Junior Secondary Level
Children characteristics
- Experience physiological changes after the onset of puberty
- Easy to be influenced by peers
- Strong self-esteem and "self" consciousness
- Hope to get approval from others
Parental role
- Understand children’s interests, abilities and orientations (including their goals and ideal careers)
- Assist children to understand various professions, including guiding them to search for relevant information
- Encourage children to participate in extra-curricular activities and community services
- Encourage children to set short-term and long-term goals, then fulfil the goals step by step and reflect and revise their goals when appropriate
- Communicate with the school to understand children's learning and difficulties
- Provide suitable amount of freedom for children and let them unleash their potential
Secondary 3 Selection of subjects
Secondary 4 is a new stage of learning. For children who are attending Secondary 3, choosing elective subjects is very important in their life planning. Sometimes, parental expectations and unilateral decisions may put high pressure on their children, which may, in turn, affect their children’s future performance. Parents can join subject selection-related activities and learn about relevant information with their children, listen to their children’s opinions and discuss with them more to let both parents and children understand each other better.
The following is the senior secondary curriculum information:
The senior secondary curriculum consists of three parts, including core subjects, elective subjects, and other learning experiences (OLE). Students are required to take four core subjects and two to three elective subjects, as well as participating in other learning experiences.
Four Core Subjects
- Chinese Language
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Citizenship and Social Development
Two to Three Elective Subjects
Students can select two to three elective subjects from 19 elective subjects by Key Learning Areas (KLAs) (Category A subjects in HKDSE), Applied Learning (ApL) (Category B subject in HKDSE) or Other languages (Category C subjects in HKDSE).
The school will decide which elective subjects to offer depending on individual school contexts as well as students’ needs, interests and abilities. Some schools offer ApL or Other Languages.
19 Elective Subjects
|
Key Learning Area |
Subject |
|
Chinese Language Education |
Chinese Literature |
|
English Language Education |
Literature in English |
|
Personal, Social and Humanities Education |
Chinese History Economics Ethics and Religious Studies Geography History Tourism and Hospitality Studies |
|
Science Education |
Biology Chemistry Physics |
|
Technology Education |
Business, Accounting and Financial Studies Design and Applied Technology Health Management and Social Care Information and Communication Technology Technology and Living |
|
Arts Education |
Music Visual Arts |
|
Physical Education |
Physical Education |
Applied Learning Subjects
Six areas of studies under ApL:
- Creative Studies
- Media and Communication
- Business, Management and Law
- Services
- Applied Science
- Engineering and Production
In addition, there is Applied Learning Chinese (for non-Chinese speaking students).
Other Language Subjects
Other Languages include the following:
| Subjects in the 2025 HKDSE | Subjects in the 2026 HKDSE and beyond |
|
|
Detailed information about HKDSE subjects
Other Learning Experiences
- Values Education
- Aesthetic Development
- Physical Development
- Community Service
- Career-related Experiences
The School Curriculum Framework
Secondary Education Curriculum Guide (CDC, 2017)
Senior Secondary Level
Children characteristics
- Become mature and more responsible
- Start thinking about the future
- Care about current social issues
- Have a certain level of self-understanding
Parental role
- Believe that children have the ability to make decisions independently
- Learn about information on further studies with children and assist them to make the career plan
- Encourage children to participate in the work experience programme
- Assist children to understand multiple pathways after graduation, career trends, and community resources
Information on further studies/ employment for Secondary 6 students
Parents should learn and collect different information on career guidance to assist their children to choose the suitable pathway. For more information related to further studies and employment, please refer to “Studies” or “Careers Information” corners on this website.