- See DSE Mathematics Examination System in One Page
- Grade distribution announced by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority
- Official facts versus common rumors
- The division of labor and reading order of the 11 strategies
- Index by symptom: Which article does your question correspond to?
- Index by Grade: What to Do Now
This page is the entry point to all DSE maths strategies. Each of the 11 articles deals with a specific issue, but they share the same institutional basis - rather than repeating it in each article, it is better to collect the Form here once. If you only have five minutes, reading the following two tables is already better than most candidates who only review based on their impressions.
1. A clear view of the DSE mathematics examination system in one page
Core two test papers
| test paper | question type | time | Full marks | account for subjects | structure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | For traditional questions, all calculation steps must be presented | 2 hours 15 minutes | 105 points | 65% | Part A (1) 35 points (questions 8 to 11 are easier); Part A (2) 35 points (questions 4 to 7 are more difficult); Part B 35 points (questions 4 to 7, the deepest) |
| Paper 2 | multiple choice questions | 1 hour 15 minutes | 45 points | 35% | There are 45 questions in total; Part A accounts for about two-thirds of the entire volume, and Part B accounts for about one-third. |
three parts Same portions This is worth paying special attention to: Part A (1) is the same as Part B at 35 points. Many students devote most of their time to questions of moderate difficulty, only to lose points in Part A (1) due to carelessness, and only get half of Part B for a long time - both ends are missing. See detailed disassembly Paper 1 Answering Tips.
Topic scope: Junior secondary topics never leave
| part | Question scope |
|---|---|
| Paper 1 Part A | Fundamentals of Core and Form 1 to Form 3 Mathematics Curriculum |
| Paper 1, Part B | Core and Form 1 to Form 3 courses basics and non-basic part |
| Volume 2A (about two-thirds) | Basic topics of Core and basic parts of Form 1 to Form 3 courses |
| Paper 2 Part B (about one third) | Core and entire Form 1 to Form 3 courses |
In other words, factoring, percentages and interest, similarity and congruence, Pythagorean theorem, quadrature method, basic statistics and probability are all directly testable contents. This is why students with unstable foundations should first look back rather than catch up. See Mathematics supplementary courses.
Course content: 17 official learning units
| Learning scope | unit of study |
|---|---|
| Numbers and Algebra (9 pieces) | Quadratic equations, functions and their graphs, exponential functions and logarithmic functions, continued polynomials, continued equations, variations, arithmetic and geometric sequences and their summation methods, inequalities and linear programming, graphs of continued functions |
| Measurement, Figures and Space (4 pieces) | Basic properties of circles, trajectories, equations of straight lines and circles, continued triangles |
| Data processing (4 pieces) | Permutations and combinations, continuous probability, measurement of dispersion, applications of statistics |
| Advanced Learning Unit | Comprehensively apply knowledge and skills from three areas to solve cross-topic problems |
Extended Modules M1 and M2
| unit | three learning areas | Exam format |
|---|---|---|
| M1 Calculus and Statistics | Basic knowledge (binomial expansion, exponential and logarithmic functions)/calculus (derivative method and its application, integration method and its application)/statistics (advanced probability, binomial distribution, geometric distribution, Poisson distribution, normal distribution, sampling distribution and point estimation, population mean confidence interval) | One test paper, 2 hours and 30 minutes, full mark is 100 points, Part A and Part B are about 50 points each, all must be answered |
| M2 Algebra and Calculus | Basic knowledge (radicals, mathematical induction, binomial theorem, continued trigonometric functions, number e and natural logarithms)/calculus (limits, derivation, integration and their applications)/algebra (determinants, matrices, systems of linear equations, vectors, scalar products and vector products) |
Please see the subject selection considerations M1 M2 comparison; See the in-depth guide M1 complete guide and M2 complete guide.
2. Grade distribution announced by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority
The HKEAA publishes performance statistics for each subject every year, listing the percentage of candidates who achieved each level. The following is the range of maths Core in recent years:
| Percentage of candidates who meet the standard | Remark | |
|---|---|---|
| 5** | About 1.3% to 1.5% | The highest number is about 10% among candidates with Level 5 or above |
| 5* or above | About 5% to 6% | The highest rate among Level 5 and above candidates is about 40% |
| 5 or above | About 13% to 15% | Common thresholds for competing academic departments |
| 4 or above | About 36% to 40% | — |
| 3 or above | About 57% to 59% | Mathematics requirements for core subject "3322" |
| 2 or above | About 80% to 83% | — |
This set of numbers is internally consistent with the rating mechanism. Level 5 and above adopt norm-referenced breakdown, and up to about 10% of candidates who have reached Level 5 or above will obtain 5**. If level 5 or above in a given year is 13.6%, one-tenth of that is exactly about 1.4% - consistent with the published 5** percentage. This leads to a practical conclusion:Your competition is not all candidates, but the 13% to 15% who have reached Level 5. In this group, everyone basically knows how to do most of the questions, and the score difference almost entirely comes from avoidable points loss.
3. Comparing official facts with common rumors
Each of the following is a myth that we encounter over and over again in our teaching and that students firmly believe. Compare official information item by item.
| Common saying | actual situation |
|---|---|
| "5** requires about 90% to 94% score" | There are no official cutoffs. DSE adopts level-referenced grade reporting, HKEAA never announced The raw scores or percentages corresponding to each level of any subject; Level 5 and above are relative rankings rather than absolute scores. Figures circulating online are all estimates and can vary by about 5 percentage points from different sources. |
| "About 4% of candidates get 5** every year" | According to the HKEAA results statistics, Mathematics Core 5** is about 1.3% to 1.5%, not 4%. The actual rarity is nearly three times higher than this claim. |
| "Paper 1: Short questions in Part A account for 35%, and long questions in Part B account for 30%." | Roll one point three parts: Part A(1), Part A(2) and Part B,Each part is worth 35 points, a total of 105 points. The three parts are of the same weight, and part B is by no means a small portion. |
| "MC will deduct points for wrong answers. If you don't know the answer, it's not easy to fill it in." | Each question in Paper 2 is worth 1 point.No points will be deducted for wrong answers. When time is short, the expected value of filling in a quick estimate must be higher than leaving it blank. |
| "Junior secondary content will not be tested" | Paper 1 Part A covers courses from Form 1 to Form 3 basic part, Part B covers the basics and non-basic Part; Part B of Paper 2 covers more entire Form 1 to Form 3 courses. |
| "There is school-based assessment in mathematics, which can improve your scores." | Core No school-based assessment, the overall score is only composed of Paper 1 (65%) and Paper 2 (35%), and there is no third component to remedy it. |
| "The calculator cannot be programmed" | Can use pre-stored For calculation programme, but the computer must be a model approved by the HKEAA and bear the label "H.K.E.A.A. APPROVED" or "H.K.E.A. APPROVED", and the programme No text data may be stored. Missing tags may result in points being deducted; bringing in an unauthorized computer that can gain an unfair advantage by retrieving data may result in disqualification from the entire exam. |
| "It doesn't matter if the answer is wrong." | Roll one click reasoning steps Give points. Even if the final answer is wrong, you can still get some points for the correct derivation; on the contrary, if you skip too many steps, you will be deducted even if the answer is correct. So it should never be left blank. |
For detailed descriptions of each item, see 5** Strategy (Rating mechanism and Paper 1 structure),Paper 2 Strategy (Strategic implications of not setting negative points) and Computer strategy (Rules and Consequences for Violation).
4. Division of labor and reading order of the 11 guides
Two general articles: read these two articles first
DSE Mathematics 5** Strategy
Dealing with "how the system works": the practical implications of level-referenced reporting, the structure and scope of the three parts of Paper 1, the 17 official learning units, common topics in each part of previous papers, the division of labor between By Topic and By Year, and the five most common patterns of losing marks.
DSE Mathematics Roadmap to Stars
Dealing with "Which step should I start from?": Use the four-stage characteristics to find your starting point. Each stage lists specific tasks and checkpoints that can be checked. It also provides monthly arrangements for Form 6 from September to the exam, as well as the discipline of using notes, wrong question books, and computers.
Three articles on test paper skills
Paper 1 Answering Tips
The zero score requirement of Part A (1), the middle topic of Part A (2), the reasoning writing of Part B's questions, and the specific writing methods of step points - use formulas to write formulas first, must write reasons for geometry questions, and do not skip steps.
Paper 2 Multiple Choice Question Skills
The practical usage of substitution method, elimination method, special value method and estimation method, the difference in scope between Part A and Part B, and the closing strategy of "never leave blank".
Exam time allocation
Paper 1 is divided into three parts in increasing difficulty rather than evenly allocating time. Paper 2 is about 1 minute and 40 seconds per question, and the most important question abandonment rule must be established in peacetime rather than improvised in the examination room.
Three articles on training and diagnosis
Past Paper practice method
There are three levels of simulation, in-depth review, and inferences; the order of By Topic and By Year; and why the test papers of the last 2 to 3 years should be kept until one month before the exam.
Common points lost and errors counted
Divide the lost points into conceptual errors, procedural errors, review errors, and calculation errors, and explain why the four categories require completely different treatments - using the same method to deal with the four types of errors is the most common reason for ineffective review.
Computer usage tips and rules
Approved model and APPROVED label requirements, two-level consequences for violations, compliance boundaries for stored programmes, practical usage of CALC and memory functions, and five common operating errors (angle mode, statistical memory residue, etc.).
Extended ModulesTwo articles
M1 complete guide
Applicable situations and common misuses of each probability distribution, interpretation of sampling distributions and confidence intervals, and the real difficulty of M1 - translating text situations into correct distributions and parameter settings.
M2 complete guide
The complete argument structure of mathematical induction, systems of matrices and linear equations, how to set up vector geometry proofs, and the core loss mode of M2 - knowing the direction but not being able to write a complete reasoning.
Resources article
Free maths learning resources
Collection of resources and suggested usage for your own use.
5. Index by symptom: Which article does your question correspond to?
Rather than reading through all 11 in order, start by identifying your specific symptoms.
| your symptoms | Read first | Read again |
|---|---|---|
| Know what to do but often make mistakes | Common points lost | computer skills |
| Paper 2 will never be finished | time allocation | Paper 2 Strategy |
| The ministerial question in Paper 1 and B only gets half the marks for a long time | Paper 1 Strategy | 5** Strategy |
| I did a lot of papers but my score didn’t change. | Past Paper method | Common points lost |
| Don't know where to start | Road map to reach the stars | 5** Strategy |
| There is a big gap in the foundation and I can’t remember the formulas. | Top-up courses | Common points lost |
| Not sure 5** Actual requirements | 5** Strategy | of this page |
| There is no way to start with M2 proof questions | M2 strategy | M2 Course |
| M1 can’t tell which distribution to use | M1 Strategy | M1 course |
| Undecided, choose M1, decide on M2 | M1 M2 comparison | Form 3 Mathematics |
| Not sure your computer model is compliant | Computer strategy | HKEAA approved list for the current year |
| It’s easy to be nervous and inaccurate during exams | Road map to reach the stars | time allocation |
6. Index by grade: What to do now
| grade | The focus of this stage | Recommended reading | Corresponding courses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form 3 | Consolidate the 3 areas of the Elementary Form; evaluate whether to take Extended Modules | M1 M2 comparison | junior secondary courses |
| Form 4 | Master the required introductory topics; establish notes and wrong question books | 5** Strategy three-year plan | DSE courses |
| Form 5 | Completed most of the topics; started By Topic practice | Past Paper method | DSE courses |
| On Form 6 | Complete the course in October; move to the limited time practice of the entire volume | Road map to reach the stars monthly schedule | DSE courses |
| Form 6 under | Intensive time-limited practice; closed loop of wrong questions; final sprint | time allocation, Common points lost | One-on-one hole repair |
| Self-taught students/rereading | Make a complete timetable by yourself; replace the on-campus mock test with a time-limited full paper | Road map to reach the stars | DSE courses or One to one |
| during summer vacation | At the same time, make up for the gaps and preview the topics for the coming year. | 5** Strategy | Summer Courses |
Beyond strategies: Three situations when you need a mentor
These 11 articles are enough to allow you to create a plan on your own, but the following three situations often require outside help:Don't know where the gap is (Diagnosis requires comparing the error patterns of a large number of students),I know the gap but I can’t see where I’m going wrong. (because it is the criterion itself that is wrong), and lack of enforcement discipline (No matter how good the plan is, it won’t be executed without external rhythm).
our DSE maths tuition courses Taught by instructors who have personally taken the exam as self-taught students and obtained 5** in Core, M1, and M2. Form 4 and Form 5 follow the school's progress and are taught 1 to 2 lessons in advance; Form 6 completes the entire course in October, and then a mock paper is distributed in each class and reviewed in the next class. The teacher-student ratio in small classes is no more than 1:7, and each class has about 12 to 14 people taught by two instructors. The fee is HK$1,360 for 4 Core lessons per month (1.5 hours per lesson), and HK$1,600 for the compulsory M1 or M2 (2 hours per lesson). Please see Charge page.
The class location is Room A, 9/F, Landmark City, 761 Nathan Road, Prince Edward, Kowloon (About 2 minutes’ walk from Exit C1 of MTR Prince Edward Station), WhatsApp 9651 3910. See centre background About Math Insight, actual results are shown in Results and Testimonials.
DSE Mathematics System FAQs
DSE Mathematics Core Points Score?
It consists of only two examination papers and there is no school-based assessment. Paper 1 lasts 2 hours and 15 minutes, 105 points, accounting for 65%, and is divided into Part A (1), Part A (2), and Part B, each worth 35 points; Paper 2 has 45 questions, 1 hour and 15 minutes, accounting for 35%, and no points will be deducted for wrong answers.
Is there an official cut-off score?
No. The HKEAA adopts level-referenced score reporting and never publishes the raw scores or percentages corresponding to each level; Level 5 and above are subdivided by norm-reference (the highest approximately 10% obtain 5**, and the subsequent approximately 30% obtain 5*).
How many people are having 5**?
Mathematics Core is about 1.3% to 1.5% in recent years; level 5 or above is about 13% to 15%. The “approximately 4%” figure circulated on the Internet does not match the official statistics.
Are the exam formats for M1 and M2 the same?
They are exactly the same: one test paper, 2 hours and 30 minutes, full score of 100 points, Part A and Part B are about 50 points each, all must be answered. In terms of content and thinking orientation respectively, see M1 M2 comparison.
Will junior secondary subjects be tested?
meeting. Part A of Paper 1 includes the basic part of junior secondary, Part B includes basic and non-basic parts; Part B of Paper 2 covers the entire Form 1 to Form 3 courses.
How many sessions of Past Paper are there?
The first session was in 2012, and there will be a total of 15 sessions as of 2026. There are also sample test papers and practice papers from the HKEAA.
Which one should I read first?
Read first 5** Strategy Understand the mechanism and structure, and then use Road map to reach the stars Find the stage and execute it; then press Symptom index Reading tips.
Is there school-based assessment for DSE Mathematics?
No. The Core comprehensive score only consists of Paper 1 and Paper 2, without the third component.