‘Grandma’ candidates appear in DSE speaking tests, sparking online debate

Several older candidates appeared in the English speaking test of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination, sparking discussion online after students shared their experiences at different exam centers.

The speaking test began this week and will run until March 19, requiring candidates to take part in group discussions.

One female candidate said on social media that she was grouped with an elderly woman during the exam at Diocesan Girls’ School in Yau Ma Tei.

She claimed the woman repeatedly read from prepared material during the discussion and did not respond to other candidates, often repeating the phrase “save money.”

The student said the situation made her nervous as she was unsure how to respond during the exam.

In a separate post, a male candidate who took the test at St Mark’s School in Shau Kei Wan said he also encountered an older female candidate in his group.

He claimed that after the exam, the woman told him she had taken the test “just to try it out,” which frustrated him.

Some internet users initially speculated that the two students might have encountered the same person, but the candidates later confirmed they had taken the test at different centers and were in different groups.

According to the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority, there is no upper age limit for the DSE. People aged 19 or above in the examination year, or those who have previously taken the exam, can register as private candidates.