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Form 3 subject choice

Choosing your HKDSE electives in Form 3

For Form 3 students about to choose, and the parents choosing with them: how the system works, the angles worth thinking from, and when you have to decide.

This page helps you think it through; it does not decide for you. Your school's arrangements and your teachers' advice come first.

How choosing works

Over the three senior years (Form 4 to Form 6) you take at most eight subjects: four that everyone takes, and the rest you choose.

Four core subjects, for everyone

Chinese Language, English Language, Mathematics (Compulsory Part), and Citizenship and Social Development. You don't choose these, but they take a large share of your study time, so count them in when you choose the rest.

Two or three electives, four at most

Most students take two or three electives; the limit is four. Electives come in three categories:

  • Category A: the senior subjects schools teach, such as Physics, Economics, Chinese History or Visual Arts. Most students' electives are here.
  • Category B: Applied Learning (ApL), run by course providers and mixing theory with practice. Each course is 180 hours, usually spread over two school years (Forms 4 and 5, or Forms 5 and 6).
  • Category C: other languages, namely French, German, Japanese, Korean, Spanish and Urdu, with Hindi from the 2028 exam. You sit a designated external language exam yourself.

Mathematics also has an Extended Part, Module 1 or Module 2 (M1 or M2), one or the other. Since 2024/25 the eight UGC-funded universities count it as one elective in their general entrance requirement.

Your school sets the blocks

Your school groups the electives it offers into blocks, often called X1, X2 and X3. Each block is taught in the same timetable slot, so you take one subject per block. Blocks differ between schools and can change from year to year, so your school's own form is the one that counts.

Example: a made-up school's blocks
X1Physics / Chinese History / Visual Arts
X2Chemistry / Economics / ICT
X3Biology / Geography / M2 / Tourism and Hospitality Studies

At this school, Physics + Chemistry + M2 is a possible combination. Physics + Chinese History is not: both sit in X1.

Choosing is also applying

Places in each subject are limited. Many schools allocate them by Form 3 results, sometimes a weighted score from related subjects, so a popular subject may not have room for everyone. Your Form 3 marks shape what you can take, and if the form asks you to rank your choices, rank them with care.

In August 2026 the Education Bureau also asked schools to encourage students interested in science and maths to take two or more of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and M1/M2. Schools are to offer combinations that allow it, add places in these subjects where resources permit, and may run Form 3 taster lessons. Schools are reviewing their subject-choice arrangements in 2026/27, so your school's may change this year: watch its notices.

After you choose: dropping is easier than adding

Many schools stop allowing switches once Form 4 starts. Dropping an elective is something you can discuss with your school; adding one midway is much harder, and many schools don't allow it, because the missed lessons are hard to make up. Whether to take two or three is best settled in Form 3.

What universities look at

The general entrance requirement for a government-funded local degree is "332A" in the core: Level 3 in Chinese and English, Level 2 in Maths, and "Attained" in Citizenship and Social Development. On top of that come two electives: Level 3 at six of the eight universities, Level 2 at Lingnan and EdUHK. Individual programmes add subjects they require or prefer, so check before you choose.

Four angles to think from

The Education Bureau suggests thinking about electives from three angles: interest, ability and aspiration. We add a fourth: prospects, meaning the doors a combination opens or closes. The four won't always point at the same subject. That's normal; what matters is knowing what you're trading off.

Interest

EDB

You'll study it for three years; interest is what keeps you going.

  • In this subject's lessons, do you find yourself thinking one step further on your own?
  • Is it the subject you like, or the teacher who teaches it and the friends in the class?
  • Do you like how it's studied? Experiments, essays, calculation, making things: subjects differ a lot.

Ability

EDB

Look at how you do now, and at what the subject asks of you in the senior years.

  • How are your Form 3 marks in related subjects? Physics leans on maths; History and Chinese Literature on a lot of writing.
  • Some electives are taught in English. Can your English keep up?
  • What do your teachers say about you in this subject?

Aspiration

EDB

You don't have to know your career yet, but a direction helps you choose.

  • Which kinds of degree or work interest you, even roughly?
  • Which subjects does that direction require or prefer?
  • If you have no direction yet, which combination keeps the most doors open?

Prospects

Our addition

Every combination closes some doors. Know which ones.

  • Which programmes' subject requirements would this combination rule out?
  • Does two electives or three make a difference for the programmes you're considering?
  • If you drop one later, will the rest still be enough?
Don't take Physics because your friend did. In three years you're the one sitting the exam, not them.

Electives planner

The planner has a page of its own: one question per screen, then every combination you could take and the programmes each keeps open.

Free, no sign-in. What you enter stays in this browser.

Start planning →

21 electives, one by one

One card per subject: what you study, who it tends to suit, where it leads and one common misconception, with how the latest candidates did and links to the official subject pages. Applied Learning (Category B) and other languages (Category C) are covered under How choosing works.

Sciences

Biology

What you study
The compulsory part runs from cells and the molecules of life to genetics and evolution, living things and their environment, and health and disease. You then study two of four electives, such as biotechnology or applied ecology. Expect microscope work, dissections, experiments and fieldwork outdoors.
Who it suits
It suits you if you're curious about how plants, animals and your own body work, enjoy hands-on experiments and careful observation, and are happy to explain what you see in writing. It follows on from junior-form Science.
Where it leads
Biology is useful background for university biological sciences, biotechnology, environmental science, microbiology, food and nutrition science and bioinformatics, and is used in health fields such as medicine, Chinese medicine, nursing and physiotherapy.

Named in these university requirements

A common misconception
"Biology is all memorising: learn the textbook and you're done." In fact the HKEAA's objectives for the subject include forming hypotheses, planning investigations to check them, analysing data and weighing evidence. In Forms 5 and 6 you complete a set amount of practical work, such as experiments and fieldwork, which your teacher marks and which counts towards your result.
How the latest candidates did
2026 exam · 13,587 candidatesFull figures →
5 or above
20.0%
4 or above
45.9%
3 or above
72.8%
2 or above
92.0%

Official subject pages:EDB curriculumHKEAA subject information

Chemistry

What you study
The compulsory part goes from planet Earth, metals, and acids and bases to the energy, rates and equilibrium of reactions and the chemistry of carbon compounds. You then pick two of three electives: industrial, materials or analytical chemistry. Expect regular experiments, such as titrations and identifying unknown substances, plenty of calculation, and an investigative study.
Who it suits
It suits you if you wonder why substances change and what everyday materials are made of, like experiments and careful measuring, and enjoy calculating and spotting patterns. It follows on from junior-form Science and uses maths too.
Where it leads
Chemistry is useful background for university chemistry, chemical engineering, pharmacy, environmental science, food science and materials science, and is used in medicine, nursing, product inspection and certification, and energy and environmental management.

Named in these university requirements

A common misconception
"Chemistry is about doing experiments and watching colours change, with little maths." In fact many topics involve calculation, such as using the mole to work out amounts from formulae, or finding a solution's concentration from titration results. The HKEAA's assessment objectives include handling chemical data and doing calculations.
How the latest candidates did
2026 exam · 12,512 candidatesFull figures →
5 or above
25.4%
4 or above
50.5%
3 or above
76.6%
2 or above
88.2%

Official subject pages:EDB curriculumHKEAA subject information

Physics

What you study
The compulsory part covers motion and forces, heat and gases, waves, electricity and magnetism, plus radioactivity and nuclear energy. You then choose two of four electives: Astronomy and Space Science, Atomic World, Energy and Use of Energy, or Medical Physics. You'll do experiments, analyse data, describe the world with maths and carry out a group investigation.
Who it suits
It suits you if you wonder how things move, how light and sound travel and how electrical devices work, like finding patterns with maths and graphs, and enjoy hands-on experiments. It follows on from junior-form Science and uses maths often.
Where it leads
Physics is useful background for engineering, such as civil, mechanical and electrical engineering, and is used in medical physics and radiology, aviation and space science, quantum computing, and quantitative finance and fintech.

Named in these university requirements

A common misconception
"Physics is just memorising formulae and plugging in numbers." In fact you need to understand the ideas behind each formula and use them to explain what you see, draw conclusions from experimental data and judge its errors. The HKEAA's assessment objectives also include setting out your reasoning clearly and logically.
How the latest candidates did
2026 exam · 9,870 candidatesFull figures →
5 or above
28.6%
4 or above
50.3%
3 or above
73.6%
2 or above
90.6%

Official subject pages:EDB curriculumHKEAA subject information

Humanities and social sciences

Chinese History

What you study
From Form 4 you will take the revised course. Its compulsory part runs from earliest times to today, giving ancient and modern China equal weight and covering culture, the economy, science and technology, society and foreign contacts as well as politics. You then pick one of three themes to study in depth. Lessons centre on reading and comparing sources and writing well-supported answers.
Who it suits
It suits you if you keep asking why things happened, enjoy stories of people and dynasties, and are happy to read a lot and write long answers. It follows on from junior-form Chinese History, and the new course's structure is designed to link up with it.
Where it leads
Skills in handling sources and building arguments are used in university History, journalism, philosophy, Chinese language and literature, sociology and cultural studies, and in work such as archaeology, heritage conservation, archives, publishing and cultural tourism.

None of the programmes in the university table below names this subject; many degrees accept any two electives.

A common misconception
"Chinese History is just memorising dynasties and dates." In fact the course trains you to sort and analyse historical sources, judge whether they are reliable, and use them to support your own view. The HKEAA's assessment objectives for the subject include these skills of enquiry and argument.
How the latest candidates did
2026 exam · 5,791 candidatesFull figures →
5 or above
13.4%
4 or above
38.2%
3 or above
68.6%
2 or above
91.8%

Official subject pages:EDB curriculumHKEAA subject information

History

What you study
The revised course covers how the modern world took shape, the two world wars and the Cold War, and China's path to modernisation from the late Qing to today, including Hong Kong's development. You then choose one theme: international cooperation or the overseas Chinese. You analyse sources such as texts, maps, cartoons and photographs, and write essays.
Who it suits
You may enjoy it if the news makes you ask where things came from, you are curious about people and places around the world, and you like weighing different accounts before you decide. It builds on junior-form History, and the new course's structure is designed to link up with it.
Where it leads
Training in sources and independent thinking is used in university humanities, social sciences and business studies, in research on archaeology, anthropology and cultural heritage, and in jobs that call for close analysis, such as analyst and journalist.

None of the programmes in the university table below names this subject; many degrees accept any two electives.

A common misconception
"History is all foreign history and has nothing to do with China." The revised course strengthens the links between world and national history. A whole compulsory module follows China from the end of the monarchy through reform and opening-up to its role in the world today, and it covers Hong Kong's development too.
How the latest candidates did
2026 exam · 4,546 candidatesFull figures →
5 or above
13.7%
4 or above
42.0%
3 or above
74.0%
2 or above
93.9%

Official subject pages:EDB curriculumHKEAA subject information

Geography

What you study
The compulsory part is built around seven issues, including earthquakes and volcanoes, rivers and coasts, industry and cities, famine, disappearing rainforests and climate change, and you choose two of four electives. You read maps, analyse data and graphs, and leave the classroom for fieldwork.
Who it suits
It fits you if you like maps, notice changes in the weather and the places around you, care about how cities grow and how the environment is protected, and enjoy observing and collecting information outdoors. It builds on junior-form Geography.
Where it leads
Spatial thinking, map reading and data analysis are used in urban planning, landscape design, geographic information systems, surveying and geology, in government departments such as the Transport Department and the Highways Department, and in teaching Geography.

Named in these university requirements

A common misconception
"Geography is memorising place names and capital cities." Senior Geography is built around issues such as hazards, cities, food and climate, and asks you to collect and interpret data. Fieldwork is a formal part of lessons, and the HKDSE exam has a fieldwork question that every candidate answers.
How the latest candidates did
2026 exam · 7,798 candidatesFull figures →
5 or above
13.1%
4 or above
37.8%
3 or above
66.0%
2 or above
89.0%

Official subject pages:EDB curriculumHKEAA subject information

Economics

What you study
The compulsory part covers micro- and macroeconomics: demand and prices, firms and competition, efficiency and fairness, GDP, money and banking, unemployment and inflation, government policy and international trade. You use diagrams and data to analyse real issues, especially in Hong Kong. The course also allows you to study the compulsory part only.
Who it suits
It may interest you if you wonder why prices rise and fall or why governments choose certain policies, follow the news, and like explaining ideas with numbers and graphs. It builds on the economics in junior subjects such as Citizenship, Economics and Society.
Where it leads
Economic reasoning is used in university business, economics, marketing, finance, law and public administration, and in work such as market analysis, economic research, supply chain management and finance.

Named in these university requirements

A common misconception
"Economics teaches you how to invest and make money from shares." Economics is a social science. It studies how people, firms and governments choose when resources are limited, and how a whole economy works. You learn to analyse issues and judge policies with economic ideas.
How the latest candidates did
2026 exam · 11,393 candidatesFull figures →
5 or above
17.7%
4 or above
44.7%
3 or above
69.7%
2 or above
87.5%

Official subject pages:EDB curriculumHKEAA subject information

Ethics and Religious Studies

What you study
The compulsory part is ethics: you learn the main theories of right and wrong, then discuss personal and social issues such as human rights, life and death, marriage and family, bioethics and the environment. You also study Buddhism or Christianity in depth, with experiential learning through community service or observing religious practice.
Who it suits
It suits you if you often think about right and wrong or the meaning of life, enjoy discussion and hearing other views, and like setting out your own position clearly in writing. It builds on Religious Education and ethics lessons in the junior forms.
Where it leads
Reasoning about ethical questions is used in university philosophy, theology and religious studies, cultural studies, history, social work and public administration, and in work as social workers, counsellors, teachers, journalists and clergy.

None of the programmes in the university table below names this subject; many degrees accept any two electives.

A common misconception
"You have to be religious to take ERS, and lessons are for preaching." The compulsory part is ethics, where you use ethical theories to analyse real issues. The curriculum aims to help you make reasoned, informed judgements on moral and religious questions, and to respect other people's beliefs.
How the latest candidates did
2026 exam · 809 candidatesFull figures →
5 or above
8.0%
4 or above
29.2%
3 or above
66.5%
2 or above
91.2%

Official subject pages:EDB curriculumHKEAA subject information

Chinese Literature

What you study
You study 25 set works in depth, classical and modern, covering poetry, prose, fiction and drama, alongside pieces your teacher chooses and wider reading of classics, and learn to appreciate and critique them. The other main strand is creative writing: you try writing your own prose, poems, stories or plays.
Who it suits
You may find it rewarding if you love reading literature, old and new, can be moved by a poem or a passage, and enjoy writing your own pieces. It builds on the literature you read in junior-form Chinese Language.
Where it leads
Literary and writing skills are used in university literature, translation, education, journalism and communication, and cultural and language studies, and in work such as teaching and research, editing and reporting, writing and scriptwriting, and translation and interpreting.

None of the programmes in the university table below names this subject; many degrees accept any two electives.

A common misconception
"Chinese Literature is just extra Chinese Language with more classical texts." In fact creative writing is one of its two main strands. You write your own prose, poetry, fiction or drama: one whole HKDSE paper is creative writing, and the school-based assessment is made up of creative pieces too.
How the latest candidates did
2026 exam · 1,130 candidatesFull figures →
5 or above
14.7%
4 or above
37.0%
3 or above
68.5%
2 or above
89.3%

Official subject pages:EDB curriculumHKEAA subject information

Literature in English

What you study
You study a set of texts in depth: a novel, a play, short stories and poems, looking at themes, characters and how writers create effects, and you write critical essays in English. Film is part of the course too: the school-based assessment is an extended essay or analytical study on film.
Who it suits
It may be your kind of subject if you enjoy reading novels, plays and poems in English, think about what lies behind the camera work and plot when you watch a film, and like writing long pieces in English. It builds on literary reading in junior-form English Language.
Where it leads
Close reading and writing skills are used in university English literature, English studies, linguistics, translation, law, journalism and sociology, and in work such as teaching, creative writing, media, law, and translation and interpreting.

None of the programmes in the university table below names this subject; many degrees accept any two electives.

A common misconception
"Literature in English is just a more advanced English Language, mostly grammar drills." In fact it is about reading novels, plays, short stories and poems closely and making a case for what they mean, and you study film as well.
How the latest candidates did
2026 exam · 193 candidatesFull figures →
5 or above
25.9%
4 or above
54.9%
3 or above
82.4%
2 or above
93.8%

Official subject pages:EDB curriculumHKEAA subject information

Business, technology and applied studies

Business, Accounting and Financial Studies

What you study
BAFS splits into two strands, Accounting and Business Management. You take one, and the HKEAA reports them as separate results. Both cover the business environment, personal finance and the basics of the other strand. Accounting then goes deep into financial and cost accounting, with plenty of calculation; Business Management into human resources, marketing and finance, through case studies. There is no school-based assessment.
Who it suits
It suits you if you notice how shops, companies and money work around you, and like asking why one business thrives and another fails. The Accounting strand is about careful, step-by-step figures; Business Management is about discussing cases and writing analysis. Junior Maths comes in handy.
Where it leads
Useful background for business degrees such as accounting, finance, marketing, human resources and business administration, and for work in accounting, banking, retail or starting your own business. The personal-finance part is used by everyone who will one day borrow, save or invest.

Named in these university requirements

A common misconception
"BAFS is only for future accountants." In fact the course sets out to prepare you for four roles: consumer, investor, employee and entrepreneur. Personal finance, from credit and financial planning to investment risk, is compulsory in both strands, and if accounting isn't for you, there is the Business Management strand.
How the latest candidates did
Accounting2026 exam · 6,066 candidatesFull figures →
5 or above
15.4%
4 or above
43.6%
3 or above
71.2%
2 or above
92.3%
Business Management2026 exam · 2,680 candidatesFull figures →
5 or above
7.2%
4 or above
29.8%
3 or above
61.3%
2 or above
89.3%

Official subject pages:EDB curriculumHKEAA subject information

Tourism and Hospitality Studies

What you study
THS has five topics: tourism, hospitality, destination geography, customer relations and service, and trends and issues in the industry. You look at how hotels and travel agencies work and how tourism changes communities and the environment. Lessons can include case studies, field trips and role-play, and you practise writing essays.
Who it suits
It suits you if you're curious about travel, other cultures and how a city looks after its visitors, and you like seeing things from the customer's side. You'll read data, write essays and get to know many destinations. It builds on junior History, Geography and Integrated Humanities.
Where it leads
Useful background for degrees in tourism and hospitality management, environmental studies, or entertainment and business operations, and for jobs in hotels, travel agencies, attractions and other service work, where looking after customers' needs is used every day.

Named in these university requirements

A common misconception
"THS is a hands-on course in being a tour guide or working in a hotel." It studies the whole industry: why visitors pick a place, how its parts fit together and how tourism can last. The HKDSE has no practical assessment; your result comes from written papers, where essays ask you to analyse issues and argue a case.
How the latest candidates did
2026 exam · 4,026 candidatesFull figures →
5 or above
5.7%
4 or above
17.1%
3 or above
41.1%
2 or above
79.4%

Official subject pages:EDB curriculumHKEAA subject information

Health Management and Social Care

What you study
HMSC looks at physical, mental and social wellbeing across a whole life, health and social welfare systems in Hong Kong and elsewhere, and how communities care for people in need. There are five compulsory topics, then two of three elective modules. For school-based assessment you do field learning, for example in a health or social care organisation, then write a reflective journal.
Who it suits
It suits you if you care about people, notice issues like ageing or mental health, and are happy to go into the community and talk with people of all ages. You'll read data, analyse cases and write reflections. It builds on junior Science, Home Economics (or Technology and Living) and Citizenship, Economics and Society.
Where it leads
Useful background for studying nursing, social work, psychology, sociology, public health or early childhood education, and for work in healthcare, social services, education and public administration.

None of the programmes in the university table below names this subject; many degrees accept any two electives.

A common misconception
"HMSC is just medicine and biology." In fact it puts health and social care side by side. How people grow and relate to others at each stage of life, health and welfare policies, and care services in the community are all compulsory content, not only how the body works.
How the latest candidates did
2026 exam · 1,441 candidatesFull figures →
5 or above
4.4%
4 or above
19.6%
3 or above
47.2%
2 or above
85.2%

Official subject pages:EDB curriculumHKEAA subject information

Information and Communication Technology

What you study
The compulsory part covers information processing, computer systems, the internet, computational thinking and programming, and technology's effect on society. For the elective part you pick two of three options: databases, web application development, or algorithms and programming. You write working programs yourself, and the school-based assessment has you design, build and evaluate an information system.
Who it suits
It suits you if you like breaking a problem into small steps, building a solution and patiently hunting down the bug when it fails. Much of your time goes on writing, running and improving code. It builds on the computational thinking and coding from junior computer lessons.
Where it leads
Useful background for computer science, information systems and other computing degrees, and for work in software, web and database development. Using ICT well also helps in many other fields of study, from business to design and science.

Named in these university requirements

A common misconception
"ICT is about learning office software and typing." The curriculum taught from Form 4 in 2022/23 dropped word-processing and presentation content and doubled the compulsory programming time. You code real solutions in a programming language rather than only describing the steps, and you meet newer technologies such as AI.
How the latest candidates did
2026 exam · 5,687 candidatesFull figures →
5 or above
14.8%
4 or above
36.2%
3 or above
61.1%
2 or above
86.2%

Official subject pages:EDB curriculumHKEAA subject information

Design and Applied Technology

What you study
The compulsory part covers design and innovation, technological principles, and the value and impact of technology. You then choose two of five modules: Automation, Creative Digital Media, Design Implementation and Material Processing, Electronics, and Visualisation and CAD Modelling. The school-based assessment is a design project in which you make a prototype and present a portfolio.
Who it suits
It suits you if you like sketching ideas, making things with your hands and taking objects apart to see how they work, and you'll stick with one project through rounds of trying and improving. It builds on junior Technology Education, such as Design and Technology, and workshop experience.
Where it leads
Useful background for studying design, engineering, architecture, applied science and media communication, and for work in product design, engineering, the creative industries, and innovation and technology.

Named in these university requirements

A common misconception
"DAT is just woodwork and metalwork." Making is only one stage. The design project asks you to investigate what users need, write a design brief and specifications, come up with and judge ideas, and check the result. You can hand in a physical prototype that works, or a 3D computer model plus part of it built for real.
How the latest candidates did
2026 exam · 492 candidatesFull figures →
5 or above
4.7%
4 or above
15.0%
3 or above
31.9%
2 or above
72.4%

Official subject pages:EDB curriculumHKEAA subject information

Technology and Living

What you study
You take one of two strands, and the HKEAA reports them separately: food (Food Science and Technology), covering nutrition, food preparation and product development; or fashion (Fashion, Clothing and Textiles), covering fashion design, textiles and the apparel industry. Each has a compulsory part plus two of three electives. School-based assessment includes an experiment with a report, and a project or design folio.
Who it suits
It suits you if you're curious about the science and design behind food or clothes, and enjoy experiments, hands-on making and comparing products. It builds on junior Home Economics or Technology and Living, and its food and fabric experiments use lab skills from junior Science.
Where it leads
Useful background for studying nutrition, food science and product development, fashion design, textiles and fashion merchandising, and for roles such as dietitian, food product researcher or fashion designer.

None of the programmes in the university table below names this subject; many degrees accept any two electives.

A common misconception
"Technology and Living is just Home Economics: cooking and sewing." The senior subject took its new name to reflect its place in the curriculum and its two strands. You explain food and fabrics with science, run experiments and write reports, analyse how consumers choose, and develop a product or design to a brief.
How the latest candidates did
Food Science and Technology2026 exam · 141 candidatesFull figures →
5 or above
7.8%
4 or above
20.6%
3 or above
48.9%
2 or above
83.0%
Fashion, Clothing and Textiles2026 exam · 30 candidatesFull figures →
5 or above
6.7%
4 or above
30.0%
3 or above
60.0%
2 or above
80.0%

Official subject pages:EDB curriculumHKEAA subject information

Arts and Physical Education

Visual Arts

What you study
Two strands run side by side: appreciating art from different cultures in writing, and making art in many media. Over three years you build a portfolio on a theme you choose: a research workbook plus four pieces of artwork or critical studies. In the exam you pick a theme or design paper; both combine written appreciation with a piece made on the spot.
Who it suits
It suits you if you like observing and making things, are happy to put your views into writing, and can stay with one theme for a long time, trying ideas out and reworking them. It builds on junior-form art lessons in appreciating and making art, with more independent enquiry.
Where it leads
Skills in looking at and making art are used in university art, design, architecture and arts management, and in work such as fashion, product and interior design, visual communication, advertising, film and multimedia production, museum curating and art teaching.

Named in these university requirements

A common misconception
"Visual Arts is just drawing, so being good at drawing is enough." In fact writing matters too: the exam includes a written appreciation of artworks, and your portfolio's research workbook records how you gathered material, developed ideas and reflected. Portfolio work isn't limited to painting either: photography, ceramics, sculpture and digital art all count.
How the latest candidates did
2026 exam · 3,473 candidatesFull figures →
5 or above
6.9%
4 or above
23.4%
3 or above
52.0%
2 or above
87.3%

Official subject pages:EDB curriculumHKEAA subject information

Music

What you study
You study three modules side by side: listening, performing and creating. You listen to and analyse music from four areas: Western classical, Chinese instrumental, Cantonese opera, and local and Western pop. You perform in an ensemble and solo, explaining your interpretation, and compose two original pieces to set briefs, with scores and a reflective report.
Who it suits
It suits you if you enjoy all kinds of music and wonder how it is put together, already play an instrument or sing with confidence and practise regularly, and want to try composing. It takes the listening, performing and creating of junior-form music lessons a level deeper.
Where it leads
Musical knowledge and skills are used in university music courses and in arts management and criticism, and in work such as sound engineering, record and broadcast production, film, TV and stage production, multimedia and music therapy.

Named in these university requirements

A common misconception
"Music is only for pianists who study classical music." In fact you can perform on any Chinese or Western instrument, or sing, and Cantonese operatic songs and pop songs are welcome. Your compositions can be pop songs, Cantonese operatic songs or electronic pieces, and the listening covers Chinese instrumental music, Cantonese opera and local pop too.
How the latest candidates did
2026 exam · 173 candidatesFull figures →
5 or above
31.8%
4 or above
56.1%
3 or above
81.5%
2 or above
97.7%

Official subject pages:EDB curriculumHKEAA subject information

Physical Education

What you study
The course has nine theory parts: history, the human body, movement analysis, fitness and nutrition, training principles, sports injuries, sport psychology, social issues, and sport and recreation management. In the practicum you do fitness training, take part in at least two physical activities and help organise school or community events.
Who it suits
It suits you if you love sport, wonder how the body works and how to train better, will study theory and write long answers, and enjoy organising events and working with others. It builds on junior-form PE and draws on physiology, nutrition and physics.
Where it leads
What you learn is used in university sport science, physiotherapy, nursing, nutrition, PE and education, recreation management, psychology and journalism, and in work such as PE teaching and the wider sports industry.

Named in these university requirements

A common misconception
"PE is for athletes: it's just extra PE lessons." In fact the EDB says the subject is not designed only for athletes, and the written papers carry more weight than the practical exam. That exam assesses your fitness and two activities: one game such as basketball or badminton, and one of athletics, gymnastics or swimming.
How the latest candidates did
2026 exam · 1,481 candidatesFull figures →
5 or above
4.2%
4 or above
17.2%
3 or above
45.4%
2 or above
77.7%

Official subject pages:EDB curriculumHKEAA subject information

M1 and M2 have the next section to themselves: how they count, where they sit in your timetable, and when taking one makes sense. ↓

M1 or M2?

Besides the Compulsory Part everyone takes, Mathematics has an Extended Part with two modules: Module 1 (M1, Calculus and Statistics) and Module 2 (M2, Algebra and Calculus). It is optional: you can take one module or neither, but not both. Both modules build on the Compulsory Part and are studied alongside it.

The Education Bureau is reviewing the Extended Part's curriculum and assessment, with a consultation expected in 2026/27. What changes, and from which year, is for the EDB to announce.

It counts as an elective

Since 2024/25 the eight UGC-funded universities count M1 or M2 as one elective in their general entrance requirement. With one other elective, it can make up the two electives that requirement asks for, as long as it reaches the level each university sets. How an individual programme scores it is still up to that programme.

Where it sits in your timetable

Schools arrange it differently. Some put M1 or M2 in an elective block, where it takes the place of another elective; others teach it in extra lessons outside the blocks. Some schools also start M1 or M2 in Form 5 rather than Form 4. Your school's subject-choice form will show which, and that changes how many other electives you can take.

Who names M1 or M2

From the university table below: the programme families where at least one programme names M1 or M2. Each family's row shows which programmes, and how.

Counts towards a subject requirement

Preferred or weighted higher

The two modules

M1 (Calculus and Statistics)

What you study
M1 begins with more on exponential and logarithmic functions, then has two main areas. Calculus: you differentiate and integrate to handle rates of change and maximum and minimum values. Statistics: probability distributions, and estimating a whole population from a sample. Problems often come from real situations like population growth or compound interest, and you turn experimental data into straight-line graphs to find unknown constants.
Who it suits
It suits you if you like using maths to answer real questions, such as how fast something grows or how far to trust a survey's estimate, and you're patient with data and with saying what a result means. It builds on junior-form algebra and on the functions, probability and statistics of the Compulsory Part, studied alongside it.
Where it leads
M1's calculus, probability and statistical inference are used in economics, finance, insurance and actuarial work, business analytics and data science, and are useful background wherever data is analysed, from medical research and public health to psychology and the social sciences.

Named in these university requirements

A common misconception
"M1's statistics is just the charts and averages from junior forms." In fact M1 works with probability models, such as the binomial, Poisson and normal distributions, and uses a sample to estimate a whole population, with a confidence interval showing how far to trust it. In the EDB's suggested lesson time, calculus takes about as long as statistics.
How the latest candidates did
2026 exam · 2,984 candidatesFull figures →
5 or above
29.1%
4 or above
53.7%
3 or above
71.7%
2 or above
88.1%

Official subject pages:EDB curriculumHKEAA subject information

M2 (Algebra and Calculus)

What you study
M2 has two main areas. Algebra covers matrices, determinants, systems of linear equations, and vectors in two and three dimensions. Calculus covers differentiation and integration, used to sketch curves and find areas and volumes of solids of revolution. Groundwork includes mathematical induction, the binomial theorem and compound-angle formulas. You write out full derivations, and lessons may use software to explore graphs.
Who it suits
It suits you if you like asking why a formula is true, enjoy following a problem step by step to the end, and are curious about 3D space and abstract ideas such as matrices. It builds on junior-form algebra and on the functions, trigonometry and straight lines of the Compulsory Part, studied alongside it.
Where it leads
M2's calculus, matrices and vectors are used across engineering, physics, computer science and mathematics. The same tools sit underneath computer graphics, robotics, artificial intelligence and quantitative finance.

Named in these university requirements

A common misconception
"M2 is about memorising lots of formulas and plugging numbers in." In fact the EDB's curriculum guide says the module stresses understanding. You prove statements by mathematical induction, prove the binomial theorem and find derivatives from first principles, working from definitions to show why a result holds, not just applying it.
How the latest candidates did
2026 exam · 5,480 candidatesFull figures →
5 or above
37.9%
4 or above
60.7%
3 or above
80.9%
2 or above
93.2%

Official subject pages:EDB curriculumHKEAA subject information

What universities ask for

Sixteen families of degree programmes, and what the eight UGC-funded universities' programmes in each name among the electives. Every programme also has its university's general entrance requirement (see What universities look at, above); a row shows only what the programme names on top of it, at Level 3 unless another level is shown. Each subject links to its card.

Requires
The programme asks for this subject itself.
One of
Any one of these subjects meets the programme's requirement.
Preferred
Not required, but the programme prefers it or gives it more weight in its admission score.

Read from each programme's JUPAS page on 2026-11-09; the pages describe 2027 entry. You will apply about three years after that, and requirements can change, so check again in Form 5.

Medicine

HKU and CUHK both ask for Biology or Chemistry; CUHK also prefers the other one and strongly recommends a third elective or M1/M2. Both want English at Level 4.

Programmes cited: 2

Check with the planner

Physiotherapy, occupational therapy and other allied health

None of these programmes requires an elective. Five of PolyU's six weight sciences more heavily, and some M1/M2 too; the speech therapy programmes need fluent Cantonese and English, and some hold interviews.

Programmes cited: 8

Check with the planner

Chinese medicine

HKU asks for one of Biology, Chemistry or Physics, and HKBU for Biology or Chemistry (Chemistry for its Chinese medicine pharmacy degree); CUHK prefers a science but requires none.

Programmes cited: 4

Check with the planner

Engineering

Most programmes here ask for at least one science, and some accept ICT, DAT or M1/M2 in its place; CityU's PRIME asks for two from that list. CUHK Systems Engineering and PolyU name no subject but prefer or weight sciences and M1/M2.

Programmes cited: 6

Check with the planner

Computing and data science

Five of the eight ask for one subject from a list of sciences and ICT (HKU adds Economics; CUHK, CityU and EdUHK add M1/M2). PolyU and HKBU prefer or weight sciences; Lingnan names none.

Programmes cited: 8

Check with the planner

No elective named beyond the general requirement

Actuarial science and statistics

HKU Actuarial Science asks for M1 or M2 at Level 4, and CUHK Risk Management Science lists M1/M2 too; CUHK's actuarial degree sets a high maths level instead. The others name no elective, though PolyU and HKBU give some subjects more weight.

Programmes cited: 8

Check with the planner

No elective named beyond the general requirement

Architecture and surveying

Only CityU's Architecture and Civil Engineering names subjects (one from sciences, ICT, DAT and M1/M2); PolyU Building Engineering weights Physics and M1/M2. HKU and CUHK architecture ask for a portfolio instead.

Programmes cited: 7

Check with the planner

No elective named beyond the general requirement

Business and accounting

None of these programmes names an elective: any two that meet the general requirement are accepted. What differs is the core: HKU and HKUST want English at Level 4, and HKU, HKUST and CityU want Maths (Compulsory Part) at Level 3.

Programmes cited: 8

Check with the planner

Education

It depends on what you would teach: the science, mathematics, business and geography teaching degrees here ask for a related elective, but Chinese History teaching names none; PE prefers Physical Education, and early childhood programmes name none.

Programmes cited: 9

Check with the planner

Social sciences and psychology

None of these twelve programmes names an elective: any two that meet the general requirement are accepted.

Programmes cited: 12

Check with the planner

Communication and journalism

None of these programmes names an elective. Language counts for more: CUHK Global Communication wants English at Level 4, and HKBU prefers good Chinese and English results.

Programmes cited: 6

Check with the planner

Design and the arts

Few name a subject: CUHK prefers Visual Arts for Fine Arts and Music for Music, PolyU Design weights DAT, ICT and Visual Arts, and HKUST's design and technology degree asks for a science or ICT. Portfolios, practical tests and interviews often matter more.

Programmes cited: 9

Check with the planner

No elective named beyond the general requirement

Myths and common questions

Is an "easy" subject an easier route to a high grade?

Each subject's share of candidates at each level is often read as a measure of difficulty. In fact these percentages describe how the students who took a subject did, not how hard the subject is. Those who choose Physics or Chemistry are usually already strong in maths and science, and subjects with few candidates (Literature in English, Music) show generous figures for the same reason. The numbers tell you where a subject's students tend to land, not where you would. So instead of asking which subject is easy, ask which one you can keep going with, and which fits where you're headed.

Compare every subject's level shares →

What's wrong with choosing what my friends choose?

Your friends may not end up in your class, allocation may split you anyway, and in the exam hall it's you alone. Listen to them, but run the four angles above for yourself first.

Can I choose a subject because I like the teacher?

A good teacher can make a subject come alive, but schools assign Form 4 to 6 teachers afresh, and it may not be the same person. Imagine the subject with a different teacher: if you'd still want it, it's the subject you like.

Two electives or three?

The general university requirement asks for two electives, and M1/M2 can count as one of them. A third gives you room: some programmes score your best few subjects, more programmes' subject requirements come within reach, and there's a fallback if one subject goes badly. The cost is time: each extra elective takes study time from the core, English above all. If the core already stretches you, two electives done well often serve you better than three done poorly.

Is Applied Learning (ApL) a second-class choice?

No. The Education Bureau describes Applied Learning as a valuable senior elective that mixes theory with practice and links closely to fields of work. Results are reported as "Attained", "Attained with Distinction (I)" and "Attained with Distinction (II)"; the last two are treated as equal to Level 3, and to Level 4 or above, in a Category A subject. Universities and programmes treat ApL differently, though: some count it as an elective, some give bonus points, some use it only as extra information, so check before you rely on it. You apply through your school, and the course provider selects its students.

What if I choose wrong?

Talk to your school first. The Education Bureau's advice is that parents and students can ask the school about dropping or changing an elective, and work out a plan that fits the student's learning and further study. Dropping is usually easier than switching or adding. Remember too that many programmes name no elective at all, and after the exam there are other routes, such as sub-degrees and Higher Diplomas. The choice matters, but it doesn't decide everything.

Some electives are taught in English. What should I watch for?

Some schools teach certain electives in English and may set an English mark you need to take them; your school's subject information has the details. In the exam itself, the HKEAA doesn't require you to answer in your school's teaching language. In most subjects you can choose Chinese or English (Chinese Language, English Language, Chinese Literature, Literature in English and Chinese History are set in one language only), and neither your results notice nor your certificate shows which you used.

My school doesn't offer the subject I want. What now?

Ask your school about other routes, such as taking it through a local school network where one exists, and work out a plan that fits your learning and further study. Music can also be studied at the Arts and Technology Education Centre, applied for through your school. For a Category C language you sit a designated language exam yourself, which is also best discussed with your school first.

Timeline

A typical year. Your school's own notices set the real dates.

  1. Form 3, first term (about November to January)

    Schools hold subject-choice talks and parents' evenings, and some run taster lessons. There are also Applied Learning taster courses for Forms 2 to 4, applied for through your school.

  2. Form 3, second term (about February to April)

    Many schools run a mock selection to gauge demand. Marks from this stretch are often used to allocate places, so the second term counts too.

  3. May to July

    The real form goes in. The school allocates subjects by marks and places, and results usually come out around the end of the school year.

  4. Form 4, September

    Lessons begin. Many schools no longer allow switching after this; dropping a subject is a conversation with your school.

  5. Form 3 or Form 4

    Applied Learning courses start in Form 4 (ending in Form 5) or in Form 5 (ending in Form 6), and you apply through your school. For a Form 5 start you apply during Form 4; for a Form 4 start, ask your school when applications open.

For parents

The Education Bureau's advice to parents: help your child see their own interests, abilities and aspirations, look up course information together, give your view on what different combinations make possible and where they lead, and plan the future together. In practice:

  • Read the school's subject-choice notice and block table together, including how places are allocated and the rules on dropping or switching.
  • Ask what your child thinks before you say what you think. They're the one in the lessons, the revision and the exam hall for three years.
  • If your child has a direction in mind, look up those programmes' subject requirements together. If not, a combination that keeps more doors open is the safer bet.
  • When in doubt, ask the class teacher, the subject teachers or the careers teacher: they know the school's arrangements, and your child, best.

See also:The block exampleTimelineStart planning →

Sources

  1. [1]officialEducation Bureau. Senior secondary curriculum and subject choice, parents' talk 2026: key questions and answers (in Chinese) (read 2026-11-09)
  2. [2]officialEducation Bureau. Education Bureau Circular No. 14/2026: Enhancement Measures for the Curriculum Structure for Implementing Senior Secondary Science and Mathematics Subjects (read 2026-11-09)
  3. [3]officialEducation Bureau. Key learning areas: overview (read 2026-11-09)
  4. [4]officialEducation Bureau. Applied Learning (read 2026-11-09)
  5. [5]officialHKEAA. HKDSE subject information (read 2026-11-09)
  6. [6]officialHKEAA. 2026 HKDSE Examination Results Released (press release): day-school candidates' results by subject (read 2026-11-09)
  7. [7]officialHKEAA. Category C subjects (read 2026-11-09)
  8. [8]officialJUPAS. Joint University Programmes Admissions System (read 2026-11-09)

Exam statistics on this page are the HKEAA's. Universities' entrance requirements can change every year, so their latest announcements are what count. Your school sets its blocks, places and rules on dropping subjects, and its arrangements and your teachers' advice come first. Dsetopia is not affiliated with the HKEAA, the EDB or any university.