Instructions to Applicants

DSE/2014

HKEAA S HONG KONG DIPLOMA OF SECONDARY EDUCATION EXAMINATION 2014

Registration for Category C Subjects (Other Languages – November 2013 Series)

Instructions to Applicants (School Candidates)

A. Examination Regulations 1. All candidates must comply with the regulations stipulated in the 2014 Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Examination Regulations and Assessment Frameworks.

B. Entry Qualifications 2. Only bona fide S6 students in the school year 2013/2014 of registered schools approved for participation in the 2014 HKDSE Examination may be entered as school candidates in the Examination. The students must be studying at the registered address of the schools. 3. For any school candidates who enter for the 2014 HKDSE Examination, their registration entries must be approved by the school principal and sumitted through the school. 4. A candidate may only enter for the 2014 HKDSE Examination either as a school candidate or as a private candidate but not both in the same examination year.

C. Selection of Category C Subjects 5. Registration for the 2014 HKDSE Examination will be conducted in two periods: June 2013 and September 2013. The June registration will cover Category C subjects (Other Languages - November 2013 Series) only, while the September registration will cover Categories A and B subjects and Category C subjects (Other Languages - June 2014 Series). The AS level question papers of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) will be used in the Category C examinations. Candidates can find more information about the Category C subjects at the HKEAA website (www.hkeaa.edu.hk Æ HKDSE Æ Subject Information) and the CIE website at www.cie.org.uk. 6. All six Category C subjects, viz. French, German, Hindi, Japanese, Spanish and Urdu, will be offered in the Category C Subjects November 2013 Series, while the French and Spanish will also be offered in the June 2014 Series. However, a candidate may enter for the same subject only once in either series. The Category C subjects entered in both series will be combined with the Categories A and B subjects entered for the 2014 HKDSE Examination and the total number is limited to a maximum of eight subjects. 7. The results of the Category C Subjects November 2013 and June 2014 Series examinations are tentatively scheduled to be released in February 2014 and July 2014 respectively. Schools will be notified later about the results release date of the June 2014 Series examinations (offering only French and Spanish) upon confirmation by CIE. 8. You should supply your school with the subject(s) that you would like to enter for the Category C Subjects November 2013 Series examination. The examination timetable is printed on page 6. 9. The oral examinations of the Category C subjects may be recorded. If a candidate is absent from Paper 1 or 2 or 3 of any Category C subject for which they have entered, the candidate’s result in that subject will be recorded as ABSENT. More information about the Category C subjects is available at the HKEAA website (www.hkeaa.edu.hk Æ HKDSE Æ Subject Information) and the website of the Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) at www.cie.org.uk.

D. Instructions on Completing Registration Entries 10. Registration for the Category C Subjects November 2013 Series examination will be accepted from 24 June to 12 July 2013. Schools are required to register their students for the examination with the HKEAA via the HKDSE Examination Registration System (the Registration System). Hardcopies of entry forms will not be accepted. 11. Upon completing the entry of your registration data into the Registration System, your School Examination Officer (SEO) will give you a copy of your ‘Candidate Entry Information Checklist (CEIC)’, together with the ‘Instructions to Applicants (School Candidates)’ and the ‘Information Sheet for Checking of “Candidate Entry Information Checklist” (CEIC)’, to verify your entry data. 1

12. You are required to read the ‘Instructions to Applicants (School Candidates)’ carefully, in particular Section E concerning the collection of personal data, and refer to this document and the ‘Information for Checking of Candidate Entry Information Checklist (CEIC)’ when checking your CEIC. 13. While checking your CEIC, you should make sure that your full name in English and your Chinese name (if any) on your CEIC are identical with your names on your HKID Card/travel document as the names will be printed on the HKDSE examination certificate. Extra attention should be paid to the subject(s) for which you have entered to ensure accuracy. Schools should take note that they may not submit more than one entry for their candidates for the 2014 HKDSE Examination, whether for the same or different subjects. 14. To facilitate the HKEAA in contacting you or disseminating important examination-related information to you via e-mail (or SMS in case of emergency), you should provide your school with your email address (mandatory) and SMS phone number (optional). (Note: Candidates who do not have an e-mail address should set up an account and must not use shared e-mail accounts.) 15. You should check the information on your CEIC and read the ‘Declaration’ on your CEIC carefully. You will be required to pay a supplementary fee in addition to the required subject fee for any request for addition/substitution of subject(s) made after the registration deadline of 12 July 2013. 16. If you discover any errors in your CEIC, you should immediately inform your SEO who will update your entry record on the Registration System accordingly. When you confirm that all entry data on your CEIC is correct, you should sign your CEIC and return it to your SEO. While keeping the original copy of your CEIC for record, your school will provide you with a photocopy for reference. 17. The SEO will submit the registration entry confirmed by you to the School Principal for endorsement. Upon the completion of endorsement, your application will be submitted to the HKEAA for processing and your school will provide you with a Demand Note to settle the payment of the examination fee by 11:59 pm on 22 July 2013 (See Section G for details). SFAA 18. Each candidate should submit to their school one recent photograph (3 cm x 4 cm) showing his/her head and shoulders. Schools should keep these photographs and affix them on the admission forms when they are issued in late September 2013.

E. Your Personal Data 19. Personal data of candidates are used for the purpose of conducting the examination and the subsequent assessment of examination results. The entry data are supplied by students through their schools. Whether you provide the requested personal data is voluntary. However, if you fail to provide all the data, or if any of the data provided is inaccurate or incomplete, the processing of your examination results will be affected and hence the HKEAA may not accept your entry. Assessment data are provided by markers, checkmarkers, examiners and schools (school data are only for subjects/papers with School-based Assessment – the assessments are part of the normal teaching/learning process at schools). 20. The personal data may also be used for the following purposes: (1) assisting tertiary institutions and other government/public organizations in their processes for admissions purposes; (2) assisting government/public organizations in respect of their requests for information in granting scholarships; (3) confirming with the Student Financial Assistance Agency (SFAA) the eligibility of candidates applying for financial assistance under the Examination Fee Remission Scheme by disclosing necessary data of the candidates concerned to SFAA for verification; (4) certifying candidates’ examination results in response to legitimate requests; (5) conducting educational research and analysis in an anonymous format in which the identities of candidates are not traceable. 21. In compliance with the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance, access to all personal data will be made available, on payment of a fee, to anyone who can establish his/her right to be informed of such data as are retained by the HKEAA. The procedures for applications for data access are included in the “Application Guide on Data Access Requests” available at the HKEAA website at www.hkeaa.edu.hk.

F. Choice of Examination Centre District 22. The choice of examination centre district is not available for Category C subjects which are small-entry subjects.

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G. Examination Fees / Remission 23. The subject fee for Category C (Other Languages) subjects of the 2014 HKDSE Examination is HK$567 per subject. 24. Candidates should note the following when settling the examination fee: (1) After the School Principal’s endorsement of your registration entry, your SEO will provide you with a Demand Note for settling the payment of the examination fee. You should make use of one of the following channels to pay your examination fee: z through Internet Banking z through PPS z cash payment at any 7-Eleven stores in Hong Kong You should settle the payment by 11:59 pm on 22 July 2013. For more details about the payment methods, please download the “Instructions for Payment of Examination Fees” from the HKEAA website (www.hkeaa.edu.hk Æ HKDSE Æ Exam registration Æ Examination fees). You will be required to pay a supplementary fee of HK$226 after the payment deadline. Note: The Authority does not accept cash or personal cheques from candidates/parents or a single cheque for the whole group of candidates presented by the school. (2) Examination fees are not transferable from the November 2013 Series to the June 2014 Series, from one examination to another, nor from one candidate to another. (3) Examination fees will not be refunded to the following categories of candidates: (a) Candidates who are disqualified or absent; or (b) Candidates who enter for other examinations which result in a timetable clash. Note: Candidates are advised that no special arrangements will be made in the event of a timetable clash with other examinations. 25. Applying for examination fee remission The Student Financial Assistance Agency (SFAA) will be issuing notification letters/Eligibility Certificates (EC) to students who are eligible for full or half level of financial assistance in the school year 2013/2014 starting from late August 2013. In this connection, candidates entering for the Category C Subjects November 2013 Series examination are required to pay the examination fee in full amount first at the time of registration. Candidates who are confirmed to be eligible for financial assistance can submit applications for examination fee remission when they register for other subjects in the September 2013 registration. Reimbursement will be made to the eligible candidates around December 2013 after verifying with the SFAA on their eligibility.

H. Late Entry/Amendment of Subject Entries 26. Candidates should note that applications for late entry/change of subject entry information after their School Principal’s endorsement of their entry and the submission of their entry to the HKEAA are subject to the approval of the HKEAA and payment of supplementary fees. The HKEAA may at its discretion allow the late entry/addition or substitution of subject(s) to a candidate’s entries after they have been submitted to the HKEAA and accepted, on payment of a supplementary fee of HK350 per candidate for late entry and HK$226 per application (irrespective of the number of subjects) for amendment of subject entries. For candidates who apply for late entry/an addition of subject(s), they are required to pay the subject fee(s) as well. If you wish to apply for late entry/addition and/or substitution of subjects after your School Principal’s endorsement of your entry and the submission of your entry to the HKEAA, you should raise your request in person at HKEAA Wan Chai Office during the amendment period (from 13 July to 12:00 noon, 27 July 2013). Prior approval from your school principal for late entry/change of your subject entered must be sought. You are required to settle the relevant fees at the HKEAA counter by cash or EPS. Requests for transfer of subjects from the November 2013 Series to the June 2014 Series will not be accepted.

I. Amendment of Personal Particulars and Contact Information 27. If you wish to amend your personal particulars (i.e. your name, identity document and number) after the registration is completed, you should submit your request for amendments to your school together with the supporting documents, such as identity card, birth certificate or statutory declaration for verification. Your school will submit your request with the supporting documents to HKEAA for updating your record on the Registration System after verifying your documents.

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28. In case of amendments of your contact information (i.e. contact phone number, SMS phone number, email address and correspondence address) you may make requests to your school who will update your contact information on the Registration System accordingly.

J. Withdrawal from the Examination 29. Candidates who wish to withdraw from the Category C Subjects – November 2013 Series should inform their School Principal who should notify the Secretary General of the HKEAA in writing on or before 6 September 2013. Refund of the examination fee paid will not be made for requests received after 6 September 2013. School candidates should not apply directly to the HKEAA. 30. If any school candidate who has registered for the Category C November 2013 Series examination but is not promoted to S6 or have left school in the school year 2013/2014, schools should inform the HKEAA to withdraw the respective candidate’s registration on or before 6 September 2013. A full refund of the subject fee paid for Category C November 2013 Series can be made if a candidate is not promoted to S6 in the school year 2013/2014. Refund of the examination fee paid will not be made for requests received after 6 September 2013. 31. An order cheque for the refund of the examination fees will be sent to the candidate concerned in early December 2013. If the cheque has to be made payable to the parent of the candidate, a copy of the candidate’s birth certificate should be submitted to the HKEAA via school at the time when the request for withdrawal is made. 32. No refund is payable if a subject is deleted at the candidate’s request.

K. Candidates with Special Needs 33. Candidates with disabilities may apply via schools for special examination arrangements or exemption from part(s) of the requirements of an examination (subject to the approval of CIE). Applications should be submitted via the Special Examination Arrangements (SEA) Online Services. Each application should be accompanied by supporting documents. Candidates with colour-blindness/colour amblyopia problems should also apply to the HKEAA through the SEA Online Services via schools and submit a medical/assessment report issued by an ophthalmologist/optometrist/Department of Health for consideration of special examination arrangements. 34. School candidates wishing to apply for special examination arrangements in the Category C Subjects November 2013 Series examination are requested to submit the applications via schools by 12 July 2013. Late applications will not be accepted. 35. Where a candidate has been exempted from part(s) of the requirements of an examination, his/her results for the affected part(s) will be assessed. The details of any such assessment will be listed on a second page to the candidate’s certificate. However, the reason for granting the exemption will not be recorded on the certificates. Special assistance given to a candidate will not be recorded on the certificate as long as the candidate has completed the full requirements of the examination.

L. Admission Form and ‘Instructions to Candidates’ 36. The admission form and ‘Instructions to Candidates’ for the Category C Subjects (Other Languages – November 2013 Series) examination will be issued to school candidates in late September 2013 through their schools.

M. Scripts of Candidates 37. While the HKEAA will exercise reasonable care to protect and preserve the scripts, in the event of any loss or damage, as a result of which the candidate’s performance cannot be assessed based on the scripts, the candidate concerned waives all claims, if any, against the Authority.

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N. Important dates 38. The Important Dates for the Category C Subjects (Other Languages – November 2013 Series) examination are listed below:

Event

Date

Registration Payment of examination fee Late payment of examination fee

24 June – 12 July 2013 By 11:59 pm on 22 July 2013 From 23 July 2013 and before 12:00 noon on 27 July 2013 (Note: Entries will be accepted on payment of a supplementary fee of $226 per candidate in addition to the subject fees) Applications for amendments of subject entry 13 – 27 July 2013 information & late entry Payment of supplementary fee & subject fees (if By 12:00 noon on 27 July 2013 applicable) Deadline for withdrawal 6 September 2013 Issue of Admission Form and ‘Instructions to Late September 2013 Candidate’ Examination period (Category C subjects November 2013 Series): - Written exams 8 October – 8 November 2013 - Oral exams 15 October - 15 November 2013 Release of examination results February 2014 (tentative) Deadline for applications for Rechecking and 7 days after the release of results Remarking Release of Rechecking and Remarking Results To be advised by CIE O. Useful contact information of the HKEAA 39. Enquiry Hotline

Address HKEAA website E-mail

:

3628 8860 3628 8333 (IT/technical hotline) 3628 8917 (enquiries on special examination arrangements) : 12/F, Southorn Centre, 130 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong. : www.hkeaa.edu.hk : [email protected]

Please keep this document for your future reference. - END-

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Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination 2014

Category C (Other Languages) Subjects (November 2013 Series)

Examination Timetable

All six Category C (Other Languages) subjects will be offered in the November 2013 Series examination. As announced by the Cambridge International Examinations (CIE), the examination timetable for the November 2013 Series is as follows: Date of Examination

Subject/Paper

Examination Time

8 October 2013 (Tuesday)

Urdu 3

1:00 pm to 2:30 pm

16 October 2013 (Wednesday)

Hindi 3

1:00 pm to 2:30 pm

17 October 2013 (Thursday)

Spanish 2

8:30 am to 10:15 am

Urdu 2

1:00 pm to 2:45 pm

Hindi 2

1:00 pm to 2:45 pm

Japanese 2

8:30 am to 10:15 am

Spanish 3

8:30 am to 10:00 am

29 October 2013 (Tuesday)

German 2

8:30 am to 10:15 am

30 October 2013 (Wednesday)

French 2

8:30 am to 10:15 am

6 November 2013 (Wednesday)

French 3

8:30 am to 10:00 am

7 November 2013 (Thursday)

Japanese 3

8:30 am to 10:00 am

8 November 2013 (Friday)

German 3

8:30 am to 10:00 am

21 October 2013 (Monday)

25 October 2013 (Friday)

The oral examinations of these subjects will be held between 15 October and 15 November 2013. The exact dates will be announced in due course. Registration for June 2014 series will be accepted in September/October 2013. Only French and Spanish will be offered in the June series. The examination dates for these two subjects will be announced by the CIE in due course.

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