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South China Morning Post
4 days ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
Super scorers in Hong Kong's DSE exams share the secrets of their success
On Wednesday, more than 55,000 Hong Kong students received their results for the Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE), the city's university entrance exam. Sixteen top scorers from 14 schools achieved the perfect 5** grades in six subjects, with 10 of them becoming 'super top scorers' excelling in the extended module. Here, they share their insights and tips on how to excel in the DSE. 14 years of Hong Kong's DSE 1. Time management and self-discipline Norris Kung Yan-long, 18, a super top scorer from St Paul's Co-educational College who studied physics, chemistry, economics and mathematics extended module 2 (M2), said that self-discipline, having goals and setting a target were the most important factors in achieving his grades. 'Rest is necessary, but you should also define your timetable and know when to study. There must be a goal set on how much to cover, or perhaps, which topics you are not as familiar with, and do targeted revision based on that,' Kung added. Ian Yau Pok-yan, a top scorer from Cheung Chuk Shan College said making good use of 'scattered time' was important. 'When you have a lot to do, it is important to make good use of your free time, which helps with studying and internalising knowledge you learned,' said Yau, who used to stay at school for revision after extracurricular activities. Top scorer Ian Yau from Cheung Chuk Shan College. Photo: Eugene Lee 2. Find a study method that suits you Calvin Wong Ka-yeung, a super top scorer in the three sciences and M2 from St Paul's Co-educational College, said he believed that everyone had their own style of studying, and that it was worth it to spend time discovering what yours was. 'You should discover your own path to face the DSE as opposed to blindly following online guides,' Wong suggests. 'Making my own notes particularly helped in subjects requiring heavy memorisation.' Sunny Wong Wang-chi, 17, a 'super top scorer' from Po Leung Kuk Tang Yuk Tien College, on the other hand, recommended active recall and spaced-out repetition, as both helped in terms of memory retention. He advised students to try different study methods for themselves, as 'which method is the best depends on the student'. DSE 2025: 11 of 16 top scorers plan to study medicine in Hong Kong 3. Passion and a positive mindset Kung pointed to his passion and understanding of the road ahead to be a major motivator in his academics. Fellow super top-scorer Adrian Jung Yeon-jee from St Paul's Co-educational College said that comparing yourself with others was unproductive as it could distract you from your goals and have an emotional impact on your studying. 'Focus on comparing the current you to the past you and start thinking 'how do I improve and achieve better than before',' Jung said. From left: Norris Kung, Calvin Wong and Adrian Jung, top scorers at St Paul's Co-educational College. Photo: Edmond So 4. Implementation of up-and-coming technologies At least nine out of 16 top scorers this year have said they employed AI tools to help with their preparation for the exam, although they also said they remained cautious and avoided relying too much on it. Caron Fung Yuet-kiu, a top scorer at the True Light School of Hong Kong, said she used some AI tools for Chinese writing inspiration and even for English speaking practice. Wang Yuen-ting, a top scorer from Hong Kong Taoist Association Tang Hin Memorial Secondary School, said she would insert multiple choice questions into ChatGPT to get the AI system to analyse each option and explain why she got the question wrong. DSE 2025: What to do if you're disappointed with your results 5. Keeping tabs on current affairs Some high achievers also highlight the importance of keeping tabs on current affairs apart from sticking to their textbooks. Wang says she watched TV newscasts during her daily commute to understand international current affairs which helped her 'think outside of the box'.
South China Morning Post
5 days ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
DSE results not the only path to success for Hong Kong students
One exam does not make or break one's life. That is the lesson Hong Kong youngsters can take away after they were informed of their scores in the notoriously competitive exam for higher education yesterday. The door to a good future does not close because of failure to get into university. This is especially true as technology and innovation continue to break new ground outside traditional study and career paths. As in the past, there are bound to be more losers than winners. Only about 38.5 per cent of 42,795 Diploma of Secondary Education day school candidates, or 16,393 students, attained the minimum entrance requirements for the eight public universities, up from 38.4 per cent, or 15,629, last year. The competition for admission is likely to be slightly more intense this year. Understandably, attention was drawn to the record number of students with perfect scores, including an 'ultimate top scorer' from a school that is not traditionally considered elite. Wang Haibo of Hong Kong Chinese Women's Club College finished with 5**, the highest score, in four electives, three core subjects and the extended maths module, the first to accomplish the feat since 2018. Also, 15 top scorers from 14 schools achieved a perfect 5** across six subjects this year. Of those, 10 of them were 'super top scorers', as they also earned a 5** for the extended elective maths module. Their success stories are a source of inspiration for students and the wider society. Earlier this year, 37 Hong Kong students achieved top marks in the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme . Of the 2,600 students who opted for IB instead of DSE, about one-third attained near-perfect or full marks. It is good that some want to continue studying in local universities, saying they feel a sense of duty to serve the city. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said there were many options for youngsters and that every attempt would be an opportunity for success and learning. Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin said students need not pursue a single route, referring to a variety of higher education options. There is more to life than just a university education. Learning from the experience, be it success or failure, will help youngsters prepare for more challenges to come.
South China Morning Post
5 days ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
A record of 16 students achieve perfect scores in Hong Kong's university entrance exams
Read more: Over 55,000 secondary school students received their results for the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE), a university entrance examination, on July 16, 2025. There are a total of 16 top scorers from 14 schools, with a male student achieving the highest results among the batch after securing 5**, the highest grade, for four electives, three core subjects and the extended maths module, in addition to an attained grade in citizenship and social development.
