Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education

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Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education
HKDSE logo.svg
AcronymHKDSE
TypePaper-based Standardised Exam
Developer / administrator Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority
PurposeAdmission to undergraduate programs of universities and colleges
Year started2012 (2012)
DurationVaries by subject
Score / grade rangeScored on Levels of 1–5, in one-level increments, then 5* to 5**
OfferedAnnually
Countries / regions Hong Kong
Languages English, Traditional Chinese (Papers can be written in Simplified Chinese)
Annual number of test takersDecrease2.svg 50,823 (2023) [1]
Prerequisites / eligibility criteriaSchool candidates: Completion of Secondary School under NSS
Private candidates: None
FeeLanguage subjects: HK$644
Other subjects: HK$431
Initial Fee: HK$494 [2]
Scores / grades used byUniversities, locally through JUPAS, internationally via UCAS tariff points.
Website hkeaa.edu.hk/en/hkdse/
Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education
Chinese 香港中學文憑
Notice board shown in HKDSE examination centres. Dse exam centre.jpg
Notice board shown in HKDSE examination centres.
Candidates leaving the exam centre at Queen's College after sitting for the HKDSE English Language Paper 3 Listening and Integrated Skills examination. 20170408 HKDSE Queen's College.jpg
Candidates leaving the exam centre at Queen's College after sitting for the HKDSE English Language Paper 3 Listening and Integrated Skills examination.

The Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE) is an examination organised by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA). [3] The HKDSE examination is Hong Kong's university entrance examination, administered at the completion of a three-year senior secondary education, allowing students to gain admissions to undergraduate courses at local universities through JUPAS. Since the implementation of the New Senior Secondary academic structure in 2012, HKDSE replaced the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (O Level, equivalent of GCSE) and Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (A Level). [4]

Contents

Under the NSS (New Senior Secondary) academic structure, pupils are required to study four compulsory "core subjects" (Chinese languages and English languages, mathematics and Citizenship and Social Development) and choose between one and four elective subjects (the majority with two to three subjects) among the 20 available. [5] On 31 March 2021, it has been announced that liberal studies will be renamed "citizenship and social development", and the curriculum will be changed, starting from 2021 to 2022 academic year and 2024 DSE. [6]

Background and administration

Under the NSS, a number of subjects in the HKCEE and the HKALE have been combined to suit the varying interests and talents of students. School pupils study both core (compulsory) subjects and elective subjects. Most candidates in the HKDSE sit all four core subjects plus two or three electives to satisfy local university admission requirements. [7]

In many HKDSE subjects, each student studies the Compulsory Part and a module of the student's choice, the Elective Part, which concentrates on a specific topic or skill. While in certain subjects such as Mathematics, students are only required to study the Compulsory Part, while the Elective Modules are voluntary. As such, an Elective Part forms a part of the subject curriculum, whereas an Extended module is designed for students with specific aims or those who have higher abilities who may want additional knowledge and skills. The selection of offerings for both Elective Parts and Modules varies from school to school, for example, some schools offer both M1 (Extended Module 1) and M2 for Mathematics, while others may offer only the Compulsory Part.

Written examinations of Category A (Traditional) subjects are usually conducted between early March through early May. Speaking (Oral) components and examinations for certain Category B (Applied Learning) subjects are administered earlier. Category C (Other Languages) subjects usually take place in June (French and Spanish may be taken in the previous November), in line with CAIE AS-level practice.

Before the exam, candidates have a chance to become familiar with the different level descriptors and samples and may use them as objectives for their study. Also, they can also familiarise with the exam requirement by doing DSE Past Paper, which can be found here. When results are released, candidates can have a clearer picture of their attainment level. For each level, there will be a DSE cut off score. Thus, tertiary institutions and employers also have more accurate and robust information for admission or recruitment purposes.

Subjects

HKDSE subjects are offered in three different categories, including 24 in Category A: NSS (Traditional), over 40 in Category B: ApL (Applied Learning) and six in Category C: Other Languages.

Category A: New Senior Secondary Subjects

Category A subjects are traditional school subjects. Exams in this category are held directly by HKEAA. Both Core Subjects (Compulsory for University Admission) and Elective Subjects fall under Category A. [12] Results of these subjects are generally accepted for local and international university admission.

For Mathematics, levels of the Extended Modules (M1 and M2) are listed separately on the certificates.

Core subjects

For Mathematics, in addition to the Compulsory Part, candidates may take one of the following Extended Modules:

For Liberal Studies, the subject curriculum features six Modules, including: [13]

However, save in very particular cases and as determined by institutions, a pass in an Extended Part of a subject cannot substitute a pass in the Compulsory Part for university admission, especially when applying through JUPAS for UGC-funded courses.

Electives

Students can choose one to four electives among 20 Elective Subjects according to their interests and strengths. However, most schools do not offer a full selection of the 20 subjects in their curriculum due to practical limitations.

According to the Registration Statistics for 2018 released by the HKEAA, the most chosen subject is Physics, with a total of 11,658 candidates. Around 70.4% of students choose a combination two elective subjects, while 17.4% choose three elective subjects. [14]

2019 HKDSE subject combinations of school candidates [14]
(elective subjects include Categories A, B and C subjects):

  4 core subjects + 1 elective subject (9.0%)
  4 core subjects + 2 elective subjects (70.4%)
  4 core subjects + 3 elective subjects (17.4%)
  4 core subjects + 4 elective subjects (0.2%)
  Other (3%)

Category B: Applied Learning Subjects

Category B (ApL) subjects are offered by course providers, which are usually Higher Education Institutions. Assessments of these subjects are conducted by the course providers, and the results reported to the HKEAA for adjustment. They are mostly vocational or professional subjects.

Applied Learning Subjects may or may not be considered by tertiary institutions for admission, according to HKEAA, a reported level of "Attained" on the certificate is considered as equivalent to a Grade 2 in a Category A subject, and "Attained with Distinction" to Grade 3 or above. From 2018, "Attained with Distinction" has been further refined to "Attained with Distinction (I)" (equivalent to Grade 3) and "Attained with Distinction (II)" (equivalent to Grade 4 or above). However, the more prestigious universities in Hong Kong usually consider Category B subjects as mere 'Interest Groups' for admission purposes, believing them to be inferior to the traditional academic subjects in Category A.

Areas of study in Category B include: [15]

  • Creative Studies
  • Media and Communication
  • Business, Management and Law
  • Services
  • Applied Science
  • Engineering and Production
  • Applied Learning Chinese (for non-Chinese speaking students)

Category C: Other Language Subjects

These are language electives. They may be used to replace Chinese Language for university admissions for students whose first language is not Chinese, but it may not be used to replace English. It may also be chosen as an elective for native Chinese speaking students, in which case it will not serve as an alternative language for UG admission. In many cases, in lieu of a Category C subject, an IGCSE Chinese Language pass (or similar Chinese qualification) can also be accepted for admission to UG programmes for non-Chinese speaking students.

Up to 2024, Category C subjects use the papers of CAIE GCE AS-level language subjects. These are provided and marked by Cambridge Assessment International Education. [16] Starting from 2025, Official language examinations taken within 2 years before the HKDSE examination could be reported in the certificate. N3 or above is required for Japanese. Grade 3 or above is required for Korean. A2 or above is required for the remaining language subjects.

  • French
  • German
  • Japanese
  • Spanish
  • Hindi (Up to 2024)
  • Urdu (Up to 2024)
  • Korean (Starting from 2025)

Tertiary Institutions are not obliged to recognise results of Category B or C subjects, while Category C subjects are generally accepted due to them being also an AS-Level subject, Category B subjects, especially for the more prestigious institutions, are usually only considered for reference in cases where two potential students are equal in other aspects.

School-based assessment

School-based Assessments (SBA) are conducted for the majority of subjects for school candidates, which notably includes three of the four core subjects, Chinese Language, English Language and Liberal Studies, with the exception of Mathematics, it reduces reliance on a one-off public examination as students' projects and assignments throughout senior secondary years are graded by their teachers and counted toward the HKDSE results on fixed weightings, after the grades being adjusted by HKEAA. [17] [18]

Grading

For Category A subjects, the performance of candidates is categorised and released on a scale of seven levels indicated on the examination certificate. Level 5** being the highest and level 1 the lowest. Distinction levels 5** and 5* (read as "five-double-stars" and "five-star") are awarded to the two best-performing groups of candidates attaining level 5. [7] Unclassified Level (UNCL) are given in cases of absence, cheating, or an attempt not reaching the standards of level 1. [19]

Category A: New Senior Secondary Subjects

UCAS tariff points for HKDSE Examination: [20]

The UCAS Tariff points attached to each subject level (excluding Mathematics) is as shown above, UCAS is the university admission system in United Kingdom.

Category B: Applied Learning Subjects

SubjectsResultComparing to HKDSE Category A results
Applied Learning Subjects (excluding ApL Chinese)"Attained with Distinction (II)"Level 4 or above
"Attained with Distinction (I)"Level 3
"Attained"Un­known
Applied Learning Chinese (for non-Chinese speaking students)"Attained with Distinction"Level 3 or above
"Attained"Un­known

Note: Albeit Category B subjects are taught to standards designed to be comparable to Category A subjects, with reference to the form above, to date the majority of local universities however, do not consider Category B subjects for admission by JUPAS.

Category C: Other Language Subjects

These subjects are graded by CAIE, on grades "A" to "E" (with grade "E" being the lowest and grade "A" the highest). An achievement below grade “E” is called 'Ungraded', and is not recorded on the diploma awarded to candidate. [21]

Marking

In the criterion-referenced grading system, experts in relevant subject matters establish the marking standards for each level. Thereafter, level descriptors and examples are set and constantly reviewed based on syllabus objectives and statistical data, including exam statistics and candidate answer scripts. Gradings produced by a criterion-referenced system reflect a candidate's level of attainment in a particular subject instead of the rank order of the candidate in comparison to others.[ citation needed ]

Markers of HKDSE are mostly current teachers of secondary schools. [22] They are appointed to different assessment centres to perform Onscreen Marking (OSM). Exam papers are first scanned into the database at scanning centres, and then distributed to the markers through computer. [23] [24]

Top Scorers' Schools

As of 2023, there are only 38 schools that have ever produced top scorers in HKDSE.

7 x 5** "Top Scorers" are candidates who obtained perfect scores of 5** in each of the four core subjects and three electives.

8 x 5** "Super Top Scorers" are candidates who obtained seven Level 5** in four core subjects and three electives, and an additional Level 5** in the Mathematics Extended (M1/M2) module. [25]

YearTotal No. of Top ScorersName of SchoolNo. of 5**First time for the school to have a Top Scorer #University Destination / Remarks
20126 St. Mary's Canossian College 8#HKU BBA(Law) & LLB [26] [27] [28]
Pui Ching Middle School 8#HKU MBBS [27] [26]
Sing Yin Secondary School 8#HKU BBA(Law) & LLB [27] [26]
Po Leung Kuk No.1 W.H.Cheung College8#HKU LLB [27] [26] Upgraded after Rechecking/Remarking [29]
Queen's College 7#HKU MBBS [27] [26]
Queen's College7HKU Actuarial Science [27] [26]
20139 Good Hope School 8#HKU BBA(Law) & LLB [30] [31]
St. Paul's Co-Educational College 8#HKU LLB [31] [30]
True Light Girls' College 7#HKU MBBS [30] [31]
HKFYG Lee Shau Kee College 7#HKU MBBS [30] [31]
CCC Heep Woh College 7#CUHK Medicine - GPS [31]
La Salle College 7#HKU MBBS [30] [31]
Ying Wa Girls' School 7#CUHK GBS [31]
Queen's College7HKU BBA(Law) & LLB [30] [31]
Queen's College7HKU Actuarial Science [30] [31]
201412 Heep Yunn School 8#HKU MBBS [32] [33] [34]
Wa Ying College 8#HKU LLB [32] [35]
St. Paul's Co-Educational College8Cambridge University BA in Economics [36] [32] [34]
St. Paul's Co-Educational College7CUHK BA in Chinese [32] [34]
St. Paul's Co-Educational College7HKU LLB [32] [33]
Wah Yan College, Kowloon 7#HKU MBBS [32] [33]
King's College 7#HKU MBBS [32] [33]
St. Stephen's College 7#HKU BA in English [32] [33]
St. Paul's Secondary School 7#CUHK Government and Public Administration [32] transferred to Oxford University BA in PPE [37] [34]
St. Paul's Secondary School7HKU LLB [32] [33]
St. Marys Canossian College7HKU MBBS [32] [33]
Queen's College7HKU MBBS [32] [33]
201512King's College8HKU MBBS [38] [39] [40]
Queen's College8HKU MBBS [39] [38] The first candidate to obtain 17 * stars [41]
Queen's College7HKU MBBS [38] [39]
St. Marys Canossian College7HKU MBBS [39] [38]
St. Marys Canossian College7HKU BSocSc in Psychology [39] [38]
HKUGA College 7#HKU MBBS [39] [38]
HKUGA College7HKU BBA(Law) & LLB [39] [38]
HKTA Tang Hin Memorial Secondary School 7#HKU BSocSc (Government and Laws) & LLB [39] [38]
Shun Tak Fraternal Association Leung Kau Kui College 7#HKU MBBS [39] [38]
St. Paul's School (Lam Tin) 7#HKU Dental Surgery [39] [38]
Diocesan Girls' School 7#HKU MBBS [39] [38]
Diocesan Girls' School7HKU MBBS [39]

Upgraded after Rechecking/Remarking

20165Queen's College7HKU MBBS [42] [43]
Diocesan Girls' School7CUHK Medicine - GPS [44]
Diocesan Girls' School7HKU Dental Surgery [42]
St. Paul's Co-educational College7HKU BBA(Law) & LLB [42]
Pui Ching Middle School7CUHK Pharmacy

Upgraded after Rechecking/Remarking [45]

20176Diocesan Girls' School8CUHK Medicine - GPS [44] [46]
St. Paul's Co-educational College7HKU MBBS [46] [47]
St. Paul's Co-educational College7HKU MBBS [46] [47]
Munsang College 7#HKU Dental Surgery [46] [47]
Belilios Public School 7#HKU MBBS [46] [47]
Queen's College7HKU MBBS [47] [46] [48]
201811La Salle College9HKU MBBS [49] [50] The first candidate to obtain 18 * stars [51]
Queen's College8CUHK Medicine - GPS [52]
Diocesan Boys' School 8#HKU Dental Surgery [49]
St. Paul's Co-educational College8HKU BBA(Law) & LLB [49] [50]
St. Paul's Co-educational College8HKU MBBS

Upgraded after Rechecking/Remarking [33]

St. Paul's Co-educational College7CUHK GBS
St. Paul's Co-educational College7HKU LLB [49]
Diocesan Girls' School7HKU MBBS [49] [50]
Diocesan Girls' School7Oxford University BA in PPE [53] [49]
Good Hope School7HKU BSocSc (Government and Laws) & LLB [49]
Tseung Kwan O Government Secondary School7#HKU MBBS

transferred to CityU Veterinary Medicine [54]

Upgraded after Rechecking/Remarking [33]

201912Queen's College8HKU MBBS [55]
St. Paul's College 8#HKU BBA(Law) & LLB [55]
Diocesan Boys' School8HKU MBBS [55]
St. Paul's Co-educational College8CUHK Medicine - GPS [56]
La Salle College8CUHK Medicine - GPS [56]
La Salle College7CUHK Medicine - GPS [56]
La Salle College7CUHK Medicine - GPS [56]
Diocesan Girls' School8Cambridge University BA in Economics [53] [55]
Diocesan Girls' School7CUHK Medicine - GPS [56]
St. Mark's School 7#CUHK Medicine - GPS [56]
Kwun Tong Maryknoll College 7#HKU Dental Surgery [55]
Pui Ching Middle School7CUHK Medicine - GPS [56]
20207Diocesan Girls' School8Oxford University BA in English Language and Literature [57] [58]
Diocesan Girls' School7Cambridge University BA in HSPS [58]
St. Paul's Co-educational College8Cambridge University MEng [53] [58]
St. Paul's Co-educational College7CUHK BSc in Cell and Molecular Biology [59] [58]
St. Paul's Co-educational College7HKU MBBS [59] [60]
Wah Yan College Hong Kong 7#HKU MBBS [59] [60]
Queen's College7HKU MBBS [59] [60]
20217Diocesan Girls' School8CUHK Medicine - GPS [61] [62] [63]
Diocesan Girls' School7Cambridge University BA in Law [61] [53] [63]
St. Mary's Canossian College8HKU MBBS [61] [63]
Po Leung Kuk Tang Yuk Tien College 8#HKU BSc Quantitative Finance [61] [63]
St. Stephen's Girls College 7#CUHK Medicine - GPS [61] [62]
Ying Wa College 7#CUHK Medicine - GPS [61] [62]
Queen Elizabeth School 7#CUHK Medicine - GPS [61] [62]
202211Queen Elizabeth School8CUHK Medicine - GPS [64] [25]
Heep Yunn School8CUHK Medicine - GPS [64]
Pui Ching Middle School8HKU MBBS [25]
Carmel Secondary School8#CUHK BSc in Quantitative Finance and Risk Management Science [25]
Diocesan Boys' School8CUHK Medicine - GPS

Upgraded after Rechecking/Remarking [65]

S.K.H. Lam Woo Memorial Secondary School 7#Cambridge University BA in Natural Sciences

Upgraded after Appeal Review [66]

New Territories Heung Yee Kuk Yuen Long District Secondary School 7#HKU-UCL Dual Degree Programme in Law

Upgraded after Appeal Review [67]

La Salle College7CUHK Medicine - GPS [64]
King's College7CUHK Medicine - GPS [64]
Diocesan Girls' School7Cambridge University BA in HSPS [68] [25]
Queen's College7CUHK Medicine - GPS [64]
20234Queen's College8CUHK Medicine - GPS [69]
St. Paul's Co-educational College8Cambridge University BA in Natural Sciences [70]
St. Paul's Co-educational College8HKU MBBS [71]
Good Hope School7HKU MBBS [71]

Admission to local universities

The HKDSE is designed for local secondary school students in Hong Kong to measure their achievement and to enable them to gain admission to local universities through the unified Joint University Programmes Admissions System (JUPAS). [72]

International qualifications, like IB Diploma, IGCSE, GCE A-levels and IALs, OSSD, and SAT/AP, on the other hand, are more often taken by private, DSS (Directly Subsidised, comparable to independent schools in other countries) or international school students. These international qualifications are becoming more popular in Hong Kong, due to the perceived difference in difficulty and grading between HKDSE and the international qualifications, leading to the perception in some parents and students that it is comparatively easier for a student to gain entrance to local universities with an international school leaving qualification. [73] In addition, HKDSE holders applying through JUPAS must have results from at least 5 subjects, including the Compulsory Subject of Chinese Language, metaphorically referred to by students as 'the paper of death' due to its extensive coverage of Classical Chinese literatures written in a completely different writing system than Modern Standard Chinese; while international qualifications like IGCSE/A-level and IBD have more flexibility in the choice of subject and additional language for students.

Due to these differences and the perception of an advantage that international qualifications have over HKDSE in university admission, there has been a considerable amount of concern over the emergence of a bipartite education system, based on wealth instead of merit. [74]

Impact on schools

One notable impact on schools in Hong Kong is the discontinued need for sixth form colleges due to the cancellation of HKALE and upper sixth. Nevertheless, some of these colleges, such as PLK Vicwood KT Chong Sixth Form College, remain in operation as senior secondary schools. [75]

Criticism

Unbalanced focus

The HKDSE is criticised for placing too much emphasis on the four core subjects, causing some students to neglect the elective subjects. Tsui Lap-chee, then president of the University of Hong Kong at the introduction of HKDSE, commented: "The Education Bureau demands universities [to screen pupils by] setting the so-called 3322 as minimum entry requirement for undergraduate programmes — aka a minimal of grade 3 in Chinese and English Languages, and a minimal of grade 2 in Mathematics and Liberal Studies. [It is] insufficient for studying in universities." He proposed a minimal grade requirement for two elective subjects, which the Education Bureau rejected. He also mentioned that many students do not study the optional extended modules for Mathematics, leaving them lacking the advanced mathematics knowledge needed for science and engineering studies; it is very difficult for them to make this up in their undergraduate courses. [76]

Hindrance to admission

Since the launch of the HKDSE, the Chinese language paper is often dubbed the "paper of death" (Chinese:死亡之卷). [77] Some have the opinion that the high expectation is well-founded since it is the main language used in daily life in Hong Kong, but every year nearly half of all candidates fail the subject. They hence lose the chance to gain entrance to a university because of the obligatory "3322" requirement, even though tertiary education in Hong Kong is delivered in English. “3322” refers to level 3 for Chinese Language and English Language and level 2 for Mathematics Compulsory Part and Liberal Studies, compared to the past when language subjects were not compulsory at advanced level. It is also reported that some of the authors of passages employed in the Chinese papers themselves found the questions in the paper difficult or impossible to answer. Elaine Yau of SCMP commented that the exam results are "proving [HKDSE as] a major hindrance to admission". [78]

Moreover, it is reported that the HKDSE is causing chronic stress in students. [79]

2020 arrangements due to the COVID-19 outbreak

The spread of COVID-19 in Hong Kong caused the Education Bureau (EDB) and HKEAA to remodel the 2020 HKDSE. At a press conference held on 6 February announcing the alternative plans, the Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung said that all oral and practical examinations to be held before 27 March would be postponed. He went on further to mention two different options then considered by the Bureau and the HKEAA. One of them was that written exams would take place on 27 March as scheduled, whereas physical education, music practicals and Chinese speakings be postponed to May. Option two was that all examinations would be postponed by four weeks, as well as cancelling all oral examinations. [80] At the end of February, the bureau announced that option one would be adopted where HKDSE would be held as scheduled on 27 March and Chinese oral exams would be postponed to 18 May. The result releasing date would also be postponed to 15 July. Some measures were made by the Bureau to prevent the chance of virus transmission, such as providing candidates with face masks and checking their body temperature. For those who could not attend HKDSE due to health conditions, their final grade of the subject can be determined based on school performance, but the maximum grade they can obtain would be level 5. [81] In mid-March, after a spike in COVID-19 cases reported in Hong Kong, the secretary announced that the HKDSE would be postponed by a month to 27 April, as in the previously discussed option 2. [82]

Candidates expressed dissatisfaction over the new arrangements, demanding a cancellation of 2020 HKDSE. Some thought that with such a large number of candidates staying in a packed area for examination, the possibility of virus transmission would be high. Some also thought that the EDB should have made the call to postpone the exam earlier instead of just less than 2 weeks before the official exam date, which caused confusion and inconvenience to everyone concerned. In an interview with Hong Kong Free Press, a candidate hoped that the bureau would be more transparent in their decision-making process in the future, as the uncertainty surrounding the new arrangement had caused more burden to candidates and made them more stressed about the public exam. [83]

2020 HKDSE History exam controversy

In May, over 5,000 students took the HKDSE History exam. The exam is divided into two papers, with the first paper consisting of four compulsory Data-Based Question and the second paper requiring the candidate to choose to attempt two out of the seven essay questions. Among the four questions in Paper 1, Question 2 is set on the topic of Sino-Japanese relations during the first half of the 20th century. [84] In part (c) of the question, which is also the third and the last sub-question, requires candidates to answer "Whether Japan did more good than harm to China between 1900 and 1945." based on the source provided and their own historical knowledge. A day after the exam, the EDB, the Hong Kong government officials, and major pro-establishment figures and legislators slammed the question for being "biassed", "insensitive to the war crime victims who suffered from atrocities committed by the Japanese Army during Sino-Japanese War", and "hurting the pride and dignity of the 1.4 billion Chinese people". [85] Hence, the government orders the invalidation of the question.

With the government intervention in the exam system, many candidates expressed their anger towards the government that the removal of the controversial question would unfairly affect their performance, and may also affect their admission into the local universities. A week later, the question was confirmed to be invalidated. Subsequently, a student group filed a judicial review to challenge the HKEAA decision to invalidate the question.

Many pro-democracy figures believed the government intervention on the examination system is reflecting the Central government growing influence in Hong Kong's local affairs. Many teachers from the Pro-Democracy HKPTU expressed their concern about the eroding academic freedom. On the other hand, pro-establishment figures believed that the local education system is "toxic" and "brainwashing" to promote local young people to become more rebellious against the Central and SAR government. In view of this problem, the pro-establishment figures called for the education system to be reformed and remove any elements of colonialism in the education system that have existed over the past 23 years.

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Physics education or physics teaching refers to the education methods currently used to teach physics. The occupation is called physics educator or physics teacher. Physics education research refers to an area of pedagogical research that seeks to improve those methods. Historically, physics has been taught at the high school and college level primarily by the lecture method together with laboratory exercises aimed at verifying concepts taught in the lectures. These concepts are better understood when lectures are accompanied with demonstration, hand-on experiments, and questions that require students to ponder what will happen in an experiment and why. Students who participate in active learning for example with hands-on experiments learn through self-discovery. By trial and error they learn to change their preconceptions about phenomena in physics and discover the underlying concepts. Physics education is part of the broader area of science education.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belilios Public School</span> Public school

Belilios Public School is the first government school for girls in Hong Kong, founded in 1890. It was also the first bilingual school in Hong Kong. It is in Tin Hau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Mary's Canossian College</span> Grant, secondary school

St. Mary's Canossian College is a Catholic girls secondary school in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong. The school was founded in 1900, and is situated at the junction of Austin Road and Chatham Road South.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Higher education in Hong Kong</span>

Higher education in Hong Kong means any education higher than secondary education, including professional, technical, and academic. It is the highest level of education in Hong Kong, regulated under the Hong Kong Law.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hong Kong Higher Level Examination</span> Former university entrance examination in Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Higher Level Examination was a public examination taken by students in Hong Kong at the end of Form 6, in preparation for entry to the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) which then offered 4 year courses. It was different from the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination taken by Form 7 students, and was usually taken by students from Chinese Middle schools. It was abolished in 1993 when the CUHK changed its courses to 3-years, the same as the Hong Kong University, after the introduction of the Joint University Programmes Admissions System in 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A-level</span> British educational certification

The A-level is a subject-based qualification conferred as part of the General Certificate of Education, as well as a school leaving qualification offered by the educational bodies in the United Kingdom and the educational authorities of British Crown dependencies to students completing secondary or pre-university education. They were introduced in England and Wales in 1951 to replace the Higher School Certificate. The A-level permits students to have potential access to university if their grades are of satisfactory quality.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hong Kong University Graduate Association College</span> Secondary school

HKUGA College is a secondary school located at No. 9 Nam Fung Road, Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong. It was founded in 2006 by the Hong Kong University Graduates Association. The Hong Kong University Graduates Association Education Foundation is a registered non-profit-making organization founded by members of the Hong Kong University Graduates Association, alumni of The University of Hong Kong (HKU), and other members of society. The foundation consists of nearly 200 members and is managed by an elected Executive Committee.

The Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) has moved from norm-referenced to standards-referenced assessment, including the incorporation of a substantial school-based summative oral assessment component(SBA) into the compulsory English language subject in the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE), a high-stakes examination for all Form 4–5 students.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CUHK Faculty of Medicine</span>

Faculty of Medicine of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) (Chinese: 香港中文大學醫學院) was established in 1981 and consists of five schools which offer an array of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in the field of medicine, nursing, pharmacy and public health. The Hong Kong's Prince of Wales Hospital is the faculty's teaching facility and base of research. The medium of instruction of all programs is English while Chinese is also retained for the teaching of Chinese Medicine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hong Kong Baptist University Affiliated School Wong Kam Fai Secondary and Primary School</span> Direct subsidy coeducational school

Hong Kong Baptist University Affiliated School Wong Kam Fai Secondary and Primary School is a Direct Subsidy school in Shek Mun, Sha Tin, Hong Kong. It is the first affiliated school opened by a university in Hong Kong. The school was officially established in 2006, and the first batch of students began attending classes in September of the same year. The school has a total area of 12,000 square metres (130,000 sq ft) and the primary and secondary division is connected together.

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