Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education

The Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) will be the only public exam in Hong Kong for senior secondary education. By 2012, HKDSE will replace HKALE.

The University of Western Australia welcomes applications from students who have completed the HKDSE program. To be admitted to the University, you must:

  • satisfy the University's English language competence requirement by satisfactory performance in one of the English subjects detailed in the table below
  • achieve a sufficient number of points to be offered a place
  • satisfy any prerequisite subject requirements for your chosen course and major

Minimum entry scores

HKDSE students must meet equivalent entry standards to other applicants. The following table provides an overview of the points considered equivalent to various Australian Tertiary Admission Ranks.

HKDSE Points ATAR equivalent
14 75
15 80
16.5 86
17 88
17.5 90
18 92
19 94
20 96
22 98

Notes

  1. The Diploma must include 4 core and at least 2 elective subjects.
  2. Elective subjects must be either Category A or Category C subjects.
  3. Ranks on the HKDSE are calculated on the basis that:
    • 5**=6, 5*=5.5, 5=5, 4=4, 3=3, 2=0, 1=0 for Category A subjects, or
    • A*=6, A=5, B=4, C=3, D=2, E=1 for Category C subjects.
  4. Aggregate is calculated using the best 4 Category A or Category C subjects

Equivalent subjects

The following table shows HKDSE subject equivalents to WA Certificate of Education courses, which will satisfy course and major prerequisites.

WA COURSE HKDSE EQUIVALENT
English Core English Language; 4 or higher
Literature Literature in English elective; 3 or higher
Mathematics Applications Core Mathematics; Level 3 or higher
Mathematics Methods Extended Mathematics Module 1 (Calculus and Statistics); Level 3 or higher
Mathematics Specialist Extended Mathematics Module 2 (Algebra and Calculus; Level 3 or higher
Chemistry Chemistry elective; Level 3 or higher
Physics

Physics elective; Level 3 or higher

Physics component within the "Combined Science" elective; Level 4 or higher

Biology

Biology elective; Level 3 or higher

Biology component in "Combined Science" elective; Level 4 or higher