"Primary reason for Rivalry": Exploring the preference of Mainland Chinese Students for DSE Over Gaokao in Hong Kong
An increasing number of mainland Chinese students, such as Leslie Wang Ziqi and Alexander Xu Mohan, are choosing to take Hong Kong's Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) university entrance exams instead of the National Higher Education Entrance Examination (gaokao). This shift is due to the perceived benefits of the DSE, which offers a less stressful, internationally recognised alternative with flexible, diverse routes for higher education and international career prospects.
Leslie Wang Ziqi, an 18-year-old student in Shenzhen, made the switch to the DSE as a private candidate at the beginning of his final year of senior high school. He found the DSE less stressful to prepare for and take, a sentiment shared by many mainland students. With his strong DSE results, Leslie aims to pursue a science degree at the University of Hong Kong (HKU).
The DSE's international recognition opens up more diverse higher education and career opportunities both in Hong Kong and abroad. This is attractive for mainland students aspiring to study or work outside mainland China. The exam is a strictly standardised test with ample publicly available study materials, making it convenient for self-study without formal classes, appealing to private candidates outside Hong Kong.
Hong Kong universities offer competitive admission standards based on DSE results, providing more varied pathways compared to gaokao's more rigid selection system. About 1,000 non-local students, mostly from mainland China, took the DSE this year, showing a rising trend fueled by the exam's recognition and Hong Kong’s welcoming policies towards private candidates from outside the city.
To prepare for the DSE, Leslie Wang Ziqi bought study guides from bookstores in Hong Kong and used AI tools to help him organise his notes. Another mainland Chinese private candidate, Alexander Xu Mohan, also scored a total of 28 marks in the DSE. Both Leslie and Alexander excelled in compulsory mathematics, physics, and the extended module of algebra and calculus, demonstrating the high calibre of mainland students choosing the DSE.
This year, at least two mainland Chinese pupils achieved flying colours as private candidates in Hong Kong's university entrance exam. Leslie Wang Ziqi scored 5* for compulsory mathematics, 5* for physics, 5* for the extended module of algebra and calculus, 5 for Chinese language, and 4 for English language. Alexander Xu Mohan scored 5* for compulsory mathematics, 5* for physics, 5 for the extended module of algebra and calculus, 4 for chemistry, 3 for Chinese language, and 4 for English language.
In summary, the DSE is becoming an increasingly popular choice for mainland students seeking a less stressful, internationally acknowledged alternative to the gaokao. The exam provides flexible, diverse routes for higher education and international career prospects, making it an attractive option for those aspiring to study or work outside mainland China.
Education and self-development can be achieved through the pursuit of a science degree at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), as demonstrated by Leslie Wang Ziqi, who excelled in the Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) exam and aims to study science there. For many mainland students, the DSE offers a less stressful and more internationally recognized path for higher education and personal growth, with diverse routes leading to various career opportunities both in Hong Kong and abroad.
