Hong Kong students make a last-gasp effort to improve their A-level grades
English is by far the most popular choice as5,300 private candidates sit final A-levels
English was by far the most popular subject as A-level candidates made a last-ditch effort to improve their grades.
Of the 5,300 private candidates who sat the A-levels yesterday, 4,500 took Use of English, followed by Chinese Language and Culture with 1,200.
There were no school candidates this year. Last year, about 72,000 were school candidates and 1,000 were private.
These exams are mainly designed for students who want to improve previous grades. After the exams end on April 23, the A-levels will be replaced by the Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) started last year.
Students normally have to take part in the Joint University Programmes Admissions System offered by the city's nine institutions after taking the A-levels or DSE. But A-level candidates can apply to universities individually this year after the exam results are announced in July.
Candidates this year seemed much less stressed than last year. One of them was Euphoni Wong Ka-lee, now studying English at Chinese University. She sat English and Chinese in this year's exam. In 2011, she got a B grade for her English and a D for Chinese.