Tears streamed down her face as she learned of her results: 'F' for Chinese, English and accounting, and 'U', which means an unclassified result, for Chinese history, economics and mathematics.

'I didn't score one point, but I did make some improvement,' said Ms Tam, who made her first attempt in 2007.

'I took the public exam for the same six subjects and I got an F for English and U for all other subjects then. Though I feel disappointed about the result, I am glad I made the effort. I started taking drugs when I was 13 and stopped going to school. I attended so many rehabilitation programmes I lost count.

'If I had not been admitted to the college, I would never have had a chance to study again and sit for the exam. A chance to take the exam is already an achievement for me.'

But it was a daunting task for the woman diagnosed nine years ago with lupus erythematosus, a chronic auto-immune condition and blood disease. 'I am always on medication. It was difficult for me to focus, as the medicine has various effects on me.' Ms Tam said she would not resit the HKCEE.

'But that doesn't mean I will give up. I want to focus on one subject - accounting. I want to take the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry examination. I passed the first level after doing it three times. I want to try working on level two.'

College principal Alman Chan Siu-cheuk said of the rehabilitation school's 11 students who sat the HKCEE, Ms Tam was the oldest. 'It does not matter how many points she scored. We are happy to see her try hard to make up the time wasted in the past,' he said.