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South China Morning Post
15-07-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
DSE 2025: How to mentally prepare yourself for results day
More than 55,000 Hong Kong students will receive their Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) exam results on Wednesday, a pivotal milestone that may trigger anxiety and also bring opportunity. Here are some useful tips to mentally prepare for the big day, along with a handy checklist of what to bring. Want to apply to a local university? Students who have applied through the Joint University Programmes Admissions System (Jupas) or Electronic Advance Application System (EAPP) and received a conditional offer can check to see if their DSE results meet the requirements. If so, they can complete admission procedures and then pay a reservation fee online. But students whose results fall short or who did not apply should be prepared to visit universities on results day for on-the-spot applications or interviews. However, some only accept online applications. Those trying their luck and applying to universities on site need to prepare the original and a copy of their identity cards, DSE transcript, school reports from Form Four to Form Six, other learning experiences, and student learning profile. Certificates for non-school competitions or extracurricular activities, a confirmation letter from institutions for conditional offers (if any) and a reference letter (if any) are among the necessary documents. Money for administration fees and a pen to fill in application forms will also come in handy. What to do if your DSE results aren't what you'd hoped for Planning to study abroad? Pupils planning to study abroad should bring these documents during their visit to an overseas exhibition – the original and a copy the DSE transcript, school reports from Form Four to Form Six and student learning profile. A certificate for language proficiency test and a reference letter (if any) are also needed. They also should not forget to bring water and a snack to manage stress and hunger. They can also pack an umbrella for unexpected weather and a phone charger, as they may need to contact someone or access important information on their mobile phone while they are there. Mental tips for pupils and parents Ken Fung, a clinical psychologist at Jadis Blurton Family Development Centre in Hong Kong, advised pupils to concentrate on what they could control and recognise that feelings of anxiety or excitement were normal. 'Take a moment to breathe deeply and recognise these emotions without judgment,' Fung said. 'The results are already set, so now, you need to shift your focus to how you'll respond, like planning next steps or discussing options with family.' According to Fung, it is also important for pupils to prepare for any outcome by envisioning both the best- and worst-case scenarios. He advised pupils to mentally practise staying calm and consider all their options, from applying to their preferred university to exploring vocational courses and even taking a gap year. Fung also suggested that pupils should engage in light activities on Tuesday evening to distract themselves before receiving the results. 'You can watch a movie, exercise, or hang out with friends to keep your mind from spiralling. You can also start packing what you need to make sure you have everything,' he said. Fung stressed that parents should stay calm and supportive. 'Many parents are likely [to be] feeling incredibly anxious. This stress is not just about worrying over their children's scores; it often stems from the weight of expectations,' he said. Former DSE top scorer publishes book of tips for tackling the Chinese paper Parents usually view exam scores as indicators of success or failure, which can affect their children's self-esteem. Fung said that for this reason, the way parents support their children on results day made a big difference. Regardless of the outcome, students needed to feel accepted and know that they were not alone. 'Let your child talk about their feelings without judging them, and ask how they're feeling about results day,' he said. Parents should also ask their children in advance whether they would like to check the results together or prefer to have some time alone. 'Let them know you're there when they're ready to talk and share the results,' he said. The psychologist also recommended that parents unsure about guiding their children on academic paths should familiarise themselves with post-DSE guidance services, such as Hok Yau Club's Student Guidance Centre and school advisers. 'Keep your options open' Secondary school teacher Liu Tin-yan urged pupils to keep all options open to stay mentally prepared. Before receiving their results, candidates can explore university websites to review alternative options in case their scores in certain subjects fall short of their expectations, according to Liu. 'At the very least, you won't panic or feel completely lost if they are not what you expected,' she said. Liu also reminded candidates that there was no single best road to success and that associate degrees and higher diplomas were both good pathways. 'Associate degrees are more general and can help you transfer to a degree programme, while higher diplomas may focus on practical skills or areas for specific careers that you are interested in. Pick the one that matches your future goals,' she said. Fung, meanwhile, said parents also needed to prepare for all scenarios and discuss other potential pathways. 'The DSE exam may seem like the most critical part of your child's journey, but we need to remind ourselves and our children that it's just one stage in life,' he said. 'These results aren't the only thing that determines a person's future success or happiness.' Regardless of the results, Fung said, it was important to celebrate and recognise the pupil's hard work in preparing for the exam by planning a relaxing activity, like a family meal or a walk. He said that during this time, parents should try not to talk about the results. They needed to remind their children how much they loved and accepted them. 'This will help them feel confident and resilient for what's next,' Fung said.
South China Morning Post
15-07-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong DSE: 16 students achieve perfect scores, highest in exam's history
Sixteen students have achieved perfect scores in Hong Kong's university entrance exams, the highest number in the programme's history and up from last year's 11, according to authorities. About 38.5 per cent of all Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) candidates, or 16,393 students, also attained the minimum entrance requirements for the city's eight public universities, up from 37.6 per cent, or 18,455 students, last year. Figures from past years indicated that about 12,000 of the 15,000 university places would go to DSE candidates who had applied via Jupas. Jupas is a centralised system for applying to pursue full-time undergraduate programmes. The remaining 3,000 are typically offered to those with non-Jupas qualifications, such as taking the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme. All DSE candidates will receive their results on Wednesday.
RTHK
10-07-2025
- Politics
- RTHK
Record stress levels ahead of DSE results: survey
Record stress levels ahead of DSE results: survey A survey by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (HKFYG) found over half of the 1,456 secondary students interviewed reported significant stress. Photo: RTHK With Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) exam results coming out next week, student stress levels have hit a record high since the pandemic, a youth group said on Thursday. A survey by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (HKFYG) found over half of the 1,456 secondary students interviewed reported significant stress. Among form 6 students awaiting DSE results, 52.9 percent reported they were highly stressed, a sharp rise from 41.7 percent last year and a record-high since 2020. Meanwhile, 57.1 percent of form 5 students preparing for upcoming exams also reported high stress levels. Andy Chan, supervisor of the HKFYG, said economic uncertainty and shrinking job prospects are weighing on young people's minds. "In 2020, there was Covid. It meant the whole of society, including students, encountered uncertainty. They didn't know what was happening... Compared to recent research, it's pretty similar because we don't know how the economy will go, will it rebound or steady as right now," he said. "We found that they feel pretty worried about whether they have good prospects after they make a choice in the Jupas [Joint University Programmes Admissions System], whether they will have a good job after they graduate." Chan also highlighted growing anxiety about artificial intelligence, with many students fearing their chosen study paths and potential careers could be marginalised or even eliminated by the time they enter the workforce. In response, he strongly encouraged students to develop contingency plans regardless of their exam results. Chan also said the HKFYG will enhance its support services next week to provide better assistance for students and parents navigating the stressful period.
South China Morning Post
07-04-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
DSE: 61% of eligible candidates get into Hong Kong public universities, down from 70%
Government statistics show that the success rate of eligible candidates who sat for Hong Kong's university entrance exam has fallen from 70 per cent in 2023 to 61 per cent. This number is despite changing the liberal studies core subject, which allowed more students to meet the minimum entrance requirements for the city's publicly funded universities. According to figures recently submitted by the Education Bureau to the Legislative Council, 19,262 candidates who took the Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) last year met the minimum requirement to get into the eight local universities. But only 61 per cent – or 11,837 candidates – received offers from varsities via the Joint University Programmes Admissions System (Jupas), a centralised system for those hoping to pursue full-time undergraduate programmes. The success rate for those eligible students dropped by 9 percentage points compared with 2023 – when 70 per cent of DSE candidates were offered places in the city's government-funded universities. 75% of non-local students at Hong Kong universities are from mainland China About 50,000 candidates sat the DSE in both 2023 and 2024. Last year, 1,356 more students met the minimum entrance requirement than during the previous year. There was a drop in the number of places available at the eight universities through Jupas, from 12,592 in 2023 to 11,837 last year. Liberal studies became one of four core subjects of the senior secondary school curriculum in 2009. It was replaced by citizenship and social development in 2021 – two years after the 2019 anti-government protests – following accusations that the curriculum was radicalising youngsters. Last year's DSE exams saw the first batch of students taking the new core subject, which only has two classifications in terms of grades – either 'attained' or 'unattained'. The new syllabus focuses on national security, identity, lawfulness and patriotism. Under the revamp, schools allocated more lessons for other core subjects, and students chose an additional elective. Non-Chinese students photographed after receiving high marks in the 2024 Diploma of Secondary Education exams. Photo: Sun Yeung Last year, the new core subject had a high attainment rate of 93.7 per cent among all candidates, a requirement by all public universities. In contrast, only 89.6 per cent achieved level 2 in the previous liberal studies subject, a minimum requirement to get into universities under the exam's seven-level grading scale. Ng Po-shing, a student guidance consultant of Hok Yau Club, said the new subject was generally considered easier than liberal studies. He said the lower success rate for eligible students to enter universities was mainly due to the scrapping of liberal studies, which freed up time for students to study other core subjects such as Chinese, English and mathematics. Ng said statistics from authorities showed more students achieved level 3 or above in Chinese and English, and level 2 or above in mathematics, which are requirements by the eight universities, resulting in more students becoming eligible to compete for places. 'It means students have to get better grades than before to secure places in the universities that they wanted, as more students now attained the benchmark,' he said. 'Only getting the minimum requirement did not help students to enter university [amid greater competition].' DSE 2025: English reading and writing exam surprised students with celebrity topic Ng added that universities would be 'definitely happier' as the academic performance of those seeking admission was better than before. Meanwhile, 146 non-Chinese students were admitted to the eight publicly funded universities via Jupas in the 2023-24 school year, a slight decrease from 149 the previous year. Starting from the 2024-25 academic year, the enrolment ceiling of non-local students at the eight universities for undergraduate programmes doubles, equivalent to 40 per cent of the number of places for local students. Under the new policy, the universities received roughly 82,000 applications for the current school year, a 15 per cent jump from the last one. Only 7 per cent of applicants were admitted. Of all applicants, 85 per cent were from mainland China, 12 per cent were from other parts of Asia, and 3 per cent were from other regions – figures similar to previous years.
South China Morning Post
04-04-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
61% of eligible DSE candidates get into Hong Kong public universities, down from 70%
The success rate of eligible candidates who sat for the exam to be admitted into Hong Kong's publicly funded universities has fallen from 70 per cent in 2023 to 61 per cent, government statistics show, even as the scrapping of the liberal studies core subject allowed more students to meet minimum entrance requirements. Advertisement According to figures recently submitted by the Education Bureau to the Legislative Council, 19,262 candidates who took the Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) last year met the minimum requirement to get into the eight local universities. But only 61 per cent, or 11,837, received offers from varsities via the Joint University Programmes Admissions System (Jupas), a centralised system for those hoping to pursue full-time undergraduate programmes. The success rate for those eligible students dropped by 9 percentage points compared with 2023, when 70 per cent of DSE candidates were offered places in the city's government-funded universities. About 50,000 candidates sat the DSE in both 2023 and 2024. Advertisement Last year, 1,356 more students met the minimum entrance requirement than during the previous year. There was a drop in the number of places available at the eight universities through Jupas, from 12,592 in 2023 to 11,837 last year.
