More than 82,000 candidates received the 2013 HKDSE Examination results on 15 July, of which 87% were school candidates who have completed the three-year NSS curriculum. Most school candidates registered for two to three elective subjects in addition to the four core subjects, namely Chinese Language, English Language, Mathematics and Liberal Studies.

This year sees an increase in number of candidates who have met the general entrance requirements for local undergraduate programmes and sub-degree courses. Over 28,000 candidates obtained level 3 or above in both Chinese Language and English Language, and level 2 or above in Mathematics Compulsory Part and Liberal Studies i.e. “3322”, meeting the general entrance requirements for admission to the local universities. More than 49,000 candidates obtained level 2 or above in five subjects including Chinese Language and English Language, and they are eligible to apply for sub-degree courses or relevant civil service posts in Hong Kong.

The HKDSE qualification, which allows senior secondary graduates to progress to further education and employment, has been well recognised. For detailed results statistics, please click here.

The HKEAA announced the results of a benchmarking study comparing the standards between the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and the HKDSE English Language Examination recently.

The study found that HKDSE candidates attained level 5** in the English Language Examination achieved an overall IELTS band score of 7.51 to 7.77, while the standards of candidates with level 3 achieved, are between those of Modest Users and Competent Users on the IELTS scale, with an overall IELTS band score of 5.48 to 5.68.

By comparing the NSS students' performance in the two examinations, this benchmarking study provides useful information for overseas universities to understand the English proficiency of HKDSE candidates and set their admission requirements accordingly. For more details of the benchmarking study please click here.

Currently, more than 150 tertiary institutions worldwide have acknowledged their acceptance of the HKDSE. For details, please visit Recognition of Qualifications for HKDSE.

After the completion of the first cycle of HKDSE Examination in 2012, the HKEAA, the Education Bureau and the Curriculum Development Council launched a joint review of the NSS curriculum and assessment for improving and fine-tuning the delivery of the New Academic Structure (NAS).

Further to extensive consultation with the education sector, recommendations for changes to the curriculum and assessment frameworks, covering both public examinations and School-based Assessment in the 2014 to 2016 HKDSE Examinations, have been endorsed by the Public Examinations Board in early 2013. The approved assessment frameworks were sent to schools in late April.

To learn more about the detailed recommendations to the NSS curriculum and assessment, please visit the “Review of the New Academic Structure” webpage.

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