Multiple choice exams blamed

AN education concern group yesterday blamed multiple choice exams for the declining pass rate in the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE).

A spokesman for the Hong Kong Association for Continuing Education, Pauline Chow Lo-sai, said pupils had to cover the entire syllabus if they wanted to do well in the multiple choice section, which covers 40 per cent of the marks.

But some teachers and pupils did not get through the whole syllabus.

''Students have difficulties in answering since they have to memorise lots of stuff,'' Ms Chow said.

Pass rates for the HCKEE have been declining for the past few years. The latest results were released on Tuesday.

Ms Chow, who has been a history teacher for more than 20 years, said to prepare students for this section, teachers had to sacrifice the chance to go into detail.