Deep Dive delves into hot issues in Hong Kong and mainland China. Our easy-to-read articles provide context to grasp what’s happening, while our questions help you craft informed responses. Check sample answers at the end of the page.
News: The lure of the DSE for mainland Chinese students
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More mainland Chinese pupils are choosing to take Hong Kong’s DSE over China’s gaokao
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Tutorial centres run by mainland operators are expanding their footprint in the city
An increasing number of mainland Chinese students are taking Hong Kong’s university entrance exams.
More than 55,000 candidates took this year’s Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) exams, with 960 non-local private candidates, up from 238 in 2023 and 549 last year.
Leslie Wang Ziqi, 18, is a student in Shenzhen. He switched from the gaokao, the university entrance exam in mainland China, to the DSE as a private candidate at the beginning of his final year of secondary school.
“Compared to the gaokao, the DSE is less stressful,” Wang said. He added that the DSE was also internationally recognised and opened up more pathways for attending university abroad.
Wang travelled to Hong Kong to purchase study guides and used AI tools to organise his notes.
“A lot of study materials are publicly available, so it’s very suitable for self-study,” he said. Wang hopes to pursue a science degree at the University of Hong Kong (HKU).
Mainland students had an edge in mathematics and science because those subjects were of a higher standard under the gaokao system. However, many of them struggled more in English, as the DSE demanded more complex vocabulary and higher proficiency.
A lack of understanding of local culture also makes the exam more difficult, as the content for the English papers is closely related to local life.
However, the DSE could be less stressful, as the exams are spread out over a month. The gaokao crams all tests into two or three days.
At the same time, more mainland pupils are coming to Hong Kong through the city’s top talent scheme.
To cater to these new arrivals, two mainland Chinese tutorial school operators are expanding their Hong Kong presence and offering DSE tutoring courses.
The entrance of mainland companies has intensified competition among local operators, which have faced challenges from a shrinking student population and a curriculum overhaul.
The number of centres run by three major tutorial chains in the city has nearly halved from 102 in 2016 to 56 at present.
New Oriental, the largest tutoring group on the mainland, opened its first Hong Kong campus in Mong Kok in July.
Think Academy is a sister brand of mainland tutoring centre Xueersi. It opened two branches in Whampoa and Kowloon City this year, after expanding two existing outlets in Kowloon.
Its DSE courses target both local secondary students and new arrivals.
Staff writers
Question prompts
1. According to the news, why are more mainland Chinese students choosing to take Hong Kong’s DSE exams instead of the gaokao?
(1) The DSE is less stressful and spread out over a longer period.
(2) The DSE is internationally recognised and offers more diverse career pathways.
(3) The DSE requires less English proficiency than the gaokao.
(4) Study materials for the DSE are publicly available and suitable for self-study.
A. (1), (2) only
B. (1), (2), (3) only
C. (1), (2), (4) only
D. all of the above
2. List ONE advantage and ONE disadvantage mainland students have on the DSE.
3. What challenges are Hong Kong’s tutorial chains currently facing? Suggest ONE way to help them sustain their business. Explain using the news, glossary and your own knowledge.
Photo
Question prompts
1. What is being shown in the photo? How does it relate to the information in the news?
2. How might the expansion of mainland tutorial chains in Hong Kong affect local counterparts in the long term? Explain using the news and your own knowledge.
Glossary
private candidate: someone outside the normal school system who registers to take the DSE exam. This could include mainland Chinese students, independent repeaters, retakers and inmates.
gaokao: China’s university entrance exam, also called the National Higher Education Entrance Examination, which takes place every year in June
three major tutorial chains: refers to Hong Kong’s biggest tutorial companies: Modern Education, Beacon College and King’s Glory Education. In 2016, Modern Education operated 19 branches while franchising another 42. Beacon College directly operated 16 branches, and King’s Glory Education had 25. This year, Modern has nine self-operated centres and franchises another 27. Beacon has 13 branches, while King’s Glory has five self-owned centres and two franchised ones.
New Oriental: the largest tutoring group on the mainland, which operates in Hong Kong under the name New Oriental International Education. The company’s Hong Kong-based firm provides school placement and transfer services for new mainland arrivals at a cost of up to HK$45,800. It also offers tutoring courses for the DSE. The group had 1,025 branches on the mainland as of May 31, 2024.
Think Academy: a sister brand of a tutorial company from mainland China. It first set foot in Hong Kong in 2018 and mainly focuses on maths in its DSE offerings. As of February 28, its parent company, TAL, ran 526 learning centres in 40 cities on the mainland and across the globe.
Sample answers
News:
1. C
2. Advantage: Mainland students have stronger foundations in mathematics and science because the gaokao has a higher standard in those subjects.
Disadvantage: Many struggle with English, as the DSE requires more complex vocabulary and a better understanding of local culture.
3. Hong Kong’s tutorial chains are facing challenges such as a shrinking local student population, a curriculum revamp and rising competition from mainland operators like New Oriental and Think Academy. To sustain their business, they could focus on providing specialised English language and local culture training for mainland students, since these are areas where such students might struggle in the DSE. By using their expertise and reputation in the local exam system, tutorial centres can attract this growing customer base and maintain competitiveness despite demographic changes. (accept all possible answers)
Photo:
1. It shows New Oriental (XDF), the largest tutoring group on the mainland. It is expanding its business in Hong Kong due to rising demand for the DSE among mainland pupils who come to the city to study.
2. In the long term, the expansion of mainland tutorial chains such as New Oriental and Think Academy is likely to intensify competition and put pressure on local tutorial centres. Since mainland operators have larger networks and strong brand recognition, they may capture a growing share of the market, especially among mainland DSE candidates who trust their teaching style. Local centres could lose students unless they adapt to serve the struggles of mainland students. If local chains fail to innovate, many may close down.
