Hong Kong Diploma in Secondary Education

The Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education, HKDSE (香港中學文憑考試) is the only public exam for the new 3-3-4 education system; it will be a combination of the existing HKCEE and HKALE.

Subjects examined

Under the new examination framework, many existing subjects in the HKCEE and HKALE would be combined to suit the varying interests and abilities of the students. Exam sessions will examine either the core syllabus or the elective option to candidate preference. For example, HKCEE Mathematics, Additional Mathematics, HKALE Pure Mathematics, Applied Mathematics and Mathematics and Statistics would be merged into a single new subject known as Mathematics. Canditiates would have the flexibility to choose, for instance, whether they would like to take electives such as "calculus and statistics" or "algebra and calculus".

Moreover, the current Career-orientated Course, COC would be renamed Applied Learning, ApL under the new system to reflect the nature of the curriculum. The aim of the Applied Learning subject is to allow students who do not like the traditional academic route to pursue vocational education, to earn a living by themselves and graduate with a practical skill that matches the needs of employers.

Subjects in the The Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education

Core subjects:

• Chinese Language
• English Language
• Mathematics
• Liberal Studies

Electives:

• Chinese Literature
• Literature in English
• Chinese History
• Economics
• Ethics and Religious Studies
• Geography
• History
• Tourism and Hospitality Studies
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Science: Combined Science(choosing 2 out of 3 units(Biology,Chemistry and Physics))/Integrated Science(consisting of Biology,Chemistry and Physics)
• Business, Accounting and Financial Studies
• Design and Technology
• Health Managemeent and Social Care
• Technology and Living (Previously Home Economics)
• Information and Communication Technology
• Music
• Visual Arts
• Physcial Education

Foreign Languages (Possible to use as replacement for Chinese for University admissions, but only allowed for students whose mother tongue is not Chinese, and cannot be used as a replacement for English)

• Japanese
• French
• German
• Spanish
• Indi
• Urdu

Grading and Standards

It will use a criterion-referencing grading system; Experts from each subject would set the standards for each grade. Experts would base their decisions on syllabus objectives, using testing and research, collection of data, including past exam statistics and the answer scripts, to model band description and example, clearly explains the requirements to reach a particular band. Grading in a Criterion-referencing system reflects a candidate's level of attainment in the particular subject. No need for candidate to compare with other candidates, the grade received unaffected by the performance of others. Before the exam the candidate would be familiar with the different band descriptors and samples, and can use them as objectives for their study.After thr release of the result, people concerned, including the parents and the kid herself, can know her own standards better. Tertiary institutions and employers would have more robust information to use for admission or recruitment purposes.

In other words, Criterion-referencing system fits the principles and objective of the new 3-3-4 secondary system in Hong Kong, transforming the clear focus points of study and expected learning outcome, to grading standards, and can help teachers and students to understand what they are teaching, learning what and how to improve learning, let the students know what their standards are, realistically reflect the students attainment levels in a particular subject.

External Links

Hong Kong Department of Education:http://www.emb.gov.hk/index.aspx?nodeID=2&langno=2

Hong Kong Examinations and Assesment Authority:http://eant01.hkeaa.edu.hk/hkea/new_look_home.asp