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SCMP Reporter

Thousands of Form Five students will have to make do with buying mock papers from a youth group rather than being able to sit a warm-up examination.

  The Hok Yau Club, which has organised mock Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination for the past 13 years, said it had to suspend the tests because the Education Department would not sanction them this year.

  Last April, about 11,000 students took the mock exam at two universities and eight secondary schools. Candidates paid $40 to $65 per subject.

  This year, about 2,000 students have requested the mock papers. Students will pay $30 for Chinese, English and Mathematics papers.

  Chiu Yat-hung, director of the club's student guidance centre, said: 'Many students have phoned us and asked to sit the examinations.'   He said the club would survey students' wishes and try to get permission for the exams next year.

  Mr Chiu said Education Department officials would not back the mocks because they were 'an examination-oriented activity'.

 'Actually, the whole education system is examination-oriented. Students face great pressure and what we need to do is to lower that pressure,' he said.

  The club has held four seminars at Queen Elizabeth Stadium to give candidates advice about the exams.

  Speakers included teachers and representatives from the Examinations Authority.

 It has also teamed up with RTHK Radio 5 to produce a series of programmes on examination skills, broadcast at 9 pm every Tuesday.

  A telephone hotline for students will operate 7 pm to 9 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

  The club will also distribute examination guidelines to candidates.

 Mr Chui welcomed Education Department moves to streamline admissions to Form Six.

  Stages one and three of the five- part procedure will become half-day operations, reducing the time students with fewer than 14 points will have to wait before discovering their fate.

  'Basically, it is good to shorten the two stages. It will ease the anxiety of students who have less than 14 points,' Mr Chui said.

  Students with 14 points or more are allowed to apply to their own or linked schools at the first stage, and to other schools in the second round.

 'Students, no matter whether they have more or less than 14 points, should be allowed to apply to other schools once the first stage ends,' said Mr Chui.

 Those with fewer than 14 points can apply to their own or linked schools at the third stage, and to other schools at the fourth stage.

  Students who still fail to secure places can apply for central allocation at the final stage.



Mock HKCEE fails key test