In 2016 a total of 68,034 students will be sitting the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) exam, including 57,036 day candidates and 10,998 private candidates. Private candidates are typically students who are repeating one or more papers from previous years. This compares with 61,136 day candidates and 11,932 candidates last year.

The vast majority of students (69%) have registered to set the four compulsory subjects plus two elective subjects. Of the remainder, 16% have registered to sit three elective subjects and 12% to sit one elective.

Economics continues to be the most popular elective subject with an entry of around 17,000 candidates, followed by Biology, Chemistry and Business/Accounting/Financial Studies.

The examinations will be held in April and results will be announced on 13^th of July.

Comment by Steve Corry, British Council Hong Kong:

The decline from 61,000 to 57,000 day candidates is expected, in accordance with the current decline in secondary school population in Hong Kong. UK institutions can therefore expect a small decline in the number of enquiries from Hong Kong compared with last year.

Institutions should avoid recruitment visits to Hong Kong in March and April, as students are busy with preparing for and sitting exams during this period.

When setting entrance criteria for HKDSE students it should be remembered that most students are sitting for two elective subjects in addition to the core subjects of English, Chinese, Mathematics and Liberal Studies.