After the release of the 2015 HKDSE results on 15 July, candidates received the results of the main round offer of the Joint University Programmes Admissions System (JUPAS) on 10 August. Among the 74,000 HKDSE candidates who sat the fourth HKDSE, a total of 24,547 day school candidates achieved level 3 or above in both Chinese and English languages and level 2 in Mathematics (Compulsory Part) and Liberal Studies. Candidates with these results have met the general entrance requirements for the government-funded undergraduate university programmes in Hong Kong.

This year, over 41,000 day school candidates obtained level 2 or above in five subjects including Chinese Language and English Language. They may apply for sub-degree courses, Yi Jin Diploma as well as other vocational programmes. Senior Secondary graduates who want to join the workforce may also apply for civil service posts or private sector jobs with their HKDSE qualification.

For details about the overall results of the 2015 HKDSE, please read more.

An HKEAA delegation comprising Mrs Christina Lee, Director of Public Examinations and Mr Wan Tak-wing, General Manager – Assessment Development, promoted the HKDSE to some reputable universities in South Korea in May. During their visit, they conducted a seminar and provided information on the standards and the international recognition of the HKDSE to the admission officers of some leading Korean institutions, including Seoul National University, Korea University and Kyung Hee University.

The delegates also met with representatives from the National Institute for International Education (NIIED) and discussed further education opportunities in Korea for senior secondary graduates from Hong Kong. With the growing popularity of Korean culture, there has been increasing interest in further studies in Korea. Currently there are around 500 Hong Kong students studying in Korea.

Other than institutions in Korea who have shown great interests in our students, universities in other Asian countries, like Singapore, also consider the HKDSE qualification for admission to their universities.

Find out more about Recognition of the HKDSE.

Since the inaugural HKDSE in 2012, the HKEAA together with the Education Bureau and the Curriculum Development Council have conducted the New Academic Structure (NAS) Review to optimise learning benefits for students and to uphold international recognition of the HKDSE. The Medium-term Review has recently been completed and recommendations on the delivery of curriculum and public assessment were announced in June.

Among the 24 Category A Senior Secondary subjects, the public examinations of 17 subjects will be fine-tuned, while School-based Assessment (SBA) in 14 subjects will be revised.

Standards-referenced Reporting (SRR) will be maintained in the grading of Category A subjects from level 1 to level 5/5*/5**. This facilitates local and overseas tertiary institutions in considering admissions for candidates. Regarding the reporting of students' performance in Applied Learning (ApL) subjects, some adjustments will be made in defining the levels of attainments. The existing two levels, 'Attained' and 'Attained with Distinction', will be further refined to three levels, 'Attained', 'Attained with Distinction (I)' and 'Attained with Distinction (II)'. While 'Attained with Distinction (I)' is comparable to level 3, 'Attained with Distinction (II)' is comparable to level 4 or above of the Category A subjects of the HKDSE. This arrangement will be effective from the 2018 HKDSE.

Read more about the recommendations of the NAS Medium-term Review.