What Counts as a "Pass" in the HKDSE? The Difference Between Attaining the Standard, JUPAS and Entry Requirements
The Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE) has no unified "pass mark"; results are reported in levels, not scores. For Category A subjects other than Citizenship and Social Development, candidates' performance is reported in five levels (Levels 1 to 5), with Level 5 being the highest. The best performers may be awarded Level 5**, the next best Level 5*, and performance below Level 1 is "Unclassified". Citizenship and Social Development has only one level, "Attained", and results below this are marked "Not Attained". A so-called "pass" usually means meeting a certain threshold for further study or employment. The most commonly heard is the basic entry requirement for the four core subjects, "332A": Level 3 in Chinese Language and English Language, Level 2 in Mathematics Compulsory Part, and "Attained" in Citizenship and Social Development. The minimum entry requirement for sub-degree programmes is Level 2 in five subjects (including Chinese Language and English Language). Category B Applied Learning subjects are reported as "Attained" and "Attained with Distinction", with mappings for certain purposes. From the 2025 HKDSE onwards, Category C other language subjects require candidates to sit the specified language examinations. Different institutions and programmes may set their own requirements, and candidates should rely on the entry requirements published by the institutions.
This article was put together automatically from official and organisation sources. Check the latest information from the organisation concerned.
- The HKDSE reports results in levels and has no unified "pass mark".
- Category A subjects are reported in Levels 1 to 5; above Level 5, Level 5* and Level 5** may be awarded, and below Level 1 is "Unclassified".
- Citizenship and Social Development has only "Attained", with "Not Attained" below it.
- "332A" is the basic entry requirement for the four core subjects and is eligibility to apply.
- The minimum requirement for sub-degree programmes is Level 2 in five subjects (including Chinese and English).
- From the 2025 HKDSE onwards, Category C other language subjects require candidates to sit specified language examinations; individual institutions may set additional requirements, so rely on institutional publications.
The HKDSE has no "pass mark", only levels
Many students and parents ask "how many marks count as a pass in the HKDSE", but HKDSE results are not reported as scores. According to the HKEAA's reporting system, for Category A subjects other than Citizenship and Social Development, candidates' performance is reported in five levels (Levels 1 to 5), with Level 5 being the highest. In other words, what you see on the results slip is a level, not a score line you can compare against.
Within the same subject, Level 5 is further subdivided: the best performers may be awarded Level 5**, the next best Level 5*, and the rest Level 5. Performance below Level 1 is "Unclassified". So rather than looking for a "pass line", it is better to understand what the levels mean and then check them against the requirements of the programme you want to apply for.
Citizenship and Social Development: only "Attained" and "Not Attained"
Citizenship and Social Development is reported differently from other Category A subjects: it has only one level, "Attained", and results below "Attained" are marked "Not Attained". This means there is no Level 1 to 5 distinction in this subject; students only need to focus on whether they achieve "Attained".
Because this subject has only two possible outcomes, "Attained" and "Not Attained", its role in entry requirements is different: it does not count towards level ranking but appears as an "Attained" threshold. Understanding this helps students allocate revision time and avoid thinking they need to chase a high level in this subject as they do in others.
The most commonly heard threshold: what is "332A"?
From the 2024/25 academic year admissions onwards, the basic entry requirement for the four core subjects in the HKDSE is "332A", meaning "332" plus "Attained". Specifically, candidates who achieve Level 3 in Chinese Language and English Language, Level 2 in Mathematics Compulsory Part, and "Attained" in Citizenship and Social Development are eligible to apply for undergraduate programmes at universities and institutions funded by the University Grants Committee.
So "332A" is the basic threshold for eligibility to apply, not a guarantee of admission. It states which subjects need which levels, but not the score requirements of individual programmes. Students should understand "332A" as a "minimum entry ticket", not as "meeting it means you are certain to get in".
Minimum entry requirements for sub-degree programmes
The minimum entry requirement for sub-degree programmes (including associate degree and higher diploma programmes) is Level 2 in five HKDSE subjects (including Chinese Language and English Language). Compared with the "332A" requirement for undergraduate programmes, the sub-degree route has different level requirements and a different number of subjects counted.
One point worth noting in maths: Level 2 in the Mathematics Extended Part is accepted as one of the five subjects for the minimum entry requirement. If those five subjects include Citizenship and Social Development or an Applied Learning subject, the minimum entry requirement is "Attained" in the relevant subject. These details show that subject combinations directly affect eligibility, and students should not focus on a single subject alone.
How "Attained" in Category B Applied Learning subjects is converted
Category B Applied Learning subjects are reported in three levels: "Attained", "Attained with Distinction (I)" and "Attained with Distinction (II)" (except Applied Learning Chinese (for non-Chinese speaking students)). These names differ from Levels 1 to 5 in Category A subjects, but they can be mapped for certain purposes.
According to the HKEAA, the performance level of "Attained with Distinction (I)" is equivalent to Level 3 in a Category A HKDSE subject, while "Attained with Distinction (II)" is equivalent to Level 4 or above. In addition, for civil service appointments, the Civil Service Bureau accepts "Attained" in an Applied Learning subject as equivalent to Level 2 in a Category A HKDSE subject, and "Attained with Distinction" as equivalent to Level 3. These conversions apply only to specified purposes and do not mean that all institutions use the same mapping.
Category C other language subjects: arrangements from the 2025 HKDSE onwards
Category C other language subjects are arranged differently from Categories A and B. From the 2025 HKDSE onwards, candidates for Category C other language subjects must sit the specified language examinations held in Hong Kong by the relevant official examination providers. This means candidates do not sit only papers set by the HKEAA but take language examinations from the specified providers.
This arrangement is relevant to the discussion of a "pass" because how Category C results are reported and used for further study or employment depends on the results of the relevant specified examinations. Students should first understand the examination arrangements for the language subject they have chosen and rely on the latest information published by the HKEAA and the relevant bodies.
The idea behind reporting: standards-referenced
HKDSE levels are not based on ranking candidates by a fixed percentage; they use a standards-referenced reporting system. The HKEAA has produced an animated short video explaining the HKDSE standards-referenced reporting system, including the Level 1 to 5** mechanism. The key point of this approach is to describe "what standard a candidate has reached", not "how many people they have beaten".
For students, the meaning of standards-referenced reporting is that a level represents a set of performance standards, not a score line that shifts from year to year. So rather than asking around about "how many marks count as a pass this year", it is better to compare yourself against the abilities described for each level and identify where you are now and the gap to the next level.
How universities calculate scores: best 5 subjects and conversion
In addition to basic entry requirements, universities calculate scores when admitting students. According to institutional information, universities calculate admission scores using the total score of the best 5 subjects after subject weightings. This means not all subjects are equally important; some programmes may give certain core and/or elective subjects a higher weighting and/or priority consideration in admission scoring.
On conversion, for Category A HKDSE subjects, Level 5** is converted to 7 points when calculating admission scores, Level 5* to 6 points, Level 5 to 5 points, and so on down to 2 points for Level 2. Category B Applied Learning subjects are also converted: "Attained with Distinction (II)" is converted to 4 points, "Attained with Distinction" or "Attained with Distinction (I)" to 3 points, and "Attained" to 2 points. In addition, universities accept applicants combining HKDSE results from multiple sittings and calculate admission scores using the best result for each subject; under the current admission system, multiple sittings do not affect admission.
"Attained" does not mean "admitted": rely on institutional publications
Putting the above together, "pass" actually has several layers of meaning: the first is the level itself, i.e. whether you achieve Levels 1 to 5 or "Unclassified"; the second is the threshold for a specific subject, such as "Attained" in Citizenship and Social Development; the third is the basic entry requirement for a type of programme, such as "332A" or Level 2 in five subjects for sub-degree programmes; the fourth is the specified examination arrangements for Category C other language subjects. These layers are not the same thing.
More importantly, the basic entry requirement is only eligibility to apply. Individual institutions and programmes may set additional requirements on top of it, including specified subjects, levels or other conditions. This article sets out the general framework of the system; when actually applying, students and parents should rely on the entry requirements published by the relevant institutions and programmes and check their latest information directly.
Where maths sits among the thresholds
In "332A", the requirement for Mathematics Compulsory Part is Level 2; in the five-subject requirement for sub-degree programmes, maths can also be one of the five subjects, and Level 2 in the Mathematics Extended Part is likewise accepted as one of the five. For students who are weaker in maths, this means maths is indeed one of the subjects that affects eligibility for further study, not one that can be ignored.
However, meeting the threshold and scoring highly are two different things. The threshold is about "whether you are eligible", while the level of your results affects your competitiveness in individual programmes. Students can first ensure they steadily meet the threshold, then aim for higher levels according to their ability; this order is more practical than chasing the hardest questions from the start.
Frequently asked questions
How many marks count as a pass in the HKDSE?
The HKDSE does not report results as scores, so there is no unified "pass mark". For Category A subjects other than Citizenship and Social Development, results are reported in Levels 1 to 5, with Level 5 being the highest, which may be further awarded as Level 5* and Level 5**; performance below Level 1 is "Unclassified". A so-called "pass" usually means meeting a certain threshold for further study or employment, such as "332A" or the five-subject Level 2 requirement for sub-degree programmes.
What does "332A" mean?
"332A" is the basic entry requirement for the four core subjects: Level 3 in Chinese Language and English Language, Level 2 in Mathematics Compulsory Part, and "Attained" in Citizenship and Social Development. According to the HKEAA, from the 2024/25 academic year admissions onwards, meeting "332A" makes candidates eligible to apply for undergraduate programmes at UGC-funded universities and institutions. This is eligibility to apply, not a guarantee of admission.
What does it mean to get Level 2 in Citizenship and Social Development?
Citizenship and Social Development does not have Levels 1 to 5; it has only one level, "Attained", and results below "Attained" are marked "Not Attained". So there is no concept of "Level 2" in this subject; students only need to focus on whether they achieve "Attained".
What is the minimum entry requirement for sub-degree programmes?
The minimum entry requirement for sub-degree programmes (including associate degree and higher diploma) is Level 2 in five HKDSE subjects (including Chinese Language and English Language). Level 2 in the Mathematics Extended Part is accepted as one of the five subjects; if the five subjects include Citizenship and Social Development or an Applied Learning subject, the relevant subject must be "Attained".
What should I note about Category C other language subjects?
From the 2025 HKDSE onwards, candidates for Category C other language subjects must sit the specified language examinations held in Hong Kong by the relevant official examination providers. Candidates should first understand the examination arrangements for their chosen language subject and rely on the latest information published by the HKEAA and the relevant bodies.
Does meeting the basic entry requirement guarantee admission?
Not necessarily. The basic entry requirement is only eligibility to apply; individual institutions and programmes may set additional requirements. Students and parents should rely on the latest entry requirements published by the relevant institutions and programmes.