Shocking comparison between GCE and HKALE by UK NARIC

Student Lounge International Students
1

<p><a href="http://www.hkeaa.edu.hk/doc/isd/press_20080125_eng.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.hkeaa.edu.hk/doc/isd/press_20080125_eng.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>you just have to scroll down and look at the table.
for A levels
HKALE --> GCE
A->A
B->A
C->A
D->B
E->C/D
F->E/F</p>

2

<p>I didn't realise the bell curve for the GCE A was tipped so strongly towards giving out more As......We have to remember this grade equivalence study was done based upon achieving equal percentages of students in in each grade category. This study does not shed much light on the how difficult the actual HKALE paper is compared to GCE, it only shows how difficult it is to score well in the HKALE.</p>

3

<p>which gce are you talking about? the edexcel or which uk board? or the CIE one? which ONE?</p>

4

<p>Cambridge Certificate</p>

5

<p>i do edexcel.</p>

6

<p>I am not sure which GCE but it's even more shocking if it were CIE because it is supposed to be harder than the native GCE's in the UK</p>

7

<p>what about the UCLES GCE?</p>

8

<p>I have pointed out how ridiculous the HK exam board has been on this for MANY years before. The funny thing is they seem to be very proud of this and just let it continue to hurt HK students applying for colleges overseas! I believe this is largely the reason why HK is on par with Singapore in educational standard, yet Singaporean students are much more well-represented in top colleges.</p>

<p>As an anecdote, one of my best friends that could easily be top-5% in the US and got 800 on SAT math got a D on his HKALE pure math. He got 7A/2B on HKCEE which translates to 9A* and 7A*2A on GCSE according to that table.</p>

9

<p>limnieng,</p>

<p>
[quote]
This study does not shed much light on the how difficult the actual HKALE paper is compared to GCE, it only shows how difficult it is to score well in the HKALE.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Actually the HKALE papers are usually more difficult (except English or English Lit...for obvious reason). They have to make it difficult enough so they can achieve the kind of grading curve they want. For example, if they predetermine only 2% get A, they have to make sure no more than 2% get perfect score.</p>

10

<p>That's really unfair for those taking HKALE, lowering their chances at overseas colleges significantly. But on the bright note, that makes them way more qualified than any other students at whichever college they end up in! So in other words, they'll become the BIG fish in that small pond.</p>