What is the English HKDSE?
Once a student completes their junior and secondary education, they must take the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE). This is a cumulative exam that tests students on the knowledge they have learned throughout their years of education. Students were required to study the Chinese language, Maths, Liberal studies and the English language. The HKDSE has exams for each of these subjects and there are many ways for students to prepare and online resources for students to use.
What is the DSE English reading exam?
The HKDSE English exam is split up into four sections that test students on each aspect of the English language. These papers include writing, speaking, listening and reading. The reading exam focuses on a student's reading and comprehension skills.
The reading DSE consists of two parts, and students are given 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete part A. Students are then given the choice to complete either Part B1, which is an easier section, or Part B2, which is more difficult. In these sections, students must read a variety of tests, and answer questions that relate to the texts. Students will have to answer questions like multiple-choice, fill in the blanks to convey details from the text.
What to expect from the English DSE 2021
A few people that have taken the DSE 2021 reading tests have explained some of the difficulties students may face during the exam. The HKDSE changes the exams every year to prevent cheating. The goals for each of the tests stay the same even as the questions change, but once in a while, the change can catch the exam taker off guard. In the 2021 exam, the questions ask students to guess what the writer's thoughts and opinions are. Students are encouraged to reread the text until they understand it more thoroughly, and use reasoning skills to answer why the writer came up with their conclusions.
Many of the HKDSE reading questions center around reasoning, tone and cause and effect. This requires students to pay attention to the connotations of adjectives used, the thought processes of the writer and the major plot points of the text. There are also sample papers online that show previous years’ tests and how students are graded on them. For a high score in the reading test, it shows that students must present an understanding of many types of texts and comprehend main ideas. The test also looks at a student's attention to detail, ability to look at multiple points of view and understanding of figures of speech and metaphors.
DSE English cut off
The HKDSE gives scores on students' performance based on standards-referenced reporting. This means that the exam results are compared to a set standard of 5 levels. The highest score a student can receive is 5**, and there is a description of each level of knowledge and capabilities. With this scoring system is a cut-off chart or a table that explains what percentage each student needs to receive a certain score. These percentages can change from year to year, but they do not fluctuate more than a few percentages. As of November 2020, if a students exam score is:
Between 34% and 48%, the exam is given a 2
Between 49% and 65%, the exam is given a 3
Between 66% and 76%, the exam is given a 4
Between 77% and 80%, it is given a 5
Between 81% and 87%, it is given a 5*
Above 88%, the exam is given a 5**
How to prepare for the English DSE reading exam
An hour and a half long cumulative reading exam can understandably make students a little nervous. Luckily, students can begin to prepare long before the exam date approaches. Students can practice at home with their materials, and use online resources.
Practice reading comprehension
The HKDSE reading exam tests students' reading comprehension, which means students will have to practice effective reading strategies. Students can practice by reading English texts at home and picking out keywords and events. Many of the questions on the DSE reading exam revolve around tone and context. As students read at home, they should pay close attention to the sentence structure and adjectives used to understand the tone. Students should also pay close attention to the context of the text, looking at the tenses used.
As students get used to pointing out specific details, they could begin practising scanning and skimming. Scanning and skimming have to be done carefully, as it runs the risk of missing crucial details, but done right can save students some time on the tests. Skimming looks at the structure of the texts to get an overall impression of the content, and scanning looks for context clues and key phrases.
DSE English past papers
Because the HKDSE changes its questions every year, there is an archive of dse english past paper that students can use as a reference. There are sample papers that show how the paper gets graded, which can help students know what is expected from their answers. The past papers can also be used as practice tests. Students can time themselves as they answer the questions, and understand how they perform under the time restraints. This way, students know what they need more practice in and can focus on those areas.
Tips during the reading exam
There are some common traps that students fall into during the exam. When students are taking the exam, they may pay too close attention to the keywords and information they find, rather than looking at the entire context. This can lead them to answer incorrectly. It is suggested that students familiarize themselves with the reading first to get a better understanding of the text. Students may also attempt to copy the text word for word in the answer, but higher points are rewarded to those that answer the question carefully in their own words.
The exam will also require long answers, which are more difficult for students. They often ask for contrasting, referencing and cause and effects. Students can look for words that lead to explanations like “because” “since” and “due to”. Punctuation can give a clue as to where to find the answers, such as a dash or a colon. As students practice, they will gain more confidence in their reading skills, and it can show through in their exam scores.
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