The Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE) was a public examination for students who had completed a full-time five-year secondary school course. With the introduction of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination, the HKCEE is discontinued from 2012.

In the past, the HKCEE was conducted in April and May annually and the results were released in August. Except for the subjects of Chinese Language and English Language, the results of all other subjects of the HKCEE were indicated by six grades (A, B, C, D, E and F), of which grade A was the highest and grade F was the lowers. Results below grade F were designated as unclassified (UNCL).

Since 2007 the results of Chinese Language and English Language had been indicated by five levels (5, 4, 3, 2 and 1), of which Level 5 was the highest and Level 1 was the lowest. Performance below Level 1 was designated as unclassified (UNCL). Level 5 candidates with the best performance would have their results indicated by the symbol *.

A grade C or above in most of the HKCEE subjects was recognised as equivalent to an O-level pass (grade C or better) in an overseas GCE examination and grade E was widely accepted in Hong Kong as a basic level of achievement for employment purposes.