This is a celebration of Afro-Caribbean culture. Notting Hill is an area of London. People dance and play music in the streets and they wear colourful costumes. You can also buy Caribbean food. Over a million visitors go to see the carnival every year.
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* A levels = Advanced level exams
GCSE = General Certificate of Secondary Education