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Information About

Hong Kong Certificate Of Education Examination





INTRODUCTION

In 2005 , 119,471 candidates entered for the examination. 86,019 of them were school candidates and 33,451 were private candidates, of which most are re-takers of individual exams.

The HKCEE is conducted from late April to May, for most subjects, by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority ( HKEAA ). For oral examinations, they are conducted in late June.

The results are released in the second week of August. There are 44 subjects available in the HKCEE. Most day school candidates take 7 to 8 subjects in the HKCEE, with 10 being the upper limit. Apart from Chinese Language and English Language which are taken by almost every school candidate, and language-specific subjects ( French , Chinese History (Chinese only), Buddhist Studies (Chinese only), Literature in English (English only), Putonghua (Chinese only) and Word Processing & Business Communication (English only).), all subjects can be taken in either Chinese or English. The same standards are applied in marking and grading regardless of the language of choice, and the language medium is not recorded on the results notices or certificates. It is, however, recorded on the admission forms.

Grading

The results of the HKCEE are expressed in terms of six grades A - F, of which grade A is the highest and F the lowest. Results below grade F are designated as unclassified (UNCL), assigned either when candidates hand in unanswered or unintelligent paper(s). Candidates not taking the exam are designated as ABS for that subject. Before 2002 grades A - F were each divided into two fine grades, making the original number of grades available twelve, from A(01) to F(12).

The results are graded 'on the curve' but at the same time a cutoff score for each grade is also used. Obtaining an A is very tough, especially for the languages, where only 1.5-3% of the students get A's. On average, only the top 5% in each subject can get an A. The cutoff scores vary greatly from subjects to subjects and from year to year. To give a clearer picture, for Chinese language A-grades are sometimes given for candidates having scored 70 or above, while for Mathematics, an A invariably translates to a score in excess of 90. The cutoff scores are not released by the HKEAA publically; the information being only available to teachers.

For official statistics, please go to http://www.hkeaa.edu.hk/doc/fd/2004cee/39-60.pdf



In calculation of points, A=5, B=4, C=3, D=2, E=1, F=0, UNCL=0, ABS=0. For Form Six admission, the six best subjects are calculated. Thus, the full-mark is 30 points. The minimum requirement for entering Form Six is pass in 5 subjects with no less than 8 points or pass in 6 subjects. For IVE admission, seven best sudjects are calculated.

A grade E or above is widely accepted in Hong Kong as a basic level of achievement for employment purposes. A grade of C earns a "credit", indicating a pass with merit.


HKCEE English Language Exam

There are two syllabus offered for students taking the HKCEE English Language Examination: Syllabus A and Syllabus B. Syllabus B is more advanced and is O-Level equivalent; a grade C on syllabus A is considered by the HKEAA to be the equivalent of a grade E on the syllabus B exam. Both syllabuses will be discontinued from 2007, in favor of a new exam syllabus. The new exam for the syllabus includes School-based Assessment (SBA), carrying 15% of the total subject mark. Results are distinguished in seven grades, instead of the traditional five.


PURPOSE OF HKCEE

After sitting the HKCEE and having their examination results announced, candidates may apply for a place in Form 6 amongst local schools in Hong Kong. Moreover, in order to qualify for the HKALE (Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination), students must have taken the HKCEE as a prerequisite.

The certificate of HKCEE is well-known and widely recognised in Hong Kong as a formal document for seeking a job or pursuing further studies. The HKEAA has arrangements with examination boards in the United Kingdom and most subjects are equivalent to O-level of the General Certificate Of Education (GCE).

For comparison, the syllabi and standard of HKCEE science subjects (eg. Chemistry , Physics and Economics ) is similar to that of the SAT Subject Tests .


Early Admissions Scheme

Currently, there is a scheme called the Early Admissions Scheme held by universities in Hong Kong, such as The University Of Hong Kong (HKU), The Chinese University Of Hong Kong (CUHK) and The Hong Kong University Of Science And Technology (HKUST). Candidates with 6 or more 'A's (Distinctions) in the HKCEE (With their Language subjects scoring 'C' or above) are eligible for applying the Early Admission Scheme which may grant them the admission to the aforementioned institutions without the need to sit for the HKALE .


SUBJECTS INCLUDED


Brief Introduction

There are in total 44 subjects, 34 of which offer both Chinese and English versions for candidates to choose from. The same marking scheme and grading standard were used for the English and Chinese versions of subjects with bilingual versions. The language used by the candidates in the examination is not printed on the certificate. Each candidate may enter for a maximum of 10 subjects.


List of the subjects

Subjects offered in the 2006 sitting:

  • Accommodation and Catering Services

  • Additional Mathematics

  • Art (Will be changed to Visual Arts in 2006)

  • Biology

  • Buddhist Studies

  • Ceramics (Will be abolished in 2007)

  • Chemistry

  • Chinese History

  • Chinese Language

  • Chinese Literature

  • Commerce

  • Computer and Information Technology

  • Design and Technology

  • Design and Technology (alternative syllabus)

  • Economic and Public Affairs

  • Economics

  • Electronics and Electricity

  • Engineering Science (Will be abolished in 2007)

  • English Language (Syllabus A---)

  • English Language (Syllabus B---)

  • Fashion and Clothing

  • French

  • Geography

  • Government and Public Affairs

  • Graphical Communication

  • History

  • Home Economics (Dress and Design)

  • Home Economics (Food, Home and Family)

  • Human Biology (Will be abolished in 2007)

  • Integrated Humanities

  • Literature in English

  • Mathematics

  • Music

  • Physical Education

  • Physics

  • Principles of Accounts

  • Putonghua (Standard Mandarin)

  • Religious Studies

  • Science and Technology

  • Social Studies

  • Technical Drawing (Will be abolished in 2007)

  • Technological Studies

  • Textiles (Will be abolished in 2007)

  • Travel and Tourism

  • Visual Art (Starting from 2006)

  • Word Processing and Business Communication (English)


  • English Syllabus A and Syllabus B will be combined into one syllabus in 2007



LIST OF SCHOOLS GENERATING 10A STUDENTS FOR HKCEE

Starting from 1987 , students were allowed to study up to ten subjects. Wah Yan College, Hong Kong produced the first student with ten A-grades (colloquially called a '''10A student'''). ''' Queen's College ''' is the undisputed record holder for the total number of 10A students graduating over the years while ''' La Salle College ''' is the record holder of the highest number of A's attained in one sitting. It achieved a record high 501 A's in the year 2003 with a secondary 5 graduate class size of 280, with an average of 1.79A per student. In the same year, Queen's College scored 2.275A per student, but the total number of A was only 455 because of a smaller class (200). Diocesan Girls' School is the top record holder for the total number of 10A students among the all-girls schools in Hong Kong.

























































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































Total 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987
Queen's College 44 4 1 5 4 3 2 2 5 4 2 4 4 2 2
Diocesan Girls' School 27 1 3 2 3 2 3 6 1 2 1 1 1 1
La Salle College 13 3 1 1 4 1 2 1
Wah Yan College, Hong Kong 12 1 2 1 2 1 3 1 1
Diocesan Boys' School 11 1 2 4 1 1 1 1
Wah Yan College, Kowloon 9 1 2 1 2 1 1 1
St. Joseph's College 7 1 4 1 1
Tsuen Wan Government Secondary School 6 3 1 1 1
St. Paul's Co-ed. College 6 1 1 1 1 1 1
Shun Tak Fraternal Assn. Leung Kau Kui College 4 1 2 1
Sha Tin Government Secondary School 3 1 1 1
Maryknoll Convent School 3 2 1
St. Paul's College 2 1 1
Pui Ching Middle School 2 1 1
King's College 2 1 1
St. Mary's Canossian College 2 1 1
Salesian School 1 1
Queen Elizabeth School 1 1
Christian Alliance S.C. Chan Memorial College 1 1
Chan Sui Ki (La Salle) College 1 1
Po Leung Kuk No.1 W. H. Cheung College 1 1
Tsuen Wan Public Ho Chuen Yiu Memorial College 1 1
Tuen Mun Government Secondary School 1 1
Cheung Chuk Shan College 1 1
Kwun Tong Maryknoll College 1 1
Good Hope School 1 1
St. Paul's Convent School 1 1
TOTAL: 164 15 12 17 15 17 14 11 14 9 5 8 8 5 5 5 2 0 1 1



FUTURE DEVELOPMENT

Owing to the transition from the 5+2-year curriculum (5 years of secondary and 2 years of Sixth Form / matriculation) to a 6-year curriculum of secondary education, the HKCEE and the HKALE will be faded out and replaced with a new examination.

  • .


The proposed revisions specific to Chinese Language include:
  • The removal of the 26 selected essays, excerpts from the classics, poems and ancient lyrics in the original curriculum, replacing them with the selection of reading materials by the teachers.

  • Independent reading comprehension and writing papers.

  • The addition of a listening comprehension examination.

  • The addition of a speaking (oral) examination.

  • The addition of a paper testing integrated skills.

  • The addition of a school-based assessment (SBA) scheme that accounts for 20% of the exam mark.


The proposed revisions specific to English Language include:
  • The abolishment of two different syllabuses.

  • The abolishment of the testing of grammar and language usage which was once part of the old reading comprehension and usage paper. (Grammar will be tested alongside with comprehension in the same section)

  • A refined writing paper, now requiring two separate pieces writing, one guided, one independent and more open-ended.

  • A refined reading comprehension paper, with questions requiring written answers instead of the old format in which every question was a multiple choice question.

  • A refined speaking skills paper, requiring more independent thinking than the previous routinized paper.

  • The addition of a school-based assessment (SBA) scheme that accounts for 15% of the exam mark.



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