fewer questions and tests as DSE slims down

Sophie Hui

The Chinese language oral exam will remain suspended for next year's Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education exam, and several other subjects will have their exam papers streamlined amid the pandemic.

The Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority yesterday announced the streamlined assessments for 12 exams in next year's HKDSE.

"The streamlining arrangements aim to release lesson time and enhance flexibility of teaching and learning for teachers and students," it said.

The arrangement only applies to candidates taking next year's exams.

The axing of the Chinese language oral exam marks the third year in a row it has been canceled, but the English language orals will resume after a two-year hiatus. The exam date has been tentatively scheduled for March 30 to April 8.

Candidates will answer fewer questions in the written exams for nine subjects, including business, accounting and financial studies, Chinese history, design and applied technology, economics, ethics and religious studies, geography, history and information and communication technology, as well as tourism and hospitality studies.

Practical exams for music and physical education have also been streamlined. There will be no performing test for music exams, while PE exam candidates need only participate in one assessment. The 1,609-meter physical fitness run has also been canceled.

In February, the authority announced that school-based assessments for 10 subjects would be canceled, including liberal studies and science subjects, while school-based assessments for four subjects, including Chinese and English languages, will be streamlined.

According to the latest timetable, the written exams for next year's exams will start on April 25.

Meanwhile, the Education Bureau said on Monday that the Territory-wide System Assessment, which had been suspended for two years due to the pandemic, will resume next year.

Written assessments for Chinese and English languages and mathematics for primary three students will be held on June 8 and 9, and the audiovisual and speaking assessments will be conducted on May 3 and 4.

For secondary three students, written assessments for the three subjects will fall on June 15 and 16, while the speaking assessments for Chinese and English languages have been scheduled for April 6 and 7.