A-levels vs IB Diploma Program

Secondary Level examinations are subject to scrutiny from parents and students alike, and there is no shortage of opinions on which system works best.

We've published an article highlighting a few pros and cons of each, but we're still undecided.

If you have experience with either of these systems please share your opinions with other GeoSchool users, so both parents and students can make a better informed decision.

The problem is that Hong Kong has now done away with A'levels and has introduced a new exam called the HKDSE to replace both them and the HKCEE, which is more like the IB but perhaps not as rigorous. I think the article should have addressed this exam as well as it is also evaluated on the UCAS tariff, and is the exam most students in Hong Kong (including my son) will be expected to take. I believe it will be considered as on a par with UK A'levels.

Most school candidates take four core subjects (Chinese Language, English Language, Mathematics and Liberal Studies), plus two or three elective subjects in the HKDSE.

The HKDSE makes use of Standards-referenced Reporting of assessments. Standards-referencing aims at reporting candidates' results against a set of prescribed levels of achievement based on typical performance of candidates at those levels. For each of the levels, a set of descriptors has been developed that describes what the typical candidate performing at this level is able to do. Candidate's results indicate the standards achieved in terms of knowledge and skills regardless of the performance of the other candidates taking the same examination...

The results are expressed in terms of five levels of performance, of which 5 is the highest and 1 the lowest. The Level 5 candidates with the best performance will be awarded a 5**, and the next top group awarded a 5*. A performance below Level 1 will be labelled as "Unclassified".

Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority - International Recognition

For a comprehensive video series introducing the HKDSE click here.

According to UCAS tariff a level 5 on the HKDSE is equivalent to an A on the GCE A-level, level 3 is comparable to an E.

Students who take the HKDSE can expect exam results to be received at over 120 tertiary universities around the world. Many universities in the UK, Canada, Australia, US, mainland China and in Taiwan will accept HKDSE student's applications without asking them to sit further secondary level examinations. A complete list of these institutions can be found here.

A list of participating secondary schools in HK can be found here.

While this exam will not be widely administered in Hong Kong's International Schools results from the HKDSE will be accepted at many world class universities around the globe, as well as at all universities within Hong Kong.

Thanks. It's important as some of us non-Chinese do use the local system whether for reasons of integration or finance or both.