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SCMP Reporter

CHINESE language gets a big boost in this year's Advanced-level (A-level) Examination with more than 20,000 candidates signing up for the subject.

  The number of candidates is the highest ever recorded for a Chinese language subject in the A-level exam. It is also the second most popular exam subject this year.

  Chinese Language and Culture is a new Advanced Supplementary-level (which is a part of the A-levels) core subject and is regarded as compulsory for most secondary schools since almost all tertiary institutions have included a pass as a minimum entry requirement for the next academic year.

  AS-level subjects, introduced in 1992 for Form 6 students to broaden the curriculum, will for the first time be included in this year's A-level exam.

  According to the Examinations Authority, 26,088 candidates (including nearly 23,000 school candidates) have signed up for the 20 A-level and 17 AS-level subjects. The number is an increase of 18 per cent over last year's.

  The most popular subject, as in previous years, is Use of English; over 25,700 students will take the paper.

  But this year, following Use of English is Chinese Language and Culture instead of Physics.

  The new AS-level subject has attracted 22,386 candidates, compared with 5,218 candidates (23 per cent of the total number of candidates) who last year signed up for Chinese Language and Literature.

  This year Chinese Language and Literature has been renamed Chinese Literature and has over 4,700 candidates.

  Toi Shan Association College principal Fung Chi-wah said his school made Use of English and Chinese Language and Culture compulsory for all Forms 6 and 7 students.

  ''This is to ensure students will not miss the opportunity to enter universities and other tertiary institutions, which have made the subjects an entry requirement,'' said Mr Fung.

  The University of Hong Kong, for example, requires an applicant to obtain a Grade D or above in Use of English, and a pass in Chinese Language and Culture.

  Mr Fung said the school also offered Chinese Literature and Liberal Studies for students to choose from as ''passes in the subjects are considered by some institutions as equivalent to pass in Chinese Language and Culture''.

  The Examinations Authority's figures also showed that among the newly introduced AS-level exam subjects, the least popular are Art (23 candidates), Design and Technology (34 candidates) and Sociology (72 candidates).



More sign up for A-level subject