What topics does the DSE Maths Compulsory Part cover? The syllabus, assessment arrangements and revision direction from the curriculum documents
The DSE Maths Compulsory Part is one of the core subjects of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education. According to Education Bureau information, the Compulsory Part of the senior secondary mathematics curriculum was updated in December 2021, the Mathematics Curriculum and Assessment Guide (Secondary 4 to 6) was updated in December 2017, and the learning content of senior secondary mathematics is set out in the Supplement to the Mathematics Education Key Learning Area Curriculum Guide (2017). HKEAA information shows that the Curriculum Development Council and the HKEAA Public Examinations Board jointly approved the optimisation proposals for the Compulsory Part of mathematics in 2021; the optimisation measures began to be implemented in Secondary 4 in the 2021/22 school year and apply to the HKDSE from 2024 onwards. The HKEAA also sets an assessment framework for each HKDSE senior secondary subject and published candidate performance samples for the Compulsory Part of mathematics on 27 October 2025. On the Extended Parts, from the 2027 examination onwards, Section A of the M1/M2 papers will change from "short questions" to "simple short questions"; and from 2024 onwards, all eight UGC-funded universities treat M1/M2 as an elective subject. Students preparing for the examination should therefore rely on the curriculum documents and assessment framework that apply to their own examination year, not on second-hand notes. This article explains the scope and update dates clearly from the documents, and suggests comparing school progress against Sprout's Secondary 1 to Secondary 6 topic pages to check item by item what you have missed.
This article was put together automatically from official and organisation sources. Check the latest information from the organisation concerned.
- The Maths Compulsory Part is one of the HKDSE core subjects.
- The Compulsory Part of the senior secondary mathematics curriculum was updated in December 2021.
- The core subject optimisation measures began to be implemented in Secondary 4 in the 2021/22 school year and apply to the HKDSE from 2024 onwards.
- From the 2027 examination onwards, Section A of the M1/M2 papers changes to "simple short questions".
- From 2024 onwards, the eight UGC-funded universities treat M1/M2 as an elective subject.
- When checking topics item by item, use the year-group topic pages to check your grasp.
Where the Compulsory Part sits in the senior secondary mathematics curriculum
The Maths Compulsory Part is one of the core subjects of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education, alongside Chinese Language, English Language and Citizenship and Social Development. In other words, whatever you go on to study, this subject is within every candidate's examination scope.
Precisely because it is a core subject, the curriculum and assessment arrangements directly affect all candidates. When planning revision, parents and students should first establish what curriculum scope applies to their cohort, rather than gathering practice papers. For example, topics such as trigonometry, inequalities, quadratic equations in one unknown and simultaneous equations span the junior secondary and senior secondary stages of the Hong Kong curriculum; students should confirm on the topic page for their year group what has and has not been taught, rather than judging from memory.
Which official documents to look at
Education Bureau curriculum information shows that the relevant documents for the senior secondary mathematics curriculum include: the Mathematics Curriculum and Assessment Guide (Secondary 4 to 6), updated in December 2017; the Supplement to the Mathematics Education Key Learning Area Curriculum Guide: Learning Content of Senior Secondary Mathematics (2017); and the Compulsory Part of the senior secondary mathematics curriculum, updated in December 2021. The senior secondary mathematics curriculum explanations for Module 1 and Module 2 were updated in August 2018.
The names and years of these documents may seem trivial, but in practice they determine whether the textbooks, notes and practice papers you have correspond to the current scope. If a piece of material cites an older version than the current documents, you need to check it further rather than accept it wholesale. The curriculum documents also provide a suggested implementation timetable for the senior secondary mathematics curriculum, which schools usually follow when arranging their teaching.
- Secondary 4 maths topics, key points and examples
- Secondary 5 maths topics, key points and examples
- Secondary 6 maths topics, key points and examples
The 2021 optimisation proposals and the HKDSE from 2024
HKEAA subject information states that the Curriculum Development Council and the HKEAA Public Examinations Board jointly approved in 2021 the optimisation proposals for HKDSE core subjects, of which the Maths Compulsory Part is one. The optimisation measures began to be implemented in Secondary 4 in the 2021/22 school year and apply to the HKDSE from 2024 onwards.
The practical meaning for candidates is this: if your examination year is 2024 or later, the version you sit is not entirely the same as the arrangements before optimisation. Old question analyses and old-scope notes circulating online may not correspond item by item to the requirements of your cohort. Whether any material is usable should be judged against the curriculum documents and assessment framework that apply to your own examination year.
On that basis, students can check their grasp of each topic item by item. The table below lists some common topics and the corresponding year-group topic pages, for reference as needed; the specific official provisions for each topic remain subject to the curriculum documents.
| Topic | Corresponding year-group page |
|---|---|
| Quadratic equations in one unknown | Secondary 3 to Secondary 4 topic pages |
| Simultaneous equations | Secondary 3 to Secondary 4 topic pages |
| Inequalities | Secondary 4 to Secondary 5 topic pages |
| Trigonometry and trigonometric functions | Secondary 4 to Secondary 5 topic pages |
| Arithmetic sequences | Secondary 5 to Secondary 6 topic pages |
| Permutations and combinations | Secondary 5 to Secondary 6 topic pages |
| Binomial expansion | Secondary 5 to Secondary 6 topic pages |
| Mathematical induction | Secondary 5 to Secondary 6 topic pages |
| Vectors | Secondary 5 to Secondary 6 topic pages |
| Matrices | Secondary 5 to Secondary 6 topic pages |
The role of the assessment framework and candidate performance samples
Besides the curriculum content, the HKEAA sets an assessment framework for each HKDSE senior secondary subject, setting out the assessment arrangements for that subject. Students preparing for the examination should look at the curriculum documents and the assessment framework together; they play different roles: the former says what is learnt, the latter says how it is assessed.
The HKEAA also publishes candidate performance samples for the Compulsory Part of mathematics, which are candidate performance samples for the 2025 examination, published on 27 October 2025; candidate performance samples for Extended Part Module 1 and Module 2 were published on the same day. The purpose of such samples is to let candidates see how actual answers are presented, not to provide answers to memorise. When using them, you should first attempt the question yourself, then compare your presentation and steps against the sample, rather than copying it directly.
As for how the papers are divided into different parts, the proportion of question types in Paper 1 and Paper 2, and the distribution of multiple-choice and traditional questions, this article's source notes do not contain the relevant provisions; readers should consult the assessment framework directly. Likewise, rules on the use of calculators are subject to the assessment framework and the examination regulations, and should not be judged from hearsay.
Why this article does not list the Compulsory Part topics one by one
Many students searching for "Compulsory Part curriculum" expect a complete list of topics to tick off item by item. That approach is reasonable in itself, but whether a topic list is accurate depends on which document it was copied from and which version it belongs to.
This article's source notes cover only the names of the curriculum documents, their update dates, the year of the optimisation arrangements, and the publication date of the candidate performance samples; they do not contain the official provisions for each topic under each learning strand. If topic names were added here from memory, the content might not match the current documents, which would send readers' revision in the wrong direction. This article therefore chooses to state clearly what can be verified from the sources, and leaves the item-by-item checking of topics to readers using the official documents and the year-group topic pages.
Similarly, people online often compile lists of "non-foundation topics" or "common mistakes"; if such lists do not state the document and year they are based on, their reference value is limited. Rather than memorising a list of unknown origin, it is better to check the scope against the official documents, then use examples to check whether you can actually do the questions.
Optimisation measures for the Extended Parts M1/M2
Beyond the Compulsory Part, the curriculum documents also divide the senior secondary mathematics curriculum explanations into Module 1 (M1) and Module 2 (M2). Education Bureau information states that the Curriculum Development Council's Committee on Mathematics Education set up a dedicated committee in February 2023 to study arrangements for the Extended Parts; the HKEAA HKDSE Mathematics Subject Committee also made the relevant decisions at its meeting in September 2023.
The measures announced include: from the 2027 examination onwards, Section A of the Extended Part papers in the HKDSE Mathematics examination will change from the current "short questions" to "simple short questions". The relevant assessment framework was uploaded to the HKEAA website in July 2024. In addition, the medium-term measures involve studying the feasibility and effectiveness of dividing the Extended Part content into foundation and non-foundation topics.
In other words, M1/M2 candidates should watch not only the Compulsory Part but also changes in question types and versions of the assessment framework for the Extended Part papers. When preparing, distinguish what has already been implemented from what is still under study, so as not to treat ideas under study as established policy. As for which topics M1 and M2 specifically cover, this article's source notes do not list them; readers should consult the respective curriculum explanations for Module 1 and Module 2.
Extended Part results and further study requirements
Education Bureau information states that from 2024 onwards, for general entrance requirements, all eight universities funded by the University Grants Committee treat M1/M2 as an elective subject. This means that M1/M2 carry weight in university admission similar to other elective subjects, rather than being an extra burden beyond the Compulsory Part.
The same information also states that M1/M2 results can be accepted as one of the five HKDSE subjects at Level 2 in the minimum entrance requirements for associate degree and higher diploma programmes. For Secondary 4 and Secondary 5 students, this information helps when weighing up subject choices: whether it is worth taking on an Extended Module as well, and what practical role it plays in their later further study path.
However, individual institutions and programmes may still set more detailed requirements. Before choosing subjects, students should also check the latest entrance requirements of the programmes they are interested in, and confirm that the information they are using has been updated in line with the arrangements from 2024 onwards.
How to compare the curriculum scope against your own progress
A practical approach is to compare this school year's teaching progress against the part of the curriculum documents for your year group, confirming item by item what is "taught", "taught but not yet secure" and "not yet taught". When doing this, it is best to use the same version of the document as the baseline, to avoid referring to materials from different years at the same time.
For consolidation, you can use Sprout's Secondary 1 to Secondary 6 topic pages by year group; each page lists that year's topics, key points and examples. It is suitable for quickly checking whether a topic has been learnt and whether you can complete the examples yourself, not as a substitute for the curriculum documents. For parts not yet taught at school, mark them first; there is no need to rush ahead.
If you keep getting a topic wrong in the examples several times, note it on a short list, stating whether it is an unclear concept, a step error or a misreading of the question. Whether you study alone or seek help later, this list is more useful than a vague description such as "bad at maths".
- Secondary 1 maths topics, key points and examples
- Secondary 2 maths topics, key points and examples
- Secondary 3 maths topics, key points and examples
From primary to junior secondary: building the foundation for the Compulsory Part
The content of the Compulsory Part builds on primary and junior secondary mathematics. The Education Bureau's Mathematics Education Key Learning Area Curriculum Guide covers Primary 1 to Secondary 6; in other words, the whole primary and secondary stage belongs to the same curriculum system. Concepts such as fractions, decimals, percentages and ratios at primary level recur in junior secondary algebra and later in the Compulsory Part.
If students already find some foundation topics shaky in junior secondary, going back early to the corresponding year-group topic pages to redo the examples is usually less effort than remedying it in Secondary 6. Parents can first confirm, on the page for their child's actual year group, whether the foundation topics are secure, before talking about drilling exam questions.
This order also applies in senior secondary: confirming each year's topics item by item first, then doing mixed practice as needed, will identify real gaps better than burying yourself in exam questions from the start.
- Primary 5 maths topics, key points and examples
- Primary 6 maths topics, key points and examples
- Secondary 1 maths topics, key points and examples
Arrangements at school level: catering for diversity and creating space
The Education Bureau also provides Guidelines on Catering for Student Diversity and Creating Space in Senior Secondary Mathematics (2021) for schools to refer to when arranging the curriculum. For students, such documents help explain why teaching pace and extended arrangements may differ between schools, so there is no need to worry excessively if your school's progress differs from others'.
When comparing progress between schools or classes, parents should first understand how the school arranges teaching according to the guidelines, rather than judging simply by "fast" or "slow". What really matters is whether the child can complete the examples on the topics already taught by themselves.
When extra support is needed, how to view tutoring
Some students, after comparing the curriculum scope, find that certain topics remain out of reach no matter how often they reread the examples. At that point different forms of support can be considered: tutoring centres are mostly small-group or class-based, private tutoring and home tutoring are mostly one-to-one or small-scale, and online tutoring is not limited by location. Each form has its trade-offs, and fees and arrangements vary widely; it is best to understand clearly the class format and whether the materials match the current curriculum before deciding.
Whichever form you choose, a safer approach is first to list yourself the topics you have confirmed you are unsure about, then ask with that list in hand, rather than handing the whole subject to someone to teach from the beginning. If only individual topics need revisiting, you can also first use free online learning resources, such as Sprout's year-group topics and examples, to check whether you really need to pay for extra support. Sprout Classroom is a free Hong Kong maths learning website offering short courses from Primary 1 to Secondary 6, led by the cartoon online teacher Sprout; it has no tutoring centre, no human tutors, and is not recognised by the Education Bureau or the HKEAA.
- Maths tutoring guide: prices, how to choose, the 18 districts and online tutoring
- Learn maths for free: Primary 1 to Secondary 6 learning modes
Frequently asked questions
Is the DSE Maths Compulsory Part a core subject?
Yes. HKEAA subject information lists the Maths Compulsory Part among the core subjects, alongside Chinese Language, English Language and Citizenship and Social Development, so all HKDSE candidates must sit it.
What is different about the Maths Compulsory Part in the HKDSE from 2024 onwards?
HKEAA information shows that the Curriculum Development Council and the HKEAA Public Examinations Board jointly approved the optimisation proposals for core subjects in 2021, including the Maths Compulsory Part; the optimisation measures began to be implemented in Secondary 4 in the 2021/22 school year and apply to the HKDSE from 2024 onwards. Candidates should rely on the curriculum documents and assessment framework that apply to their own examination year.
When was the Compulsory Part of the senior secondary mathematics curriculum updated?
According to the Education Bureau curriculum document page, the Compulsory Part of the senior secondary mathematics curriculum was updated in December 2021; the same page also states that the Mathematics Curriculum and Assessment Guide (Secondary 4 to 6) was updated in December 2017, and the senior secondary mathematics curriculum explanations for Module 1 and Module 2 were updated in August 2018.
What changes are there to the Extended Part M1/M2 papers?
Education Bureau information states that from the 2027 examination onwards, Section A of the Extended Part papers in the HKDSE Mathematics examination will change from the current "short questions" to "simple short questions", and the relevant assessment framework was uploaded to the HKEAA website in July 2024. The medium-term measures also involve studying the feasibility and effectiveness of dividing the Extended Part content into foundation and non-foundation topics.
How are M1/M2 counted for university admission?
Education Bureau information shows that from 2024 onwards, for general entrance requirements, all eight universities funded by the University Grants Committee treat M1/M2 as an elective subject; M1/M2 results can also be accepted as one of the five HKDSE subjects at Level 2 in the minimum entrance requirements for associate degree and higher diploma programmes. The requirements of individual programmes remain subject to what the institutions publish.
How many parts are the papers divided into? How much is multiple choice?
This article's source notes do not contain the provisions on paper sections, the proportion of question types or the rules on calculator use, so they are not guessed at here. These arrangements should be subject to the assessment framework set by the HKEAA for HKDSE senior secondary subjects and the examination regulations, and you should confirm that the version you use applies to your own examination year.