APPENDIX IV—Contd.
15. The examination is primarily for university entrance purposes, but it is increas- ingly assuming the role of a public examination, i.e. for school leaving and employment purposes.
16. The examination is recognized by the examining Boards of London, Bristol, Oxford, Trinity College of Dublin and by the Joint Matriculation Board as equivalent to their own. The Scottish Board recognizes it as O Level equivalent only at this stage. Most Universities in England, United States, Canada and Australia will admit individual candidates with Hong Kong University A Level however.
17. To quality for entrance to the examination, a candidate must have taken a Hong Kong Certificate of Education at least 18 months previously, in which he shall have passed in at least 5 subjects, to include English and 2 subjects at Grade C or above. Equivalents to the Hong Kong Certificate of Education are recognized (e.g. the General Certificate of Education). Pupils normally take the H.K.U. A Level examination after two years study in the 6th Form.
18. To qualify for University entrance, minimum requirements are:
(a) have taken the Use of English paper of the A Level Board;
(b) have obtained either 3 A Level passes, or 2 A Level passes and the equivalent of
0 Level passes in two further subjects;
(c) have obtained at Hong Kong Certificate of Education
(i) a pass in a second language
(ii) a pass in 1 Arts subject
(iii) a pass in 1 Science subject
There are additional faculties requirements.
19. The examination is self-financing and yields a profit after repayment to the University for facilities afforded.
20. The fees to students are:
(i) $25 entrance fee ($30 from 1974);
(ii) $40 per subject ($45 from 1974);
(iii) a variable fee for practical examinations (increased from 1974).
Financial Arrangements
21. Government meets the general administrative costs of the Secondary School Entrance Examination and Certificate of Education entirely, and the ad hoc professional costs (of setters, moderators and examiners) partially; while the full economic costs, both local and overseas, of external examinations are passed on to the candidates. Thus the entry fee for the S.S.E.E. is $2 for the whole examination, while that for the Certificate of Education is $15 plus $2 per subject, making a maximum total of $33 for nine subjects. There is provision for remission in case of need. There are, in general, payments for setting, moderating and marking these examinations, but not (unlike external examinations) for invigilating. In the case of the S.S.E.E., however, the payment to markers is limited to a sum intended to cover out-of-pocket expenses ($10 per day for students or per half-day for teachers).
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