ABSTRACT

Abstract School-based assessment (SBA) is a form of formative assessment involving

feedbacks and appraisals to students based on their school-based projects; it enables students
to identify and improve on their areas of weakness and teachers to adjust their teaching
strategies accordingly (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development [OECD],
2005). SBA is still a relatively new concept for most senior secondary school subjects in
Hong Kong – yet it is now heavily incorporated into Hong Kong’s New Senior Secondary
(NSS) Curriculum since the introduction of the New Academic Structure (NAS) in 2009.
SBA has spawned numerous debates on its efficacy in Hong Kong and worldwide. This study
gives an overview of the current issues related to SBA in Hong Kong through the eyes of the
administrative and teaching stakeholders by utilizing territory-wide data of 91 secondary
schools in Hong Kong from the most recent NSS Curriculum Study conducted in 2011-12

SCHOOL BASED ASSESMENT IN HONG KONG

The education system in Hong Kong is quite different from the education system in
Malaysia. The primary education in Hong Kong starts from 6 to 11 years old and pupils are
taught six subjects which are English, Chinese, Mathematics, General Studies, Music, Visual
Arts and physical education. After that, they will continue their secondary education for 7
years at the age of 12 to 18 years old that can be separated into junior and senior years. In
junior years, they are taught additional subjects such as history, geography and science and
other subjects. While, in senior years, this becomes more selective and students have a choice
over what and how much is to be studied.

Since 2000, the Hong Kong government has made the first reform in the
implementation of the large-scale education system by introducing a new culture in the
assessment system. The previous primary education is more competitive and selectively has
received great criticism from the public (Yu, Kennedy, Fok, & Chan, 2006). Therefore, the
school-based assessment system has been introduced with an approach called core-
competence which are basic skills and knowledge will be used as reference for student
learning assessments. Teachers are encouraged to diversify different assessment modes to
accommodate the purpose of learning at school. Such as student performance observations,
self-assessment, peer-to-peer, portfolio performance and project work grouping to encourage
learning conducted in flexible way.

The assessment system in secondary school also has some reforms. The Hong Kong
Examination and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) have changed the old assessment system
to the new assessment system. In the former education system, secondary education has two
public exams namely the Hong Kong Certification of Education Examination (HKCEE) and
the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE). HKCEE is taken when students are
in form 5 (17 years) while HKALE for form 7 (19 year) students. Hong Kong education has
shifted these exams to Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE)
and a form four student in 2009 became the pioneer of the new examination.
 The HKDSE exam is designed to assess the achievement of candidates with different
abilities, taken from form 4 to form six secondary schools. After that, they further studies
for 4 years at university. In the HKDSE, students will take 2 assessments that are public
examinations and school based assessment (SBA). Public examination covers two papers
which carry a score of 80% while another one is school-based assessment (SBA) that
contribute scores 20%. In 2012 and 2013, the school will be required to send practical
training scores but starting in 2013, the SBA scores must include practical training and
research studies. School Based Assessment (SBA) in Hong Kong has two components that
need to be assessed which are the first task is related to practical task and the second is non
practical task. Public exams are still being used in HKDSE as it can be used as tools to test
the level of knowledge and understanding of students in each field.

School-based assessments (SBA) have been inserted in HKDSE for the purpose of
increasing validity to assess the practical skills of students as well as their generic skills. So
that, all students can be assessed based on their ability accurately. Other than that, another
reason why Hong Kong Examination and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) introduced SBA
in the HKDSE examination to reduce the reliance of scores on public examinations.
Implementation of SBA, students will also be assessed based on their skills and progress in
science skills. The reliability of an assessment can also be improved through SBA as its
format is based on student observations. It can also give positive influence and effect on the
student learning system, each student is no longer just focusing on exams, but the learning
system will be more focused on the students.

In SBA, assessment is made based on the ability of a student to handle their. Hence,
in this assessment it is necessary to co-ordinate it to be fair and accurate for every school and
student. The student work will be judged fairly based on the scoring criteria provided by the
authorities. Standardization will also be provided as a guide to assess their work and their
scores will be sent to the HKEAA (Hong Kong examination and assessment authority) for
review and their assessed work results. In SBA, HKEAA will generate statistics to compare
the scores of students among schools. In this way, we can see the quality of the students
themselves in their schools, even though, these SBA have been adjusted. In the division of
scores, teachers should also follow the guidelines provided.

With that, students will graduate and can continue their studies to a higher level a year
earlier. Between 3 years of assessment in HKDSE is reading activity, course work, student
participation in group work and project preparation. (HKDSE, 2009). SBA is slowly
incorporated in most subjects except for Mathematics and Business, Accounting &
Financial Studies and Physical Education.
References

https://www.edb.org.hk/HKTC/download/journal/j12/HKTCJv12_06-A02.pdf

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School-based_assessment

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/238079721_School-
based_Assessment_in_Hong_Kong_Policies_Issues_and_Practice