Results of the final Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE) will be released Wednesday. Sixteen candidates achieved the highest standings with 10As while achieving five-plus standing in English and Chinese subjects. Another 41 candidates received 9As while achieving five-plus standing in English and Chinese subjects, according to data complied by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority.

A total of 122,387 candidates wrote this year's HKCEE. Among them, 58,699, or 48 percent, met the minimum requirements for Form Six admission. However, since there are only about 35,000 places available, about 23,000 candidates though qualified, must seek alternative means to enter higher education.

For top performers, among the 16 candidates obtaining 10As, 12 are female students and four are male students. 1,351 candidates received 4As or above results, and 26,583 candidates attained 14 points or above, varying slightly from last year's results.

Among day school students who make their first attempts in Chinese language, 6.6 percent obtained level 5, down from last year's 7.9 percent. Overall, 73.8 percent passed the subject, up from last year's 73.3 percent. For the subject of English language, 8.2 percent obtained level 5, up from last year's 7.8 percent. The pass rate for English language is 67.3 percent, down from last year's 68 percent.

Among candidates with special needs, 21 obtained 3As or above, with two male students awarded 8As.

Two candidates were caught cheating this year, down from 11 cases of last year. Their results on all subjects were cancelled.

2010 marks the last year of HKCEE after it has been around for 33 years. The academic structure will be shifted to "3-3-4" (e.g. a three-year junior secondary, three-year senior secondary and four-year undergraduate academic structure) from 2011. "As in previous years the HKCEE remains to be a qualification that is highly valued both locally and internationally. Based on our experience with the HKCEE and the HKALE (Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination), we are confident in preparing for the first administration of the HKDSE (Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education) in 2012," said Francis Cheung, secretary general of the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority.

Kwan Siu-kam, acting deputy secretary for education, recommended candidates not to repeat Form Five under the old curriculum, but to consider other options, like Vocational Training Council and Yijin Project, which provides training courses for practical skills.

China Daily

(HK Edition 08/04/2010 page1)