80pc of DSE candidates gripped with anxiety

Nearly 80 percent of candidates preparing for the upcoming Diploma for Secondary Education examinations experience anxiety, while 30 percent reported suffering from insomnia, a survey has found.

The survey conducted in March by the Hong Kong Educational Exchange Promotion Association, which involved 459 upcoming DSE candidates, revealed several concerns among students.

About 50,800 students will take the DSE exams this year, starting with the Visual Arts exam tomorrow. Notably, the introduction of the Citizenship and Social Development exam as one of the four core subjects, replaces the Liberal Studies subject.

The survey highlights that more than 60 percent of students lacked confidence in themselves, with almost half of them expressing concerns about their English exams.

Over 80 percent of students expressed anxiety about the DSE exams. Among them, one-third reported experiencing insomnia, 30 percent had an accelerated heart rate, and 20 percent admitted to sudden bouts of crying.

Students from two mainland schools in Shenzhen and Guangzhou are also eligible to take the DSE exams for the first time this year.

Over 90 percent of respondents expressed concerns that the increased number of candidates would intensify competition.

Despite the availability of 138 mainland universities and higher education institutions admitting Hong Kong students this year, 90 percent of the examination takers stated that they would not consider pursuing their studies in the mainland.

The survey revealed that around 60 percent of candidates were attending private tutorials in preparation for the university entrance exam, with 20 percent of them spending an average of HK$4,000 or more every month on such tutorials.

Even so, many candidates, including Daniel, expressed a lack of confidence in their DSE exams.

"I realized that my result is not only numbers but indeed an entrance ticket to universities," Daniel said.

"This has been a source of pressure that makes me anxious, as I don't have many chances, and any mistakes may make me miss the opportunity to get into my ideal university."

Spencer Lam Pak-kan, the spokesman for the Hong Kong Educational Exchange Promotion Association, said: "There are potential benefits of online teaching materials in enhancing students' efficiency during the revision process."

He explained that candidates can utilize online learning resources and past paper databases to alleviate stress and anxiety.

The online material can also be used for self-assessment and feedback, enabling students to monitor their progress while simultaneously helping to reduce anxiety levels.