June 2022

2022 HKDSE was completed smoothly under the pandemic

2022 HKDSE Results to be Released in July

Around 50,000 candidates sat the 2022 Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE) and examinations of all subjects were completed in mid-June. Results of the 2022 HKDSE are scheduled for release on 20 July.

 

This is the third consecutive year for the HKEAA to conduct the HKDSE under the pandemic, at a time when the pandemic was more severe than in the last two years. Once again, it would not have been possible without the concerted efforts and collaboration of participating schools, examination personnel, candidates, the Education Bureau (EDB) and relevant government departments.

 

More than 520 hall centres and about 400 classroom centres in more than 430 schools, and more than 770 special centres for candidates with special educational needs (SEN) were set up this year. Meanwhile, around 4,600 markers were appointed to assess the performance of the HKDSE candidates and about 700,000 answer scripts were marked onscreen.

 

We also set up an examination centre at the Penny’s Bay Community Isolation Facility (PBCIF) again. This arrangement not only covered candidates undergoing mandatory quarantine, but also those confirmed with COVID-19. During the written examinations period, 18 candidates undergoing mandatory quarantine and 26 candidates confirmed with COVID-19 sat the HKDSE for 15 subjects at the PBCIF. In addition, candidates, examination personnel and their household members residing in a ‘restricted area’ were given priority in compulsory testing.

 

Read the blog articles on DSE Express to learn more about how different sectors and examination personnel have worked together to support the HKDSE for our candidates.

New Arrangements for Category C (Other Languages) Subjects for the 2025 HKDSE and Beyond

Starting from the 2025 HKDSE, five Category C (Other Languages) subjects will be offered: the existing subjects of French, German, Japanese and Spanish, with the addition of Korean. Under the new arrangements, HKDSE candidates will be required to take stipulated official language examinations. Candidates’ results that meet the stipulated proficiency level will be included in the HKDSE Category C results. Moreover, the existing Hindi and Urdu examinations will be discontinued from 2025 onwards.

 

Since the inaugural HKDSE in 2012, Cambridge Assessment International Education (Cambridge International) Advanced Subsidiary (AS) level question papers have been used for Category C subjects. Following a comprehensive review of its examination and assessment services, Cambridge International has decided to cease offering AS level Japanese and Hindi examinations from 2024 onwards and informed the HKEAA that it will not be able to continue to provide candidates’ results for Category C subjects. Consequently, the existing arrangements for Other Language subjects cannot be continued, with the last administration of the current Cambridge International AS level examinations for Category C subjects to be held in November 2023, i.e. for the 2024 HKDSE.

 

With support from the Consulates General concerned, the HKEAA has collaborated with the official cultural organisations of the five countries in providing Category C subject examinations for HKDSE candidates. Candidates will have to take the stipulated official language examinations administered in Hong Kong by these cultural organisations, and enroll directly with the administrators of the stipulated language examinations and opt for the respective Category C subject during HKDSE registration.

 

Candidates’ results obtained in these examinations at the stipulated proficiency level or above will be included in the HKDSE Category C results. The HKEAA accepts results obtained in the language examinations taken within two years preceding the HKDSE sat by the candidates. Only the highest language proficiency level and result attained by the candidates will be reported for the HKDSE Category C subjects. A separate results notice and certificate will be issued to each candidate for the Category C subjects.

 

The new arrangements offer greater flexibility for students to take the examinations according to their learning progress, aspiration and interest. Moreover, the language examinations are recognised by the respective countries and well accepted internationally. Under the new arrangements, candidates who take one examination can obtain two certificates at the same time, namely the language proficiency qualification awarded by the respective official cultural organisation, and the HKDSE certificate.

 

Click here for details of the arrangements, including the stipulated language examinations, reporting of results and proficiency level requirements.

Prof Wei Xiang-dong (second from left), Secretary General of the HKEAA, and Mr Jean-Sébastien Attié (second from right), Executive Director of the Alliance Française de Hong Kong, signed the service agreement for HKDSE Category C (Other Languages) subject examinations

Amendments to the UCAS Tariff of the UK

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) of the United Kingdom (UK) carried out a consultation with UK higher education providers regarding the review of the UCAS Tariff in July 2021. Given that many UK higher education providers have their own systems for assessing international qualifications and are already well established in terms of processing applications with international qualifications that sit outside the Tariff, the UCAS recently announced that all international qualifications (except for the Irish Leaving Certificate), including the HKDSE and non-regulated UK qualifications, were removed from the Tariff Tables in May 2022.

 

The new arrangement will be applicable to students pursuing higher education in the UK from September 2023 onwards. The UCAS also confirmed that this change will not impact the validity of the HKDSE or its acceptability for progression into higher education in the UK. The HKDSE qualification is widely accepted by universities and institutions in the UK, and over a hundred institutions in the UK have published their admission requirements in terms of the HKDSE results for HKDSE holders on the HKEAA’s website.

 

Since its launch in 2012, the HKDSE has received wide recognition across the globe. The number of overseas institutions accepting HKDSE qualification for admission to their undergraduate programmes has reached nearly 300. They include institutions in English-speaking regions which are popular with HKDSE graduates, such as the UK, Australia, Canada and the United States. In addition, around 130 Mainland institutions and around 140 Taiwanese institutions have admitted Hong Kong students on the basis of HKDSE results.

 

Please click here to learn more about the amendments to the UCAS Tariff. Students planning to study outside Hong Kong can visit the HKEAA website and Recognition Search – HKDSE for more information about overseas recognition of the HKDSE.

The Annual Stakeholders’ Forum

Around 20 representatives from school councils, professional bodies of the education sector, parent-teacher associations and special educational needs students’ concern groups joined the HKEAA Stakeholders Forum on 18 June 2022. Convened by Mr Samuel Yung Wing-ki, the HKEAA Chairman; Prof Wei Xiang-dong, the Secretary General and the Directors of the HKEAA, the Forum was organised to enhance communication and engagement with stakeholders. During the Forum, our stakeholders were not only informed about the latest development of the HKEAA but also shared views on ways to enhance examination and assessment services.

 

The participants were enthusiastic in sharing their views on the assessment and administrative arrangements for the HKDSE, as well as the development of assessment services and technology. They also expressed support and recognition of the HKEAA in offering quality examination and assessment services, especially under the challenging time of the pandemic this year.

 

Mr Yung and representatives of the HKEAA also expressed gratitude to the EDB, schools, teachers, candidates, parents and different government departments for their support and cooperation in achieving the smooth conduct of the 2022 HKDSE.

Mr Samuel Yung Wing-ki (middle), Chairman of the HKEAA hosted the Stakeholders’ Forum