Hong Kong Secondary and Tertiary Education

Education

Following six required years at primary school, the nine years of compulsory education is fulfilled with three additional years of enrollment in the junior secondary grades, Form 1 – 3.  After junior secondary is two optional years of senior secondary education, known as Forms 4 and 5; and for those who pursue a tertiary degree, Forms 6 and 7 are meant to be preparatory years before entering one of Hong Kong’s three-year undergraduate programs.

The later part of this system is due to change soon – by 2012, senior secondary school will only go as high as Form 6 and undergraduate degrees will follow a four-year format.

Secondary Education

The secondary level of education is divided into three stages:  junior secondary, which is a foundation stage, senior secondary, which prepares students for the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Exam (HKCEE), and two years of university preparation that help students prepare for the Advanced Level Exam and university admission.

As mentioned above, this seven-year layout will be condensed into a six years with both junior and senior secondary programs being three years each and the compulsory exams will be changed.

Junior secondary education, like primary schools, offers a wide range of subjects.  Students are not yet required to choose a specialized track of study, but continue to build their foundation knowledge.  As these are the last three years of compulsory education, a high attendance percentage is mandatory.

Senior secondary, starting with Form 4, is optional, though very few students drop out of school at this stage.  This is the point where students select a specific educational track; choices include the Arts, Commercial, or Science.

Within each of these tracks, Mathematics, Physical Education, Chinese, and English remain mandatory.  The main focus of study for these two years is to prepare for the HKCEE, which is taken in the final quarter of Form 5 and will determine Form 6 placement.

Form 6 and 7 prepare students for the Hong Kong Advanced Level examinations, which are taken in the middle of the Form 7 school year.  Students must excel in both Chinese and English testing in order to meet the requirements for being admitted to local or overseas universities.

The HKCEE and Advanced Level examinations generally do not apply to international students as international schools follow either the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum or testing formats from their own country – such as the SAT or IELTS.

Tertiary Education

Hong Kong has eight accredited universities, many of which are gaining popularity and rank on the international stage – especially the University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

Additionally, a number of tertiary institutions without the university status are in place to provide the opportunity for continuing education to fresh secondary school graduates as well as adults. Students enrolled in Hong Kong’s tertiary education programs can obtain a variety of credentials ranging from diplomas to post-graduate degrees.

Hong Kong University, where places are fiercely contested. Photograph by Rebecca Mack.