For millions of Chinese families, the university entrance examination is not merely an academic milestone — it is a defining moment that shapes a young person’s entire future. Historically, that examination was the Gaokao, and the path it opened led almost exclusively to mainland Chinese universities. But over the past decade, a significant shift has been underway. A rising number of mainland students and their families are choosing to sit the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) examination as an alternative — or a complement — to the Gaokao, unlocking a fundamentally different set of opportunities.
This article provides a thorough, side-by-side analysis of both examination systems: what they test, how they are scored, where they can take you, and why the DSE is increasingly attractive to students who want more than a single pathway defined by a single exam week.
The National College Entrance Examination, universally known as the Gaokao (高考), is administered by the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China. Taken over two to three days in June, it is among the most high-stakes examinations in the world, with approximately 13 million candidates sitting each year. Its scores are the primary (and in most cases, the only) criterion for admission to Chinese universities, determining not just whether a student gets in, but to which institution and which major.
The Gaokao carries enormous social weight. Decades of investment in preparation — supplementary classes, tutoring, practice papers — reflect the reality that for most mainland students, a few days in June carry the full weight of twelve years of schooling.
The Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination is administered by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA). It marks the end of Hong Kong’s secondary education cycle and serves as the primary qualification for entry into Hong Kong’s eight University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded universities. Unlike the Gaokao, the DSE is also recognised by over 300 universities and institutions outside mainland China, including top universities in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, the United States, and Singapore.
Since 2012, the HKEAA has permitted mainland Chinese students to register and sit DSE examinations as “cross-boundary candidates.” This policy, combined with the examination’s growing international recognition, has produced what educators and commentators call the “DSE mainland candidacy” trend — a steady and accelerating flow of students from cities across China who see the DSE not as a backup, but as a strategic choice.
China does not run a single uniform Gaokao. Over the past several years, provinces have transitioned between two structural models:
Traditional Model (still used in some provinces): Three compulsory subjects — Chinese, Mathematics, and a Foreign Language (typically English) — plus either Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) or Humanities (History, Geography, Politics) as a combined block. The total score is 750 points.
New “3+1+2” Reform Model (adopted in most provinces since 2021): Three compulsory core subjects remain — Chinese, Mathematics, Foreign Language — each worth 150 points. Students then choose one of two mandatory electives (Physics or History, worth 100 points each) and two further electives from a menu of four subjects (Chemistry, Biology, Geography, Politics), each worth 100 points. Total score: 750 points.
“3+3” Model (Zhejiang, Shanghai, some other provinces): Three compulsory subjects plus three freely chosen subjects from a pool of six or seven. This model offers the most flexibility but is available only in select regions.
Regardless of the model, all Gaokao examinations are delivered over approximately three days in early June, and the scores from that single sitting — with no option to retake individual subjects — are final.
The DSE follows a different philosophy. Students sit examinations across multiple sessions in April and May, spread over several weeks. The structure is:
4 Core Subjects (compulsory for all students):
2-3 Elective Subjects (chosen from a broad menu): Students select from approximately 20 elective subjects, which include sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Combined Science), humanities (History, Geography, Economics, Business, Accounting), languages (Japanese, French, Putonghua), arts subjects (Visual Arts, Music), and more. Students can also choose Mathematics Extended (Module 1 or Module 2) as a supplementary elective.
One structural difference that matters enormously: DSE examinations for different subjects are spread across weeks, and in most cases students can resit the examination the following year for individual subjects. This stands in sharp contrast to the Gaokao’s all-or-nothing concentrated sitting.
The Gaokao is scored on a straightforward raw-score system. Total scores are out of 750, and provincial admission cut-offs (called “batch lines”) determine eligibility for different tiers of universities. Because different provinces use different examination papers and have different quotas, a score of 600 in Henan Province carries different implications than the same score in Tibet. The system is transparent in its mechanism but deeply unequal in its geographic distribution.
The DSE uses a standards-referenced grading system. Each subject is graded on a scale from 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest), with the highest band divided into:
This system means that grades carry consistent meaning year over year, regardless of the overall difficulty of the paper or the performance of other candidates. A student who achieves 5** in Physics in 2026 has demonstrated the same standard as a student who achieved 5** in Physics in 2019.
Minimum university entry requirements in Hong Kong typically demand Level 3 or above in Chinese and English, with Level 2 in Mathematics and one other subject. Competitive programmes at top universities may require multiple 5* or 5** grades.
For mainland students sitting DSE, Chinese Language may be a natural advantage, while English Language performance is a key differentiator for accessing English-medium degree programmes.
| Dimension | HKDSE | Gaokao |
|---|---|---|
| Administering body | HKEAA (Hong Kong) | Ministry of Education (PRC) |
| Annual candidates | ~50,000 HK students + growing mainland cohort | ~13 million |
| Examination period | April–May, spread over 4–5 weeks | 2–3 days in June |
| Structure | 4 core + 2–3 electives | 3 core + 3 or 1+2 electives |
| Total subjects tested | 6–7 | 6 |
| Grading | Level 1–5** (standards-referenced) | Raw scores out of 750 |
| Resit flexibility | Yes — individual subjects each year | No — full exam retake only |
| Primary university pathway | Hong Kong UGC universities via JUPAS | Mainland universities |
| International recognition | 300+ universities worldwide | Primarily mainland China |
| Language of instruction | Bilingual (Chinese + English) | Mandarin Chinese |
| English examination | Compulsory core subject | Optional foreign language (English most common) |
| Mainland candidacy | Open to mainland students | N/A |
| Admission system | JUPAS (HK) or direct application | National/provincial parallel-volunteer system |
The Gaokao score is submitted to a centralised provincial system. Students fill in a list of preferred universities and programmes (called “volunteers,” 志愿) either before or after scores are released, depending on the province. Universities then admit students in descending score order until all spots are filled. The process is highly competitive for top-tier institutions: admission to Peking University and Tsinghua University typically requires provincial top-percentile performance, and even solid 985-university admission can demand scores above 650 in competitive provinces.
The Gaokao is not accepted by the vast majority of overseas universities, with rare exceptions. It is an effective gateway to mainland Chinese higher education and essentially nothing else in terms of direct admission.
In Hong Kong: JUPAS
Hong Kong’s Joint University Programmes Admissions System (JUPAS) is the equivalent of the mainland parallel-volunteer system, but it operates differently. Students submit up to 25 programme choices across eight universities. JUPAS processes applications based on DSE grades, and each programme publishes its own admissions band statistics. For the most sought-after programmes — medicine at HKU or CUHK, law, and certain engineering specialisations — the requirements are extremely competitive, with typical successful applicants holding multiple 5* and 5** grades.
Mainland students admitted to Hong Kong universities via DSE are treated under the same admissions framework as local Hong Kong students through JUPAS, giving them equal standing — not a “mainland quota” pathway. This is a meaningful distinction.
Internationally: Direct Application
The DSE’s recognition by over 300 overseas institutions means that a student with strong DSE results can apply directly to universities in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Singapore, and increasingly the United States. The HKEAA publishes and maintains a list of recognised universities, and many institutions publish explicit DSE entry requirements, specifying the grade levels they accept in lieu of A-levels, IB scores, or other qualifications.
This dual-pathway nature is one of the DSE’s most significant strategic advantages for mainland students: a single examination opens both Hong Kong and global doors.
The number of mainland students registering for the DSE has grown steadily since cross-boundary candidacy opened in 2012. By the early 2020s, tens of thousands of mainland candidates per year were sitting the examination, concentrated primarily in Guangdong Province given its proximity to Hong Kong, but with growing cohorts from cities including Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu, and beyond.
Several factors drive this trend:
1. Strategic Hedging Some families use DSE as insurance alongside Gaokao. Students who perform below expectations in the Gaokao have an alternative qualification already in hand. Given the resit flexibility of DSE (individual subjects can be retaken in subsequent years), a student can build up their grade profile over time.
2. Genuine International Ambition For families already planning overseas education, DSE provides a recognised international qualification with a well-understood grading benchmark. The cost of sitting DSE is lower than enrolling in an international curriculum full-time (such as IB or A-levels), making it a pragmatic route to international recognition.
3. Hong Kong University Admission Hong Kong’s top universities — HKU, CUHK, HKUST, PolyU, CityU, and others — carry significant prestige both domestically and internationally. The QS World University Rankings regularly places HKU and HKUST in the global top 50. Admission through DSE as a cross-boundary candidate follows the same JUPAS process, with no separate “mainland quota” ceiling in the way that mainland universities have for foreign applicants.
4. English Proficiency Development The DSE’s compulsory English Language examination forces candidates to develop and demonstrate functional English proficiency. For students planning careers in finance, law, medicine, engineering, or any internationally connected field, this credential carries real value.
International University Recognition This is the most concrete advantage. A Gaokao score, however high, does not directly earn admission to Cambridge, Melbourne, Toronto, or NUS. DSE grades do. For families with international aspirations, this is not an incremental benefit — it is a structural difference.
Lower Competition for Top Hong Kong Universities While competition for HKU and HKUST is fierce, the overall cohort sitting DSE is dramatically smaller than the Gaokao’s 13 million candidates. This does not mean admission is easier for competitive programmes, but the absolute number of candidates competing for the same pool creates a different dynamic.
Standards-Referenced Rather Than Relative Scoring The DSE’s standards-referenced grading system means that a student’s grade reflects what they can do, not where they rank among peers that year. This can be psychologically and strategically preferable for students who want their qualifications to carry consistent meaning across time and geography.
Pathway to English-Medium Education Hong Kong’s universities are largely English-medium. Studying in Hong Kong prepares mainland students for the rigours of English-language academic work in ways that mainland institutions — which operate primarily in Mandarin — do not. For students who subsequently pursue postgraduate study abroad, Hong Kong serves as an effective bridge.
Subject Flexibility and Extended Timelines The ability to retake individual DSE subjects across multiple years, and to choose a subject combination aligned with one’s strengths, offers planning flexibility that the Gaokao’s single-sitting, fixed-structure model does not.
Access to Mainland Universities DSE results are not accepted by mainland Chinese universities for domestic admission purposes. A student who wants to attend Peking University, Tsinghua, Fudan, or Zhejiang University must sit the Gaokao. The two examinations serve fundamentally different primary markets.
Familiarity and Infrastructure Mainland students are embedded in an educational ecosystem built around Gaokao preparation. The curriculum, the teachers, the supplementary materials, the school culture — all of it points toward the Gaokao. Preparing for DSE as a mainland student requires deliberate effort to access the right curriculum and support, and is typically done through specialist schools or tutorial centres offering DSE-aligned instruction.
Certainty and Simplicity For families with no international ambitions and whose goal is the best possible mainland university, the Gaokao is the right and only tool. Its dominance in mainland university admission is total and unlikely to change. Using DSE in this scenario adds cost and complexity without benefit.
Curriculum Alignment DSE subjects are designed around Hong Kong’s secondary school curriculum. Mainland students preparing for DSE need access to Hong Kong-aligned teaching materials, past papers, and ideally teachers familiar with HKEAA marking standards. This is increasingly available through tutorial centres in Guangdong and online providers, but requires intentional effort.
Language of Papers Most DSE papers are available in both Chinese and English (with English Language obviously in English only). Mainland students who take electives in Chinese can often transition more smoothly, but those targeting English-medium university admission will need strong English Language performance.
Examination Fees and Logistics Cross-boundary candidates pay examination fees in Hong Kong dollars and must travel to Hong Kong to sit the examinations. Logistical planning — accommodation, travel, visa documents — is necessary for students outside Guangdong.
Timing Relative to Gaokao DSE examinations run April–May; the Gaokao is in early June. It is physically possible for a determined student to sit both in the same year, though the preparation demands are significant and the two examinations test somewhat different skills and knowledge bases.
Different tools for different goals. The Gaokao is the gateway to mainland Chinese universities. The DSE is the gateway to Hong Kong universities and a recognised qualification for 300+ international institutions. They are not directly competing alternatives — they serve different ambitions.
Structure and format differ meaningfully. DSE tests 4 core + 2-3 electives across several weeks with year-round resit options. Gaokao tests 6 subjects over 2-3 days with no subject-level resits. DSE’s spread-out structure reduces single-day pressure; Gaokao’s concentration is both its strength and its defining stress.
Grading philosophies diverge. DSE’s 1–5** standards-referenced system measures absolute competency. Gaokao’s raw-score system measures relative performance within a provincial cohort. Neither is objectively superior, but they reward different preparation strategies and carry different implications for portability.
The mainland candidacy trend reflects genuine strategic value. Rising numbers of mainland students sit DSE not because it is easier — it is not — but because it opens doors the Gaokao cannot. For families weighing international options, DSE preparation is an increasingly rational investment.
JUPAS and China’s parallel-volunteer system are functionally analogous but structurally independent. Both are centralised admission systems that match students to programmes based on examination results. DSE results feed JUPAS for Hong Kong admission; Gaokao results feed the provincial system for mainland admission. Neither accepts the other’s examination.
DSE provides a genuine English-medium credential. The compulsory English Language paper means all DSE holders have demonstrated tested English proficiency — a portable signal to international universities and employers that Gaokao scores do not carry.
There is no shortcut. Mainland students who excel in DSE do so because they prepare rigorously for its specific curriculum and format. The examination is demanding, the 5** grade is genuinely difficult to achieve, and superficial preparation produces superficial results. The opportunity is real; so is the work required to seize it.
This article is produced by DSE Knowledge Hub as part of a series on examination systems, university pathways, and educational planning for students in Greater China and beyond.