University of Hong Kong to give bonus points for admission to pupils who get top grades in their DSE exam subjects
- Under new system, pupils will gain between 0.5 and 1.5 extra points if they score Level 5, 5* or 5** in Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education exams
The city’s oldest university will implement a new scoring system next year to reward those who have excelled in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) examination, giving bonus points for top grades which may help students get onto their desired programmes.
The University of Hong Kong on Saturday announced the new bonus points system, under which applicants would gain between 0.5 and 1.5 extra points if they scored Level 5, 5* or 5** – the top grade – in DSE subjects.
Under the change, pupils would get an extra half point for every DSE subject they attained Level 5 in and one extra point for any Level 5* grade. Those who scored Level 5** would be awarded 1.5 extra points.
Previously, Level 5 was worth five points, 5* six points and 5** seven points. So for a pupil who achieved a Level 5 and 5**, their new score would be 5.5 points and 8.5 points respectively.
If pupils passed their exams with a Level 5 grade in six subjects, their new score would be 33 points instead of 30.
While the scheme was intended to further recognise and reward pupils for their academic achievements, Professor John Spinks, the director of undergraduate admissions, said the system could also help those who had not done so well in a subject.