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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.
The Chinese University of Hong Kong says 12 of this year’s top DSE scorers have received offers from the institution. Photo: Edmond So
Education in Hong Kong

34% of Hong Kong students win university, diploma spots under admissions system

Jupas office also notes total number of applicants increased by about 5.3 per cent year on year to 45,545.

Education in Hong Kong

DSE exam takers in mainland China face 220% jump in registration fee to HK$8,000

Education in Hong Kong

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

Education in Hong Kong

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

The SCMP looks at the options for DSE students whose exam results fall short of university entry requirements.

Students receive their results for the DSE exams. Photo: Jonathan Wong
Hong Kong

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

Shenzhen’s Pui Kiu College reports 87 per cent pass rate, while ASJNU in Guangzhou says its rate was 71 per cent, compared with 42.7 per cent for Hong Kong.

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.

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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.

A mother and daughter attend an event organised by a Hong Kong mall to cheer on students receiving their Diploma of Secondary Education exam results this year, on July 14, a day before results release day. Photo: Sam Tsang
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.

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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DSE top scorer Aiden Cheng at Wah Yan College, Hong Kong. Born with a congenital eye condition, the 17-year-old struggles to read words at a distance without tools or walking up close. Photo: Karma Lo

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.

Nineteen-year-old Chang Hoi-ku has achieved a score on Hong Kong’s university entrance exam that is high enough to apply for admission to an Associate’s Degree programme. She achieved the scores on the Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) despite living with cerebral palsy, hypertonia and paraplegia.
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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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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.

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.

Students sit the Diploma of Secondary Education exams in April. This year, 58,576 candidates sat the DSE exams, up by nearly 5 per cent from last year. Photo: Handout
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.

The “one country, two systems” framework featured prominently in the citizenship and social development exam paper. Photo: Sun Yeung
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.

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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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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Students at TICC Cunzhi Academy, a private school in Shanghai that offers the DSE curriculum and charges 136,000 yuan (HK$150,000) a year, are seen on August 10. Photo: Handout
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.

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.

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.

The new scheme will benefit students sitting the public exams next year. Photo: Handout
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.

Students receive after-school tutoring in Shenzhen on July 23. Beacon College offers DSE-related services on the mainland. Photo: May Tse
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.

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.

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.

Hong Kong’s Diploma of Secondary Education qualifications are recognised worldwide. Photo: Handout
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.

About 55,500 candidates sat the DSE exams this year. Photo: Handout
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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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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