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HKDSE - Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education

HKDSE - Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education
The Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education examination is administered by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority. Most candidates take four core subjects (Chinese and English languages, mathematics and liberal studies) and two or three elective subjects.
Students at Hong Kong’s Munsang College take the DSE exams in April 2026. Photo: SCMP
Education in Hong Kong

DSE graduates can gain from gap year experience before university, experts say

Universities increasingly look beyond applicants’ grades, while students can benefit from ‘holistic’ experience outside the classroom.

Education in Hong Kong

Where can DSE students turn if they don’t get into a public university?

Hong Kong

Mainland schools for Hong Kong pupils beat city average in university entrance exams

Education in Hong Kong

DSE exam success: Hong Kong’s top scorers share their revision secrets

High achievers explain how Pomodoro timers, ‘mistake booklets’ and selective AI use helped them ace their papers.

Soniya Tong, a “super top scorer” from Ying Wa Girls’ College, says she carefully kept track of her mistakes while studying. Photo: May Tse
Education in Hong Kong

Editorial | Top scorers deserve praise, but DSE is not the only mark of success

As new technology reshapes the nature of work and academia, pathways to a bright future are no longer as narrow as they once were.

Education in Hong Kong

DSE candidates overcome physical challenges to achieve hard-earned results

Tam Chun-yu, who has cerebral palsy, typed his answers with one finger while Liu Pong-faat has difficulty writing but completed his exams.

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Education in Hong Kong

How ethnic minority students overcame language barriers to score high on DSE exams

Pupils say their hard-won success came after years of struggling to learn in foreign language.

Manaal Khan, a student at Hong Kong Taoist Association The Yuen Yuen Institute No 3 Secondary School, with her DSE results. Photo: Jelly Tse
Education in Hong Kong

Nearly blind student among Hong Kong’s top DSE scorers who plan careers giving back

Students inspired to pursue life in law or medicine, including Aiden Cheng, who has just 10 per cent of his vision left.

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Video | ‘You can always find a path’: says DSE student with cerebral palsy

19-year-old Chang Hoi-kiu passed all subjects in this year’s DSE exam and achieved the requirement for an Associate’s Degree.

Education in Hong Kong

Record 24 students ace DSE, but weaker language scores shrink admission pool

Fourteen boys and 10 girls achieve Level 5** in six subjects, but proportion of day-school candidates meeting university threshold falls.

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A record 24 students from 15 schools have scored perfect marks in Hong Kong’s university entrance exams. Photo: Handout
Education in Hong Kong

Letters | Hong Kong must resist turning DSE results day into a public spectacle

Readers discuss how schools’ promotional activities could affect student well-being, Hong Kong’s economic prospects, and the basis for Japan-Malaysia cooperation.

Students wait to receive their DSE results in 2019. Photo: Xiaomei Chen
Education in Hong Kong

AI and economy fuel stress for 40% of DSE candidates: Hong Kong youth group poll

Nearly half of students also unaware of universities of applied sciences as group urges government to boost awareness of vocational paths.

Education in Hong Kong

DSE citizenship exam tests students on social awareness and national principles

‘One country, two systems’ policy featured prominently in revamped paper, which required students to draw on ‘own knowledge’ and analysis.

Education in Hong Kong

Bubble tea and YouTube topics please Hong Kong DSE exam takers, as poems add twist

Students and teachers praise English exam’s relatable themes despite poetry inclusion, but tutors warn an ‘easier’ paper may mean tougher scoring.

Hong Kong students found this year’s DSE English exam easier and more relatable, though the inclusion of poems caught many by surprise. Photo: Handout
Education in Hong Kong

Hong Kong to establish global version of university entrance exam on pilot basis

Test will allow foreign students to apply for admission to both local and mainland Chinese higher education institutions.

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According to education authorities, more than 2,100 non-local higher education institutions have listed their general admission requirements based on DSE results. Photo: Handout
Education in Hong Kong

Opinion | Hong Kong should offer an international DSE to boost education hub goal

Growing mainland demand and a falling local birth rate add to the need for a unified, secure and globally accessible DSE pathway.

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Hong Kong society

Editorial | Both traditional and simplified Chinese have value for Hong Kong

While learning simplified characters will benefit local students, traditional Chinese characters are still essential regardless of a student’s background.

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Education in Hong Kong

Letters | Hong Kong’s AI education quest needs human connection to succeed

Readers discuss the importance of emotional and social learning, a suggestion to internationalise Hong Kong’s university entrance exam, and a way to encourage more Chinese to get married.

A student from a primary school in Tai Po gets a warm send-off to school, on the first day of the school year on September 1. Children learn best when their emotional needs are met. Photo: Jelly Tse
Education in Hong Kong

2 Australian universities to admit Hong Kong students based on predicted grades

Unprecedented agreement with Queensland University of Technology and Griffith University applies to those from direct subsidy scheme schools.

Education in Hong Kong

Letters | Create an international DSE to extend Hong Kong’s educational reach

Readers discuss Hong Kong’s educational strategy, Shenzhen’s merger opportunities and banking charges.

Education in Hong Kong

No Hong Kong student visas for mainland Chinese pupils ‘under mutual agreement’

Secretary for Education Christine Choi explains why mainland pupils are excluded from scheme to increase non-local intake at semi-private schools.

The primary and secondary schools sector hope to contribute to developing Hong Kong as an international education hub, an official says. Photo: Jelly Tse
Education in Hong Kong

Hong Kong school’s registration revoked amid cross-border DSE tutorial centre row

Tsung Tsin Middle School registration ended over unresolved conflicts and unauthorised collaboration with a Shenzhen-based centre.

The Education Bureau have revoked the registration of Tsung Tsin Middle School, which had previously been ordered to suspend operations in early August. Photo: Jelly Tse
Education in Hong Kong

Exclusive | Hong Kong education minister open to international version of DSE exams

University entrance exams could go digital as schools push to attract non-local students amid declining enrolment numbers.

Education in Hong Kong

Private DSE candidates’ marks will not affect Hong Kong pupil scores: exam body

Post analysis shows that the number of private candidates securing top marks has increased at a much faster rate than that of school pupils.

Education in Hong Kong

Why are more non-day school candidates achieving top scores in Hong Kong’s DSE?

Analysis by the Post shows number of candidates outside regular school route achieving Level 5** rose sharply in 2025.

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More than a quarter of the 2,700 private candidates enrolled in the DSE through a special entry route in 2025. Photo: Handout
Education in Hong Kong

Internationalise Hong Kong’s DSE to help turn city into education hub: lawmakers

Lawmakers behind call say move will not harm local students’ interests, as non-locals should still be subject to university places quota.

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The Diploma of Secondary Education is Hong Kong’s university entrance exam. Photo: Handout
Education in Hong Kong

Hong Kong urged to quickly adopt residency rule for subsidised university spots

Concern group circulates petition calling for no transition, but authorities dismiss fears children of non-local talent will rush to take DSE.

Education in Hong Kong

Hong Kong sets up inspection team to tackle illegal tutorial centre operations

Secretary for Education Christine Choi vows zero tolerance on schools misusing third-party collaboration to offer unapproved courses.

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