2025 HKDSE Analysis of results of candidates in each subject

The 2025 Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE) offered 23 Category A subjects, 18 of which were offered in both Chinese and English versions for candidates to choose from. The same marking scheme and grading standard were used for both the Chinese and English answer scripts for subjects with bilingual versions. The language used by the candidates in the examination is not printed on the certificate. Besides, there are 58 Category B subjects and 5 Category C subjects. Each candidate may enter for a maximum of 8 subjects.

Except for Citizenship and Social Development, achievements in Category A subjects are indicated by five levels (5, 4, 3, 2, 1) of which 5 is the highest and 1 is the lowest. The level 5 candidates with the best performance are awarded a 5**, and the next top group of candidates are awarded a 5*. Achievements below level 1 are designated as ‘Unclassified’ and are not recorded on the certificate. The results of Citizenship and Social Development are reported in one level, ‘Attained’. Achievements below ‘Attained’ are designated as ‘Unattained’ and are not recorded on the certificate.

For Category B subjects, assessment is undertaken by course providers. After moderation by the HKEAA, the final results are recorded on the HKDSE certificate. The results of Category B subjects are reported in three levels: ‘Attained’, ‘Attained with Distinction (I)’ and ‘Attained with Distinction (II)’, except for Applied Learning Chinese (for non-Chinese speaking students), the results of which are reported as ‘Attained’ and ‘Attained with Distinction’. ‘Unattained’ results are not recorded on the certificate.

Category C subjects (Other Languages subjects) are examined on stipulated language examinations provided by relevant official organisations, including the Diploma of French Language Studies (Diplôme d’Études de Langue Française) and the Advanced Diploma of French Language Studies (Diplôme Approfondi de Langue Française) provided by the Alliance Française de Hong Kong; the Goethe-Certificate (Goethe-Zertifikat) by the Goethe-Institut in Hong Kong; the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (日本語能力試験) by the Japan Foundation; the Test of Proficiency in Korean (한국어능력시험) by the National Institute for International Education in the Republic of Korea; and the Diploma of Spanish as a Foreign Language (Diplomas de Español como Lengua Extranjera) by the Instituto Cervantes in Shanghai. The language proficiency levels reported for Category C subjects are: A2, B1, B2, C1 or C2 for French, German and Spanish Languages (with C2 being the highest); N3, N2 or N1 for Japanese Language (with N1 being the highest); and Grade 3 to Grade 6 in TOPIK II for Korean Language (with Grade 6 being the highest). Achievements at or above the stipulated minimum proficiency levels are reported as ‘Pass’ at the respective level for French, German, Japanese and Spanish Languages, and as Grade 3 to Grade 6 for Korean Language. ‘Not Pass’ results are not recorded on the certificate.

This dataset includes the performance of candidates in each Category A, B, and C subjects.