APPENDIX IV-Contd.
The Certificate of Education Examinations
5. 1973 is the last year in which the Chinese-medium and English-medium examina- tions, taken normally after five years of secondary education, are formally separated. 1974 will be the first year of the combined Hong Kong Certificate of Education. The process of making the question-papers identical in content will be spread over the next three or four years, in 1974 the first two subjects, Physics and Economic and Public Affairs, will achieve identity. This total combination of the former Certificate of Education (English) and Certificate of Education (Chinese) examinations presents considerable problems, and if carried through as thoroughly as now intended will rep- resent a very major achievement by any standards. Four factors deserve particular mention, the divergent academic traditions of Chinese and Anglo-Chinese schools, the divergent standards in the Chinese and English languages, the comparative scarcity of senior, experienced teachers who are completely 'at home' in both languages in their special field, and the lack in Hong Kong of generally accepted standardized Chinese terms in scientific and technical subjects. There are also practical problems: the combination of the two examinations means that the maximum number of candidates which it is necessary to accommodate simultaneously rises by about 10,000,-roughly from 45,000 to 55,000,―of whom only about 30,000 can be placed in school halls.
6.
While the examination is open to private candidates, and also to sixth-formers who wish to augment or improve their results, it is basically a school certificate. The introduction to the current regulations read, in part: "The examination is intended primarily to be a test of general education for students who have completed a recognized secondary school course of five years' duration. A Certificate of Education will be awarded to each candidate to show the standard achieved in every subject taken. The standard achieved in each subject will be recorded as one of eight grades of which A is the highest and H the lowest. An average candidate who has satisfactorily completed the approved course (normally 5 years) in a subject in a secondary school, might be expected to achieve grade E or above. The standard of Grades A, B and C in each subject is recognized by the University of Hong Kong, the University of London and some other overseas universities as equivalent to a pass at Ordinary Level in the examina- tion for the General Certificate of Education as conducted by the University of London." The numbers of entries in recent years have been:
1971
1972
1973
Participating Schools (Anglo- (Chinese)
Chinese)
School Candidates Private Candidates (Chinese) (English) (Chinese) (English)
95
268
8,174 33,704 1,248 6,978
96
:
298
8,052
34,818 1,801 8,994
95
304
8,164
35,683 2,001
8,785
Responsibility for the examinations rests with the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Board, a widely representative body determining general policy questions; practical operations are in the hands of Executive and Subject Committees serviced by the Exami- nations Division. Until 1967 it was necessary to fulfil certain requirements in order to be awarded a certificate; since 1968, no subjects have been compulsory and certif- icates of achievement are now awarded to all candidates. It is the policy of the Board, so far as practicable to provide examinations in all subjects requested by participating schools.
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