Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination

The HKALE is conducted from March to May, and the results are routinely released in the first week of July. There are altogether 19 A-level and 20 AS-level subjects in the HKALE. 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 5 subjects in the HKALE. Apart from Chinese Language & 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 of an A-level or AS-level result is equivalent to grade E in its GCE counterparts, although most agree the standard of HKALE is much higher, having a greater difficulty to get the same grade.

Background

Prior to 1993, students would choose among two university-entrance examinations, the HKALE and 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.

It was latter found by education authorities that this had became unsuitable, that a unified matriculation system would be needed, as early as 1981 in a report presented to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. In the report, the "dual-band" system was found to cause confusion and anxiety among Hong Kong students, in addition to the inevitable fierce competition for tertiary places among them. (Hong Kong Education Department, 1981, p. 178)

Through considerable debate (Tang and Bray, 2000), programs in CUHK switched to three-year systems as the ones in HKU in 1991. Consequently, the Hong Kong Higher Level Examination was abolished and merged with today's HKALE. Advanced Supplementary Level subjects were also added at the same time. (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. Since 1989 it has consisted of tests of listening, writing, reading and language systems, and practical skills for work and study. Since 1994 it has included a 20-minute oral examination.

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 Chinese and their understanding in Chinese culture. Introduced in 1993, the examination comprises tests in practical writing (paper 1A), reading comprehension (paper 1B), cultural understanding (paper 2), listening (paper 3), speaking (paper 4). Five compulsory book reports, done as coursework, also counts in the examination as one separate paper (paper 5).

And the content of paper 2 is based on the following mandated reading materials in the textbooks:

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. Fundamental Essence of Chinese Arts (中國藝術的基本精神), Zhao Yongxin (趙永新)
5. Conventional 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)

From 2001 onwards, the HKEAA has been engaged in rapid changes in the format of the exam. These changes include the replacement of questions on prescribed texts with open-ended questions in the paper of cultural understanding. By doing so, the HKEAA attempts to prevent candidates from rote-memorising the mandated reading materials. Such move, however, was criticised by some candidates as a move towards "saliva-pouring" (口水科), by which candidates would answer in a way so as to appease markers. (For more information on the definition of "saliva-pouring", refer to "Tong shi, tong shi", the 12 February 2005 episode of News Magazine, produced by Television Broadcasts Limited, Hong Kong)

In 2005, the format of paper 1B (reading comprehension) was changed from speed reading of various articles to fine reading of only three articles, without prior notice. The move stirred up protests from some candidates, some of whom played on the phrase "stirring, brewing, squeezing" (攪切搾) which came up on one of the articles, Being Middle Age is Afternoon Tea (中年是下午茶) by Tung Ch'iao (董橋). The HKEAA reiterated its stance that there has not ever been a "specific" format for the exam, thus, insisted there was nothing wrong with the paper. An article with the title of the pun appeared briefly on Chinese Wikipedia, and swiftly removed by administrators after holding a vote.

List of the subjects (2005)

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, with further restrictions on combinations.

• Applied mathematics A AS ¹
• Art A AS ²
• Biology A
• Business studies A
• Chemistry A AS
• Chinese history A AS
• Chinese language and culture AS
• Chinese literature A
• Computer applications AS ³
• Computer studies A ³
• Design and technology AS
• Economics A AS
• Electronics AS ⁴
• Engineering science A ⁴
• 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
• Music A AS
• Physics A AS
• Principles of accounts A
• Psychology A AS
• Pure mathematics A ¹
• Use of English AS

1. Applied Mathematics and Pure Mathematics may not be taken with Mathematics and Statistics
2. To be renamed to Visual Arts in 2006
3. Computer Applications may not be taken with Computer Studies
4. Electronics and Engineering Science 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 for Secondary Education examination at the end of the new, three-year senior secondary curriculum.

References

• Hong Kong Education Department (1981), The Hong Kong Education System. Retrieved 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