March 2024

Commencement of 2024 HKDSE

More than 50,000 candidates have registered for the 2024 Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE), with the speaking examinations for the English Language completed by the end of March. The written examinations will be held from 9 April to 4 May, and the 2024 HKDSE results are tentatively scheduled for release on 17 July.

 

With the optimisation measures of the HKDSE implemented this year, which aim to create space for students and cater for learner diversity, candidates are taking more elective subjects in addition to the four core subjects. Of the about 43,300 school candidates among all candidates, over 40% opted for three elective subjects, a significant growth of 21% compared to that of last year. Biology remains the most popular Category A Senior Secondary elective subject among school candidates, with over 13,600 entries, followed by Chemistry and Economics, with nearly 12,400 and over 12,300 entries respectively. This year, the number of candidates for Category B Applied Learning subjects has also largely increased by 70% to over 7,500. The increase in the number of elective subjects taken by HKDSE candidates not only helps broaden students’ academic knowledge, but also provides candidates with diverse pathways for further studies or employment.

 

Meanwhile, in collaboration with the relevant departments and institutions in Hong Kong and the Mainland, starting from 2024, the HKEAA will set up its HKDSE examination centres in designated locations in the Mainland cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). This year, about 110 bona fide S6 students from the Shenzhen Hong Kong Pui Kiu College Longhua Xinyi School and the Affiliated School of JNU for Hong Kong and Macao Students in Guangzhou are sitting the written examinations at their schools without having to travel to Hong Kong for the HKDSE.

 

The HKEAA has supervised the implementation of various examination arrangements for setting up the Mainland examination centres, covering areas including storage and transportation of examination papers, setup of examination rooms, appointment of examination personnel, etc., and ensured that the two pilot centre schools meet the requirements in terms of confidentiality, security, and reliability. Whether in Hong Kong or the Mainland cities of the GBA, the entire examination process of the HKDSE will be implemented in full compliance with quality assurance requirements and monitoring measures to meet the same international standards. For details, please read the press release.

Download ‘Check-in Smart (HKDSE)’ App

In order to enhance operational efficiency, a new digital platform, Public Examinations Support System 2 (PESS2), has been developed for the HKDSE and will be implemented in all normal centres (including the Special Room(s) for the Listening component of English Language, if applicable) this year. Candidates will be using their mobile phones to perform self check-in via the ‘Check-in Smart (HKDSE)’ App upon arrival at the examination centres. During the attendance-taking process of the HKDSE written examinations, invigilators will verify candidates’ identities via designated mobile devices installed with ‘i-Invigilation (HKDSE)’ App, allowing them to check candidates' photos and personal information efficiently. However, candidates still have to bring along the originals of both their admission form and identity card (or another valid identification document with a photograph) for inspection purpose when sitting the examinations.

 

Before the examination, candidates should download the latest version for free from the App Store and Google Play. Details about the ‘Check-in Smart (HKDSE)’ App can be found on the HKEAA webpage.

Growing Recognition of the HKDSE

The HKDSE has been an important credential for senior secondary graduates, offering multiple pathways and opportunities for those who wish to pursue further education at home or abroad or develop a career. Over the years, the HKEAA has been working closely with the higher education sector and academic and professional bodies worldwide to promote international recognition of the HKDSE. Nearly 800,000 senior secondary graduates have embarked on enriching learning and life journeys with their HKDSE qualification for over a decade.

 

To strengthen the international recognition of the HKDSE, an HKEAA delegation participated in the 2024 Asia-Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE) Conference and Exhibition in Perth, Australia, in early March 2024. Led by Prof Wei Xiang-dong, Secretary General of the HKEAA, the delegation introduced the HKDSE qualification and its latest development to representatives from over 250 overseas higher education institutions. We also took the opportunity to encourage institutions to admit Hong Kong students directly based on their HKDSE results and provide relevant admission requirements, which would be released on the HKEAA website for candidates’ reference. These institutions come from over 20 countries in Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific, and those participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, such as Kazakhstan.

 

In addition, a luncheon reception was held on 7 March 2024, participated by about 40 representatives from esteemed overseas institutions. The luncheon was graced by the presence of Dr Choi Yuk-lin, the Secretary for Education, who delivered a speech highlighting the merits of the HKDSE. Prof Wei Xiang-dong also chaired a panel discussion to exchange views with the participants on the latest development of the HKDSE. Visit the HKEAA website for details.

Hosting the Largest International Digital SAT Test Centre in Hong Kong

Offered by the College Board, the SAT is a widely used college admission test in the United States (U.S.). The HKEAA has been appointed as one of the test centres to hold the SAT in Hong Kong for almost two decades.

 

In recent years, the HKEAA has worked closely with the College Board to launch the digital SAT for regional test-takers. Since Spring 2023, the HKEAA has been the largest international digital SAT test centre, hosting more than 2,700 candidates at a time.

 

In February 2024, the HKEAA received a delegation from the College Board and engaged in knowledge exchange on the transformation of the SAT from a paper test into a digital test. The innovative ‘Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)’ arrangement introduced by the HKEAA for the digital SAT in Hong Kong, under which test-takers have to bring their own approved laptop computers or tablets for the examination and the challenges involved were discussed.

 

The SAT is offered each year in August, October, November, December, March, May and June. Click here to learn more about the digital SAT offered by the HKEAA.

Prof Wei Xiang-dong, Secretary General of the HKEAA (fourth from right) and his team received a delegation from the College Board to exchange ideas on the development of the digital SAT