Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) 香港考試及評核局 (考評局)

The HKEAA to Administer the Computer-based PSC Commissioned by the Institute of Applied Linguistics of the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, the HKEAA is conducting a new round of computer-based ‘Putonghua Shuiping Ceshi’ (PSC) in 2024.   PSC will be conducted in the form of a speaking test. The Putonghua and Language Test Center of the National Language Commission will assess the candidates’ performance using their audio records submitted by the HKEAA. Candidates attaining Grade 3, Level B or above will be awarded the PSC Certificate issued by the National Language Commission. Successful applicants can take the computer-based PSC practice offered by the HKEAA free of charge to familiarise themselves with the PSC mode and the operation of the test system.   To further encourage teachers to enhance their mastery of Putonghua, the EDB launches the Sponsorship Scheme for Teachers Taking the National Putonghua Proficiency Test (the Scheme), with the use of the Language Fund to fully sponsor eligible serving and prospective teachers in local primary and secondary schools to take the PSC for once on a voluntary basis. The Scheme is administered by the HKEAA offering one-stop registration and test service, and the first round of PSC will be held from 16 to 18 August 2024. Eligible serving and prospective teachers employed by publicly-funded secondary/ primary/special schools in this school year can submit applications via the HKEAA from now until 28 June 2024. Please visit the HKEAA webpage (https://lnkd.in/gh3eU8pA) for details.

Join the HKEAA in July at the 30th Hong Kong International Education and Careers Expo To enhance public understanding of the HKDSE and its qualification recognition, as well as the international and professional examinations suitable for young learners, the HKEAA will participate in the 30th Hong Kong International Education and Careers Expo, organised by the Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong, from 6 to 7 July 2024. Visit the HKEAA’s booth (D31-32) at Hall 5G, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.   During the Expo, Prof Ricardo Mak, Director of Public Examinations of the HKEAA, will introduce the latest developments of the HKDSE to the public, including its international recognition and the latest assessment arrangements for the 2025 HKDSE and beyond, at a seminar session at 1:50pm on 6 July 2024. Click here for details of the Expo.

Promoting the International Recognition of HKDSE To secure multiple pathways for candidates for further studies and employment, the HKEAA has been working closely with governments, university admission offices, higher education institutions, employers, and professional bodies worldwide to promote recognition of the HKDSE qualification.   In May 2024, Prof Wei Xiang-dong, Secretary General, and his team from the HKEAA met with representatives of the Australian Department of Education and Trade and Investment Commission at the Australian Consulate-General Hong Kong, providing them with the latest update on the development of the HKDSE and its qualification recognition by the Australian higher education sector.   Meanwhile, another meeting was arranged between the HKEAA and representatives from the Consulate-General of Spain in the same month. The Counsellor of Education from the Embassy of Spain in Beijing and representatives from the Instituto Cervantes in Shanghai also joined the meeting online to exchange views on encouraging Hong Kong students to study in Spain. They highlighted that the HKDSE qualification has been recognised by its Ministry of Education since 2014 and confirmed to publish the information of the recognition of the HKDSE qualification on the Authority’s webpage. HKDSE holders with at least five subjects at levels 2 to 5** can apply to Spanish universities without the prior requirement of an entrance examination.

2024 HKDSE Results to be Released in Mid-July With the completion of all examinations of the 2024 Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE), the examination results of about 50,000 candidates are scheduled for release on 17 July 2024.   This year, around 477 halls and 97 classrooms were set up for the written examinations, while 421 special centres were arranged for candidates with special educational needs (SEN). Around 4,000 markers and 400 marking assistants were appointed to mark about 600,000 answer scripts onscreen for the HKDSE.   The HKDSE is an important credential for candidates to further their studies or embark on a career. Once again, the smooth conduct of the examination would not have been possible without the collaborative efforts of all participating schools, examination personnel, candidates, the Education Bureau (EDB) and the relevant government departments and institutions in Hong Kong and the Mainland.

We are currently hiring a large number of temporary and part-time job vacancies to support the HKDSE 2024. For more details, please refer to our company website: https://lnkd.in/gWNQwe68 #hiring #temporaryjobs #hkeaa #hkdse

Rising Recognition of the HKDSE Qualification The HKDSE has always been an important qualification for senior secondary students, offering diverse pathways and opportunities for those who want to pursue further education locally or overseas, or develop a career. Over the years, around 750,000 students have embarked on enriching learning and life journeys with their HKDSE qualification. The past years have also seen a rising number of institutions across the globe accepting the HKDSE for admission purposes.   For the 2024/25 academic year, the total number of Mainland higher education institutions that accept the HKDSE qualification has increased to nearly 140. Apart from that, around 130 Taiwan higher education institutions are admitting Hong Kong students on the basis of their HKDSE results while over 600 non-local higher education institutions admit Hong Kong students into their undergraduate programmes based on their HKDSE results. They include not only institutions in popular English-speaking study destinations, namely the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and the United States, but also more than 300 German public universities.   Lately, we interviewed students who are currently pursuing their studies in the Mainland and the United Kingdom and their school principal. Please read the DSE Express(https://lnkd.in/gpMAeKFr) to learn about their first-hand experiences in furthering their study via their HKDSE qualification.   In order to provide candidates with diverse pathways, the HKEAA has continuously promoted the HKDSE to stakeholders, including non-local institutions and organisations. In recent months, we have shared the latest updates of the HKDSE with various stakeholders through meetings and seminars, including delegations from educational organisations of the Mainland, admission officers from Japanese tertiary institutions, and participants of the Mainland Higher Education Expo 2024/25, which was jointly organised by the Ministry of Education and the Education Bureau in Hong Kong.   For more details about Recognition of the HKDSE, please visit the Recognition of HKDSE webpage(https://lnkd.in/gzGM-WSv) and Recognition Search - HKDSE(https://lnkd.in/g-K7jyd5).

Results of the 2023 HKDSE Predicted Level Study The HKEAA recently announced the results of the latest HKDSE Predicted Level Study based on the internal assessment marks of about 36,400 school candidates submitted by nearly 82% of participating schools this year. Among the four core subjects, the outcome of English Language is more accurate with the predicted levels of about 71% of candidates matching their actual HKDSE levels. About 28% of the predicted levels are one level above or below candidates’ actual levels. In other words, 99% of predictions lie within one-level deviation from HKDSE actual levels.   For the three other core subjects of Chinese Language, Mathematics Compulsory Part and Liberal Studies, the percentages of exact matching with the actual HKDSE levels are about 52%, 60% and 50% respectively. However, the predicted levels for elective subjects are less accurate due to the smaller candidatures, fewer entries by schools in those subjects, the variations in schools’ HKDSE results over the years, etc.   The HKEAA will continue to conduct another Predicted Level Study in 2024 and explore mechanisms to improve prediction accuracy, so as to provide more useful feedback for schools to improve the validity and reliability of their internal assessments.   An online school briefing was held in late November to provide teachers with an overview of the results of the latest study. Please read the press release(https://lnkd.in/g4V-GE2v) and click here(https://lnkd.in/ghRrQjMC) for the reference materials for school briefing.

HKEAA Staff Commended for Service Excellence We take immense pride in sharing that our staff members have once again been honoured with The Ombudsman's Awards for Officers of Public Organisations. For twelve years in a row, HKEAA personnel have been recognised for their exceptional dedication and commitment to delivering high-quality services to candidates and the public.   This year, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to two remarkable staff members: Ms Poon Wing-Lun from the School Examinations and Assessment Division and Ms Tong Ka-mun, Louisa, from the International and Professional Examinations Division. The Ombudsman has bestowed this award upon them in acknowledgment of their professionalism and commitment to excellence.   Since 2012, a total of 21 HKEAA staff members have been honoured with the above recognition.

HKEAA Open Day and Information Seminars on HKDSE Core Subjects in January Public examinations are often seen as ‘Top Secret’. Rigorous measures are put in place to safeguard the confidentiality of every stage in the examination process, from question-setting, live examinations, script processing, marking and grading, to results release.   We cordially invite members of the public to join us for the upcoming Tsuen Wan Assessment Centre Open Day on 13 January 2024, to have a look at public examinations behind the scenes. Visitors will have the chance to delve into various examination processes, including script processing, marking and grading, etc. Moreover, the Open Day offers hands-on experiences on systems like Onscreen Marking, answer script scanning, and the PESS2. Interactive game booths with prizes will also be arranged for participants. During the Open Day, participants will have a chance to receive a set of selected 2017 HKDSE Question Papers as a token of participation.   In addition, the popular online information seminars on HKDSE core subjects will be held on 27 January 2024. Apart from Chinese Language, English Language and Mathematics, for the first time we will be running a seminar on Citizenship and Social Development.   Seats are limited. Click here(https://lnkd.in/gJdaAuzh) to register.

Season’s Greetings from the HKEAA With Christmas and the New Year just around the corner, the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) would like to extend its warm wishes to you and your loved ones for a delightful holiday season.   2022/23 has been exceptional for the HKEAA. Apart from celebrating its 45th anniversary, it also marks our fourth year having successfully conducted various examinations and assessments amidst the pandemic. They include the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE), Language Proficiency Assessment, Territory-wide System Assessment, as well as a wide range of international and professional examinations.   As we reflect on the achievements of 2022/23, we remain steadfast in embracing the ever-changing environment. Looking ahead, the year 2024 will be a significant milestone as the optimisation of the core subjects of the HKDSE will be in place, including the introduction of the new subject - Citizenship and Social Development. We will also continue to enhance quality and efficiency of our examination operations through various technologies, including the introduction of the Second Generation of Public Examinations Support System (PESS2) to the HKDSE.   With the unwavering support of its stakeholders, the HKEAA will continue to remain committed to providing professional examination and assessment services for students and members of the public to help them obtain reliable qualifications.