Education in Hong Kong
Education in Hong Kong
Education and Manpower Bureau     HK Exam Assessment Authority
Primary Education         HKAAT     Secondary Education         HKCEE         HKALE (A-Level)         HKASLE (AS-Level)         JUPAS     Higher Education
English Schools Foundation     University Grants Committee     Grant Schools Council
Other Hong Kong topics
Culture - Economy Geography - History - Politics

The Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE, 香港高級程度會考), or more commonly known as the A-level, conducted by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA), is normally taken by senior students at the end of their matriculation in Hong Kong. In 2007, 36,608 candidates sat for the examination. 29,808 of them were school candidates and 6,800 were private candidates.[1]

The exam is conducted from March to May, and the results are routinely released in the first week of July. There are altogether 17 A-level and 17 AS-level subjects in the HKALE. AS-level is commonly known as Hong Kong Advanced Supplementary Level Examination (HKASLE). AS-level subjects are taught in periods of half the number compared to that required for A-level subjects, but they demand the same level of intellectual vigour. Most day school candidates take five subjects in the HKALE. Apart from Chinese Language and Culture and Use of English which are taken by almost every school candidate, and other language-related subjects, all subjects can be taken in either English or Chinese. The same standards are applied in both marking and grading; the instruction medium is not recorded on the results notices or certificates.

The results of the HKALE 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). The abolishment of fine grades used in 2001 and before (i.e. A(01), A(02), B(03), B(04), etc) was in force from 2002.

Grade E at the HK A-level or AS-level is considered equivalent to Grade E in their respective British GCE counterparts, although most agree it is significantly harder to obtain the equivalent grade in the HKALE. Grade B at the HK A-level or AS-level is sometimes considered equivalent to Grade A in their respective British GCE counterparts.

Background

Prior to 1993, students would need to choose among two university entrance examinations, the HKALE or the Hong Kong Higher Level Examination. The former originally led to a three-year course in the University of Hong Kong (HKU) at the end of Form Seven (Upper Sixth), mainly for students in English-medium schools. The latter led to a four-year course in the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), then operated in Chinese, at the end of Form Six (Lower Sixth) for students in Chinese-medium schools.

Later on, a majority of education authorities considered that the "dual-band" examination system had became practically unsuitable; and that a unified matriculation system would be urgently needed, as stated in a report presented to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development as early as in 1981. In the report, the "dual-band" system was found to be the crux that caused confusion and anxiety among Hong Kong students, in addition to the inevitably keen competition for tertiary places. (Hong Kong Education Department, 1981, p. 178)

Through considerable debates (Tang and Bray, 2000), programmes in CUHK switched to three-year systems as those launched in HKU in 1991. Consequently, the Hong Kong Higher Level Examination was abolished, and finally merged with today's HKALE. Advanced Supplementary Level subjects were also implemented at the same time so as to cater for different needs of candidates. (Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority, 2003, p. 4)

The Use of English Examination

This AS-level examination, which is commonly taken with the A-Levels, tests the ability of students to understand and use English at a level required for tertiary education. The UE examination was introduced in 1989 and it comprised of four sections. Since 1989 it tested students' listening, writing, reading and language skills; plus practical skills for work and study. Since 1994 the inclusion of a 20-minute oral examination was added.

There are five sections in the Use of English Examination (UE):

• Section A - Listening Test
  It lasts for 1 hour and is allocated 18% of the total subject mark. Candidates are required to follow what they hear to take notes or interpret pictures. The recorded exam material is broadcasted on RTHK Radio 2 and candidates have to use their own radios to listen. RTHK Radio 2 will broadcast a version of Ralph Vaughan Williams' Fantasia on Greensleeves played by the Sinfonia of London, conducted by Sir John Barbirolli before and during the intermissions of the test.
• Section B - Writing
  It lasts for 1 hour and 15 minutes and is allocated 18% of the total subject mark. Candidates are required to choose a topic out of four options and write an expository essay of approximately 500 words.
• Section C - Reading and Language Systems
  It lasts for 1 hour and 30 minutes and is allocated 18% of the total subject mark. The reading part consists of multiple-choice questions based on a passage taken from a publication. One third of the total mark of the entire paper is allocated to this section. Types of questions in the Language Systems part are multiple-choice questions on cloze passage and continuity. There are also matching, cloze summary and proof-reading exercises to test candidates' overall language skills.
• Section D - Oral
  It lasts for 20 minutes and is allocated 18% of the total subject mark. There should be a minimum of three candidates and a maximum of four candidates in each group. Candidates are given 10 minutes to read a passage of 300 words and prepare a presentation based on the passage which lasts no more than 2 minutes. After each candidate has given his/her presentation, the group is given two minutes to prepare mentally for a discussion which will last for eight minutes for 3 candidates and ten minutes for 4 candidates.
• Section E - Practical Skills for Work and Study
  It lasts for 1 hour and 45 minutes and is allocated 28% of the total subject mark. Candidates are given a situation, a role and 2-3 tasks to perform. They are given a data file containing information in various formats and with the data file, they are to select the kind of relevant information they need to fulfill the tasks required. Writing tasks involved may be a report, an article, a letter, a proposal or a newsletter.

A pass in the UE is essential in being accepted to any degree programme in JUPAS. Candidates for the UE include students with a pass in either English Language (Syllabus A) or English Language (Syllabus B)of the HKCEE. The difference between the two is Syllabus A paper is easier and is chosen by students who have studied in their mother tongue, that is Chinese, in all subjects.

Subject grade comparison between 2006 AS-level Use of English and 2004 HKCEE English Language (Syllabus B) and 2004 HKCEE English Language (Syllabus A) shows that out of the 9333 candidates who obtained grade D in Syllabus B 2004, only 1% failed in the 2006 UE whereas out of the 1085 candidates who obtained grade D in Syllabus A 2004, 95% failed in the 2006 UE.

Comment on the statistics: The statistics show very clearly the futility of sitting for the Use of English Examination if a candidate does not have at least a D grade in the HKCEE English Language (Syllabus B).

Comparison with IELTS

A survey was conducted to equate the results in HKAL Use of English and the International English Language Testing System by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority. [2]

HKAL	A	B	C	D	E
IELTS	7.41 - 8.30	6.92 - 7.40	6.51 - 6.91	6.03 - 6.50	5.40 - 6.02

The Chinese Language and Culture Examination

This AS-level examination is also usually taken along with other examinations. It assesses the ability of students in using the Chinese language and their understanding of Chinese culture. Introduced in 1993, the examination comprises tests in:

• Paper 1A - Practical writing (實用文類寫作);
• Paper 1B - Reading Comprehension (閱讀理解測驗);
• Paper 2 - Cultural issues(文化問題);
• Paper 3 - Listening (聆聽理解)
• Paper 4 - Oral Skills Assessment (說話能力測試); and
• Paper 5 - Reading of five books selected from the given book list (School-based Assessment).

Paper 1A - Practical Writing

The writing test lasts for 1 hour and 30 minutes and is allocated 20% of the total subject mark. Candidates are given information about a simulated situation and are required to finish a writing of more than 600 words or two writings of no more than 700 words in total.

Options of text types may be:

• a formal letter;
• a personal letter;
• a script of public speech;
• a featured topic article;
• an argumentative criticism;
• a report (on a case investigation or a project etc.);
• a proposal;
• a news article; or
• a minute.

Candidates must use the personal name(s) provided by the questions, or otherwise, use names listed below and adapt a surname to them freely: Ying-sau (英秀), Yat-sum (一心), Yau-ling (幼羚), Ka-po (家寶), Nim-chi (念慈), Sze-yin (思賢), Yau-yung (有容), Heung-wah (向華), Sau-duen (修端) and Wan-hang (允行).

Candidates may also use famous public figures' names when quoting their speeches or describing their stories. If candidates do not obey the rules of using names, they may suffer from a mark penalty. These rules are necessary for preventing candidates from using their own names and creating unfair situations.

Paper 1B - Reading Comprehension

The test lasts for 1 hour and is allocated 15% of the total subject mark. Reading comprehension can be:

• a 2-piece reading (usually one passage written in Classical Chinese whereas another in Vernacular Chinese, a language widely used after the May Fourth Movement);
• a speed reading--which could be:
• Type (1) usually contain seven to eight articles which are unrelated to each other,
• Type (2) three unrelated groups of articles (articles within the same group may have the same theme, and occasionally students are required to compare and contrast them),
• Type (3) four articles of the same theme, which again require candidates to make comparisons.

In 2005, a "new", "unprecedented" format, a 3-piece reading of which all articles are written in Vernacular Chinese was formularised. This change, however, stirred up much controversy among candidates. See below. The new format also demands candidates to have a high proficiency in comprehension and understanding of rhetoric or euphemism words and phrases.

Paper 2 - Cultural issues

This test lasts for 1 hour and 30 minutes and is allocated 25% of the total subject mark.

In paper 2, the HKEAA has recommended 6 articles as reading materials for reference. In fact, the authority never recommends candidates memorise all the contents of the suggested materials. Furthermore, a wide-ranging reading habit is highly appreciated at all times.

The questions of paper 2 are set based on the following suggested reading materials:

1. A Conversation with the Youth about Chinese Culture (Excerpt) (與青年談中國文化), T'ang Chün-i (唐君毅)
2. Passion and Chinese Culture (Excerpt) (情與中國文化), Wu Sen (吳森)
3. Traditional Science: Past, Present and Future (With Appendices) (傳統科學的過去、現在與未來), Liu chün-ts'an (劉君燦)
4. The Fundamental Essence of Chinese Arts (中國藝術的基本精神), Zhao Yongxin (趙永新)
5. Traditional Chinese Society (Excerpt) (中國的傳統社會), Ambrose Yeo-Chi King (金耀基)
6. The Raison d'être (人生的意義), Yin Hai-kuang (殷海光)

Paper 3 - Listening

The listening test lasts for approximately 45 minutes and is allocated 15% of the total subject mark. Like the UE listening test, the exam material is broadcasted on RTHK Radio 2. Before and during the intermissions of the test, Fantasia on Greensleeves is played. Material in Putonghua is also available in a form of cassette recording.

Candidates are required to answer questions as they listen to the material. Samples of questions are provided on the first two pages of the paper. Before 2003, candidates used to write sentences for answering questions. Since 2003, the questioning mode is simplified into multiple-choice type, ticking the correct answer and the "Fatal Four".

"Fatal Four" (奪命四式) is a name given to the question type, in which many candidates find difficulties answering. This type of questions requires candidates to indicate the correctness of the given statements regarding the listening material. Possible answers are "true", "false", "partially correct" and "cannot be determined". It was widely considered difficult because the answers are not often given clearly in the tape.

Controversy of new format

Since 2001, the HKEAA has decided on an across-the-board revamp upon the format of questions in the exam. These changes include the replacement of questions on prescribed texts with open-ended questions in the questions on culture paper. This was HKEAA's attempt to prevent candidates from note-memorising the suggested reading materials. This, however, was dismissed by a number of candidates as a move towards the subject turning out into a saliva subject (吹水科, Jyutping: Ceoi1 Seoi2 Fo1), in which candidates concentrate on writing large amounts of text, sometimes verbose, neglecting the actual contents.

The Cantonese slang is presumably derived from the word "吹水" (Jyutping: Ceoi1 Seoi2, lit. blowing saliva), as defined in Comparative Database of Modern Chinese and Cantonese Vocabulary, developed by the Chinese University of Hong Kong, which is equivalent to "吹牛" (Pinyin:Chūi Níu) in Modern Chinese([3]). The latter is defined in Lin Yutang's Chinese-English Dictionary of Modern Usage as "bragging" [4].''

In 2005, the format of the Reading Comprehension paper was changed from speed reading of various articles to fine reading of only three articles, without prior notice. The move stirred up much controversy from some candidates, some of whom teased the words, which featured in one of the comprehension texts (see here). The HKEAA reiterated its stance that there has not ever been a "specific" format for the exam, and thus insisted that there was nothing wrong with the paper.

Another event happened in the Listening exam of 2007, in which there was a part asking students to determine whether marked sentences were correct or not, based on the whole recording. There were 10 questions, carrying 2 marks each. In that part, if a candidate answered a question correctly, 2 marks were awarded but if he answered it wrongly, 2 marks were deducted. No marks were given or deducted for empty answers, though. If a candidate answered all the questions, with 5 or less being correct, he would end up having no marks for that section, but if he filled 5 boxes all being correct, he would have got 10 marks. This stirred up controversy among candidates, claiming that the marking scheme was not fair. They said that all questions were compulsory, so there should not be any advantage to those who left some of the blanks empty, by deducting marks for wrong answers. The HKEAA said that this system of marking had been in practice for years to prevent students guessing answers, but in fact, this type of marking had appeared only in table-type questions, in which candidates were required to tick some of the boxes in the table, but not in questions in which all blanks should be filled.

Criticism

The HKALE has been constantly criticised for its excessive difficulty in achieving good grades. For many subjects, only the very top students are awarded good grades.

In 2006, only about 0.6% of the candidates (199 out of 33129) attended the Use of English were awarded an 'A'.

1996 - 2007 HKALE Statistics of candidates' results in Use of English

	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
A %	0.9	0.9	0.9	1.0	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.7

For some AS-level subjects, sometimes the top grade is even not awarded to the candidates.

1996 - 2007 HKALE Statistics of candidates' results in Physics (AS-level)

	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
A %	1.8	0.2	0.5	0.4	1.8	0.1	0.5	0.8	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.3

List of subjects (2007)

Although the number of subjects offered is large, choices are still limited as each school is only able to offer a few subjects on the list due to budget constraints, restrictions on combinations of subjects as well as the actual time allowed to cover the large syllabi of different subjects. In addition, some of the subjects are not popular at all.

• Applied Mathematics A/AS ¹
• Biology A
• Business Studies A
• Chemistry A/AS
• Chinese History A/AS
• Chinese Language and Culture AS
• Chinese Literature A
• Computer Applications AS ²
• Computer Studies A ²
• Economics A/AS
• Electronics AS ³
• Ethics and Religious studies AS
• Geography A
• Government and Public Affairs A/AS
• History A/AS
• Liberal studies AS
• Literature in English A/AS
• Mathematics and Statistics AS ¹
• Physics A/AS ³
• Principles of Accounts A
• Psychology A/AS
• Pure Mathematics A ¹
• Use of English AS
• Visual Arts A/AS

1. Applied Mathematics and/or Pure Mathematics may not be taken with Mathematics and Statistics
2. Computer Applications may not be taken with Computer Studies
3. Electronics may not be taken with Physics

Future development

Should the proposed reform on senior secondary education be carried out, the HKALE would be abolished and merged with the existing Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination to form the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education examination at the end of the new, three-year senior secondary curriculum.

References

• Hong Kong Education Department (1981), http://www.edb.gov.hk/FileManager/EN/Content_689/edsys_e.pdf. Retrieved on May 14, 2005.
• Tang, Kwok-Chun and Bray, Mark (2000). "Colonial models and the evolution of education systems - Centralization and decentralization in Hong Kong and Macau". Journal of Educational Administration 38 (5), p. 482.
• Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (2003). Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination - Regulations & Syllabuses 2005. Hong Kong: Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority. ISBN 962-570-976-2

See also

• Education in Hong Kong
• Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination

External links

• The Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority
• Institute of International Education - Information on HKALE
• Middle Age is Tea-time (中年是下午茶 by (董橋) (The controversial article that came up with complaints from the candidates in 2005.)
• Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination Result (2007)