Release of 2016 HKDSE Results

The results of this year´s Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE) will be released on 13 July 2016 as the examinations had finished last month. About 85% of over 68,000 candidates who entered the examination this year were school candidates.

The number of higher education institutions and universities that accepts the admission of the HKDSE holders to their undergraduate programmes is on the rise. Up to now around 240 international universities and institutions recognised this qualification since it was first launched in 2012.

New UCAS Tariff for HKDSE

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) of the United Kingdom (UK) has adopted a new Tariff system from 2017. Under this new system, the Tariff points awarded to level 3 to level 5** of the HKDSE remain comparable to grades E to A* in the General Certificate of Education Advanced Level (GCE A level) examination. This indicates a high level of confidence in the standards of the HKDSE.

Level 5** in 23 Category A Senior Secondary subjects is awarded the highest possible 56 points, which is the same as the new Tariff for grade A* in GCE A level. Level 3 in the HKDSE is awarded 16 points, which is comparable to grade E in GCE A level.

As Mathematics comprises of two components - the Compulsory Part and the Extended Part, the Tariff of each component is awarded separately. Level 5** in the Compulsory Part and the Extended Part of Mathematics are each awarded 28 points, which means that candidates who take both parts of Mathematics can achieve Tariff points that are on par with other HKDSE Category A subjects.

Most universities and colleges in the UK indicate their general admission requirements based on HKDSE results but some also set UCAS Tariff requirements as reference for admission of HKDSE candidates. For details, please click here.

Registration for HKDSE Category C Subjects (Other Languages - November 2016 Series)

Registration for the HKDSE Category C subjects (Other Languages - November 2016 Series) is now open. The registration will close on 11 July and the results of the November 2016 series will be available by early February 2017.

The Authority offers an array of examinations in foreign languages for candidates who wish to equip themselves for future challenges and career opportunities. French, German, Hindi, Japanese, Spanish and Urdu will be offered in November 2016. French and Spanish examinations are held twice a year, one in June and the other in November. Starting from 2017, all results of the June series will only be released in late August. Candidates who wish to apply for tertiary admission in 2017 through JUPAS are recommended to sit the examinations in November 2016. For details, please visit here.

HKDSE Examination System Received Accreditation

The great efforts and resources that the HKEAA has placed in developing Information Technology (IT) systems to ensure the delivery of top-quality services for public examinations were finally acknowledged. In January 2016 the HKEAA obtained ISO/IEC 27001:2013 and ISO/IEC 20000-1:2011 IMS certificates issued by an independent certification body in recognition of the standard of the HKDSE Examination System.

The ISO/IEC 27001 and ISO/IEC 20000 are standards that define the requirements for an Information Security Management System (ISMS) and the best practice for Information Technology Service Management (ITSM). The adoption of these standards helps to ensure implementation of adequate security controls and delivery of quality IT services for the HKDSE.

The HKEAA will continue to adopt appropriate standards and measures to strengthen the examination system operations.

QAMAS now welcomes new applicants

The HKEAA has always treasured the partnership with the school community. We have been working closely with schools and teachers with the aim of enhancing their professionalism in assessment related matters. In this respect, we have been promoting the Quality Assessment Management Accreditation Scheme (QAMAS) in order to help schools to continuously improve their assessment management through the provision of professional consultation as well as exchange of knowledge and experience among member schools.

Over 100 schools have received their accreditation certificates in recognition of their effort in establishing a sound school-based assessment system in the past few years.

The QAMAS is welcoming new applicants. Please click here for details about the QAMAS and the application form.