An Introduction to How the HKDSE is Scored: Levels, 5**, Best Five and JUPAS Scoring
HKDSE Category A subjects use standards-referenced reporting. Most subjects are reported on a scale of 1 to 5, with Level 5 being the highest. Among Level 5 candidates, the best performance is awarded 5**, the next best is 5*, and performance below Level 1 is 'Unclassified'. Citizenship and Social Development is reported only as 'Attained'. At university level, 'Best Five' is often mentioned: it means converting the candidate's grades in multiple subjects into scores according to each institution's own conversion table, then taking the highest five subjects' scores combined. However, the conversion table and whether certain subjects must be included are published by each institution, so the same combination of grades can yield different scores at different institutions. This article uses examples to explain the conversion and aggregation process step by step, and also covers the JUPAS process, differences in scoring between institutions, the role of the Mathematics Extended Part, and points to note such as changing programme choices after results are released.
This article was put together automatically from official and organisation sources. Check the latest information from the organisation concerned.
- Category A subjects are generally reported in Levels 1 to 5, with Level 5 being the highest; 5* and 5** are subdivisions within Level 5.
- Below Level 1 is 'Unclassified'; Citizenship and Social Development is only reported as 'Attained' or 'Not Attained'.
- From the 2024/25 academic year, the basic admission requirement for the four core subjects is '332A'.
- 'Best Five' means converting grades into scores and taking the highest five subjects combined; the conversion table and subjects counted are set by each institution.
- JUPAS is an application platform, not a unified scoring system; changes after results, interviews and admission scores are subject to institutional announcements.
- Mathematics Extended Part M1/M2 are independent subjects; some programmes specify or weight them, so check requirements before choosing subjects.
First, distinguish two levels of scoring: exam grades and university scores
Many students and parents treat 'HKDSE scoring' as a single thing, but there are actually two levels. The first is the HKEAA's grade reporting: candidates receive a grade in each subject, which is the official result of the public examination. The second is university admissions scoring: institutions convert these grades into scores, then combine and rank them according to their own rules to decide admission. The rules for the two levels are set by different bodies and should not be confused.
Therefore, when you see statements like 'a 5** in a certain subject equals a certain number of points', you should first ask: which institution, and which year's admissions scoring table? The grades themselves are fixed official reporting, while score conversion is an admissions arrangement set by each institution.
The HKEAA's reporting system reports candidates' performance against predefined standards; it is standards-referenced, not norm-referenced with a fixed percentage. This helps understanding: 5** is not a ranking of 'how many people you beat', but the most outstanding performance among those reaching that standard. For relevant details, see the HKEAA's page on the reporting system.
How to read grades in Category A subjects: Levels 1 to 5, 5* and 5**
According to the HKEAA, except for Citizenship and Social Development, candidates' performance is reported in five levels, namely Level 1 to Level 5, with Level 5 being the highest. In other words, getting Level 5 in a general subject already puts you in the highest grade band for that subject.
Among Level 5 candidates, the best performance is awarded 5**, and the next best is awarded 5*. It can be understood as: 5** and 5* are subdivisions within Level 5, used to distinguish different performances at the highest level, rather than two separate levels independent of Levels 1 to 5.
Performance below Level 1 is 'Unclassified'. This means the candidate has not reached the minimum reporting standard in that subject, which is different from obtaining Level 1.
Arranging these levels from lowest to highest: Unclassified, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5*, 5**. In everyday discussion, 5* and 5** are often together called 'stars', but in official reporting they are distinctions within Level 5.
Citizenship and Social Development: only 'Attained'
Citizenship and Social Development is reported differently from other Category A subjects: only 'Attained' is given; below 'Attained' is marked 'Not Attained'. There are no Levels 1 to 5, nor 5* or 5**.
So when friends compare 'how many stars', Citizenship does not participate in that comparison. Its role in admissions requirements is mainly as an attainment condition, not for calculating high or low scores.
When parents plan for their children, they should understand Citizenship as a subject that 'must be attained', rather than one that can boost the total score.
What is '332A': the basic admission requirement for the four core subjects
According to the decision of the Committee on University Admissions, from the 2024/25 academic year, the basic admission requirement for HKDSE candidates in the four core subjects is '332A', namely Level 3 in Chinese, Level 3 in English, Level 2 in Mathematics, and 'Attained' in Citizenship and Social Development.
Note that '332A' is a basic admission requirement, meaning that without it, candidates usually do not meet the threshold for undergraduate programmes; meeting '332A' does not guarantee admission, as individual institutions and programmes may set higher subject requirements or specified subject requirements.
Therefore, when preparing for the HKDSE, the four core subjects should not be treated as merely 'enough to pass'; you should also check whether your desired programmes have additional conditions above the basic requirement. Actual requirements should be based on the admissions information published by institutions.
Reporting methods for other subject categories (summary)
For Category B Applied Learning subjects, except Applied Learning Chinese (for non-Chinese speaking students), candidates' results are reported in three levels: 'Attained', 'Attained with Distinction (I)' and 'Attained with Distinction (II)'. Among them, 'Attained with Distinction (I)' is equivalent to Level 3 in Category A subjects; 'Attained with Distinction (II)' is equivalent to Level 4 or above.
For Category C Other Language subjects, from the 2025 HKDSE, candidates must take specified language examinations provided by relevant official examination bodies in Hong Kong; if candidates achieve the specified or higher language proficiency level, the results will be included in the HKDSE Category C results.
These categories have more details; students taking relevant subjects should consult the HKEAA's latest information directly, rather than relying on simplified word-of-mouth versions.
What is 'Best Five': walk through an example
'Best Five' is a common term in university admissions. It does not mean 'randomly pick five subjects', but rather converting the candidate's subject grades into scores according to the institution's published conversion table, then selecting the highest five subjects' scores combined. The following hypothetical example illustrates the idea; the numbers are for demonstration only and are not any institution's actual conversion table.
Suppose an institution's conversion is: Level 5** = 7 points, 5* = 6 points, Level 5 = 5 points, Level 4 = 4 points, and so on, Level 1 = 1 point, Unclassified = 0 points. A candidate's six subjects are: Chinese 5, English 4, Mathematics 5*, Citizenship Attained, Economics 5**, Physics 3.
Step 1: convert each subject to points: Chinese 5, English 4, Mathematics 6, Economics 7, Physics 3; Citizenship only has 'Attained', which in this example is not counted. Step 2: arrange the subjects with scores from highest to lowest: 7, 6, 5, 4, 3. Step 3: take the highest five subjects combined: 7+6+5+4+3=25 points, so under this example the 'Best Five' is 25 points.
If a candidate takes only five subjects with scores, there is no need to 'filter out' any subject; simply add the five subjects' scores. Only when taking more than five subjects does the choice of 'which subjects count' arise. Some institutions require certain subjects to be included and cannot be replaced arbitrarily, so actual practice depends on institutional rules.
The role of JUPAS: the process beyond scoring
The Joint University Programmes Admissions System (JUPAS) is the main channel for local secondary school graduates to apply for publicly-funded undergraduate programmes. JUPAS is a central application system responsible for processing applications, collecting programme choices, and coordinating changes after results are released. However, admission scoring methods, admission scores and admission decisions are still set by each university and programme.
JUPAS applicants must submit programme choices in the system, usually divided into different bands. Band A is the first three choices. Since institutions often refer to the applicant's band when considering interviews and admissions, Band A choices are particularly important. After results are released, applicants can generally change or reorder their choices within a specified period; actual arrangements are subject to JUPAS announcements for that year.
Note that JUPAS is only an application platform; it does not uniformly convert HKDSE grades, nor does it publish a 'Best Five' cut-off score applicable to all programmes. Candidates should check the scoring information of individual institutions and programmes directly.
Why institutions score differently: three common differences and institutional examples
First, conversion tables differ. The same Level 5 may be worth 5 points at one institution, 5.5 at another, or other values; the bonus increments for 5* and 5** also vary. When the conversion table changes, the total score changes accordingly.
Second, the subjects counted differ. Some programmes require certain subjects to be included in the 'Best Five', such as specified core subjects or specified electives; others allow the highest-scoring subject combination. This directly affects candidates' strategies.
Third, weighting differs. Some programmes apply a higher weight to specific subjects, giving them a greater share of the total score. Therefore, the same combination of grades may be very favourable for Programme A but not necessarily for Programme B.
Taking local universities as examples, the University of Hong Kong (HKU), the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), City University of Hong Kong (CityU), Hong Kong Baptist University, Lingnan University and the Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) each publish their own admissions scoring; Hong Kong Metropolitan University also has its own admissions arrangements. The same grade can be converted to different scores at different institutions, and some programmes give additional points or higher weighting to specified subjects. For example, medicine-related programmes such as the MBBS and the Global Physician-Leadership Stream often have specific subject requirements or scoring arrangements. Candidates should check the latest admissions scoring information of their desired institutions and programmes directly.
In conclusion: do not use a single 'scoring formula' to evaluate all programmes. Base your assessment on the admissions scoring information published by each institution and programme for that year, and note that scoring methods may be adjusted from year to year.
As for terms like '332A33' or '332A2', these are simply shorthand combining the basic requirement '332A' with elective grades; they are not another official system. Individual programmes may add specified subject requirements on top, and candidates should rely on the admission requirements published by the programme.
How Mathematics Extended Part (M1/M2) is counted: considerations for electives and weighting
Mathematics has a Compulsory Part and an Extended Part. The Extended Part is divided into Module 1 (M1, Calculus and Statistics) and Module 2 (M2, Algebra and Calculus). M1 and M2 are independent subjects, reported in the same way as Category A subjects with Levels 1 to 5, 5* and 5**, and are listed on the HKDSE results slip.
Many university programmes, especially in engineering, science, mathematics and economics, treat M1 or M2 as one of the specified electives, or give them higher weighting, or even additional bonus points. However, each institution and programme handles this differently: some treat it as an ordinary elective, while others explicitly require one of the modules.
Therefore, when choosing subjects, first check whether your desired programmes specify M1 or M2 requirements or weighting, then decide whether to take them. Also note that M1 and M2 are deeper than the Compulsory Part and require a solid foundation in algebra and calculus; taking them merely to 'make up the number of subjects' may dilute revision time.
Elective subjects and language subjects: how to align with scoring strategy
Category A elective subjects are one of the main sources for the 'Best Five'. Generally, candidates take two to three electives, together with four core subjects, forming their examination combination. More electives are not necessarily better; the key is whether they meet the requirements of desired programmes and whether they can achieve higher scores in the calculation.
For language subjects, Chinese and English are both core subjects and part of the '332A' basic requirement. Some programmes set specified grade requirements for language subjects or give them higher weighting, so language subjects should not be treated as merely reaching Level 3; you should aim for higher grades according to your ability.
When choosing subjects, first confirm whether your desired programmes have specified electives or language requirements, then weigh your interests and abilities. If an elective is listed as specified or weighted by multiple desired programmes, its strategic value is usually higher.
After results are released: the reference value of changing choices, interviews and admission scores
After results are released, JUPAS applicants can generally change their choices within a specified period, including adjusting the order of preferences or replacing programmes. When changing choices, base decisions on actual results and reassess the chances of admission for each choice, rather than relying solely on pre-results expectations.
Some programmes have interviews, and interview performance may be considered together with HKDSE results. Interview formats and requirements are set by each programme; candidates should check the arrangements published by the programme and allow time to prepare.
As for 'admission scores', institutions sometimes publish past admission data for reference, but these figures reflect only a particular cohort in the past. The number of applicants, grade distribution and scoring methods may differ each year, so they cannot be regarded as guaranteed cut-off scores. Candidates should treat admission scores as a rough reference and rely on the scoring method published by the institution for the current year.
In addition, individual programmes may offer bonus points for specified subjects or specific conditions; these arrangements are also published by the institutions and should not be assumed to be the same across all programmes.
How to prepare during secondary school: turn scoring logic into revision direction
Once you understand the scoring logic, you can use it to guide revision. First, confirm whether your desired programmes have subjects that must be counted or must be attained; prioritise these subjects and avoid spending all your time on subjects that are 'easy to score in but may not count'.
Second, note the distance between grades. Under most conversion methods, the increase in score from Level 3 to Level 4, or from Level 4 to Level 5, is often more substantial than pursuing a higher subdivision within the same level. When results are borderline, securing the basic requirement first and then aiming for a higher grade is usually the safer order.
Third, Mathematics is a specified or weighted subject for many programmes, and its grades correspond clearly to ability, making it suitable for steady practice. Building a solid foundation in algebra and geometry from junior secondary will make handling more complex questions in Secondary 5 and 6 easier.
Finally, treat 'Best Five' as a reminder: your subject combination affects your total score. When choosing subjects and preparing, consider programme requirements together, rather than looking only at individual subject results.
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If considering tutoring: first distinguish types and needs
Tutoring can broadly be divided into several types: tutoring centres (fixed classes, teaching according to progress), private tutoring (one-to-one or small group, designed around students' weaknesses), home tutoring (tutor comes to the home or a specified location), and online tutoring (teaching via video or platform, with more flexibility in time and place). Each format has trade-offs; none is necessarily the best.
Before choosing, identify the real problem: is it unclear concepts, unfamiliar question types, or poor exam time allocation? If only individual topics are unclear, tutoring focused on those topics is more efficient; if the overall foundation is weak, longer-term systematic consolidation is needed.
As for cost, there is great variation across formats and districts. Generally, small-group tutoring centres may cost less per month than one-to-one, private or home tutoring is charged by the hour, and online tutoring depends on the format. Actual prices vary with year level, subject, tutor qualifications and district; compare before deciding. Readers may also refer to the maths tutoring guide on this website for factors to consider when choosing.
Whichever you choose, require clear progress arrangements and feedback on practice, and regularly review whether the original weaknesses have actually improved. Tutoring is supplementary and cannot replace classroom learning and independent practice.
Free and steady daily practice: from primary to Secondary 6
No matter how clear the scoring method, results still depend on daily accumulation. Mathematics learning can progress by year level: in primary school, build a foundation in the four operations, fractions, decimals and basic shape concepts; in junior secondary, establish foundations in algebraic operations and geometric reasoning; in senior secondary, apply these tools to more complex questions and exam question types.
This website offers free maths courses from Primary 1 to Secondary 6, explained by the cartoon online teacher Sprout. The content is arranged in short lessons, suitable for revising or previewing by topic. The website has no tutoring centre and no human tutors, and is not recognised by the Education Bureau or the HKEAA; it is a self-study tool, best used alongside school lessons.
When using it, it is advisable to search by 'topic' rather than by 'year level': for example, a Secondary 4 student who finds fraction operations unstable can revisit relevant topics from Primary 5 and 6, then return to the current curriculum. This back-to-basics approach is often more effective than blindly doing many difficult questions.
- Primary 5 maths topics: key points and examples
- Secondary 1 maths topics: key points and examples
- Free maths learning: learning modes from Primary 1 to Secondary 6
Frequently asked questions
Are 5** and 5* two levels above Level 5?
No. According to the HKEAA's reporting system, except for Citizenship and Social Development, candidates' results are reported in Levels 1 to 5, with Level 5 being the highest; among Level 5 candidates, the best performance is awarded 5**, and the next best is awarded 5*. It can be understood that 5* and 5** are subdivisions within Level 5.
How is Citizenship and Social Development scored?
Citizenship and Social Development is reported only as 'Attained'; below 'Attained' is marked 'Not Attained'. There are no Levels 1 to 5, nor 5* or 5**. It usually serves as an attainment condition in admission requirements, rather than being used to calculate high or low scores.
What does '332A' mean?
According to the decision of the Committee on University Admissions, from the 2024/25 academic year, the basic admission requirement for HKDSE candidates in the four core subjects is '332A', namely Level 3 in Chinese, Level 3 in English, Level 2 in Mathematics, and 'Attained' in Citizenship and Social Development. Meeting the basic requirement does not guarantee admission; individual programmes may set higher requirements.
Is 'Best Five' simply adding the five subject grades together?
No, it is not a direct addition of grades. Institutions usually first convert grades into scores, then take the highest five subjects combined. The conversion table and whether certain subjects must be included are set by each institution, so the same combination of grades can yield different scores at different institutions. Actual practice should be based on the admissions scoring information published by the institution.
Does JUPAS use a unified scoring system?
No. JUPAS is a central application system responsible for processing applications, programme choices and changes after results are released; admission scoring methods, conversion tables and admission decisions are set by each university and programme. Candidates should check the scoring information of individual institutions and programmes directly.
What role do Mathematics Extended Part M1 or M2 play in scoring?
M1 and M2 are independent subjects, reported with Levels 1 to 5, 5* and 5**. Some university programmes list M1 or M2 as specified electives, give them higher weighting or additional bonus points, but each institution and programme handles this differently. Before choosing subjects, check the announcements of your desired programmes.