The Education Bureau last month announced how students performed on the Territory-wide System Assessment (TSA), which covers Chinese, English and mathematics. The results were the lowest ever since these tests began in 2004, and the bureau said this was because of a three-year pause in the exam due to Covid-19.
The TSA covers Primary Three, Primary Six and Secondary Three students. Compared with scores from 2019, the percentage of pupils this year who had a basic level of ability across the three subjects dropped for all age groups.
The bureau said the drop in performance was acceptable and matched with the results of other large-scale international assessments.
The largest drop was among Primary Six students sitting the English assessment: 64.3 per cent had a basic level of ability, the lowest on record.
A bureau spokesman said students and schools needed more time to adjust after a lack of exams after three years under the pandemic. He said: “The suspension of face-to-face classes ... had caused certain impacts on both the learning and development of students.”
The bureau also told parents not to focus on the low scores and promised the data would help to improve teaching. Other experts warned against putting too much pressure on students to boost their scores.
Quiz time
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When was the TSA introduced in Hong Kong?
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Who usually takes the TSA?
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Which subjects are included in the TSA?
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According to the Education Bureau, why did students perform poorly in the TSA?
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How are Hong Kong pupils doing as compared to international standards?
Sample answers
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2004
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Primary Three, Primary Six and Secondary Three students
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Chinese, English and mathematics
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The suspension of face-to-face classes during Covid-19
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It matched with the results of other large-scale international assessments.
