HKDSE ICT exam-day guide
HKDSE ICT · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Bring your Hong Kong Identity Card or other accepted photo ID
You need valid photo identification to be admitted to the examination centre and to be checked against your candidate record. Confirm with the provider (HKEAA) which documents are accepted and what to do if your ID is lost or being renewed; do not assume a photocopy or a student card alone will be accepted.
Print or download your admission form and check the centre address
Your admission form lists your candidate number, the paper(s) you are entered for, and the examination centre. Verify the centre name and address in advance and plan the route, because centres are assigned and cannot normally be changed on the day. Confirm with the provider how the admission form is issued for your entry route (school candidate or private candidate).
Bring several black or blue ballpoint pens
Written answers must be legible and in ink; bring at least two or three working pens plus a spare. Pencil is normally reserved for multiple-choice answer sheets and any diagrams the paper instructs you to draw in pencil. Follow the instructions printed on the question paper and answer sheet.
Bring an HB pencil, eraser and a small sharpener
Multiple-choice sections use machine-read answer sheets that require pencil. A clean eraser matters because incomplete erasure can cause ambiguous machine reading. Avoid mechanical pencils with very fine or faint leads that may not register.
Bring a transparent ruler and, if permitted, a calculator
Check the current regulations on calculators for ICT papers before the day; if calculators are allowed, they must be of an approved type with no stored programs or communication capability, and the model may need to be on an approved list. Confirm with the provider rather than assuming. A clear ruler is useful for drawing tables, flowcharts and data-flow diagrams.
Use a clear plastic pencil case or a transparent bag
Many centres require stationery to be visible and stored in a transparent container, and pencil cases that are opaque may be asked to be put away. Keep only permitted items on your desk; everything else goes into your bag under the desk or as instructed.
Switch off your phone and any smart device before entering
Mobile phones, smart watches, wireless earphones and similar devices must be switched off and stored out of reach, not merely silenced. A device that rings, vibrates or is found on your person can lead to serious misconduct consequences. Confirm with the provider the exact rule for your centre.
Leave smart watches and wearable technology at home
Wearable devices are treated like phones in most public examinations. Even if you intend to keep it in your bag, the safest approach is not to bring it. If you must bring a watch, use a simple non-smart analogue or digital watch.
Plan to arrive well before the reporting time
Aim to reach the centre area at least 30 to 45 minutes before the reporting time printed on your admission form, allowing for transport disruption and for finding the correct room. Late arrival may mean you are not admitted or are admitted without extra time. Confirm with the provider the late-admission cut-off.
Read the front of the question paper carefully before starting
Check the paper code, the number of sections, the instructions on how many questions to answer, and any choice rules. In ICT papers it is common to have compulsory sections plus a choice of questions; answering the wrong number of questions wastes time and loses marks.
Bring water and a light snack for between papers
If you have two papers on the same day, you may have a short break between them. Water in a clear bottle and a snack help concentration. Confirm with the provider whether food and drink are allowed at your desk during the paper.
Keep your admission form and ID on the desk as instructed
Invigilators check identity during the paper. Place your documents where they can be seen when asked, and do not remove them from the centre until the paper is collected. Confirm with the provider the exact arrangement at your centre.
Plan the day
Do a timed full past-paper run under exam conditions for the paper structure you are entered for, then mark it honestly against the marking scheme. Focus your remaining revision on the areas where you lost the most marks rather than rereading everything. For ICT, prioritise the topics that carry the most marks and that you can still improve: data representation and number-base conversions, Boolean logic and truth tables, SQL and database concepts, networking and the TCP/IP model, programming logic and pseudocode tracing, and the social, legal and ethical issues section. Rehearse the exact wording of definitions you must recall, and practise drawing standard diagrams such as flowcharts, entity-relationship diagrams and truth tables neatly and quickly. Check the current syllabus and assessment framework on the provider's website so you know the paper structure and mark allocation you are facing.
Confirm your centre location and travel plan, including a backup route in case of a transport delay. Check the provider's website for any announcements about the examination, such as weather arrangements or centre changes. Prepare your stationery and transparent pencil case now, and put your admission form and ID in the same bag so they cannot be forgotten. Adjust your sleep schedule so you are awake and alert at the time your paper starts.
Stop learning new material. Do a light review of your own summary notes, formula and definition sheets, and the question types you tend to misread. Pack your bag: ID, admission form, several pens, pencils, eraser, sharpener, ruler, permitted calculator, water, and a simple watch. Charge nothing you cannot bring in, and decide now that your phone stays off and in your bag. Check the weather forecast and set two alarms. Eat a normal meal and go to bed at a reasonable hour rather than cramming late.
Eat breakfast, recheck that your ID and admission form are in your bag, and leave earlier than you think you need to. Arrive at the centre with time to find the room and the seating plan. Switch off your phone before you enter the building and put it away. Use the washroom before the paper starts. Once seated, read the instructions on the cover of the question paper, check the paper code and the number of questions required, and fill in your candidate number and other details on the answer sheets exactly as instructed.
Skim the whole paper in the first few minutes and allocate time per section according to the marks available, leaving time at the end to check. Answer the compulsory questions first and be disciplined about the choice section: decide quickly which optional questions to attempt and do not change your mind halfway. For calculation and conversion questions, show your working so partial credit can be awarded. For SQL and programming questions, write the answer in the syntax or pseudocode style the paper uses and check for missing semicolons, quotation marks and brackets. For essay-style or discussion questions on social, legal and ethical issues, give a clear point, explain it, and support it with a concrete example to reach the higher mark bands. If a question is taking far too long, leave a gap, move on, and return if time permits. Keep an eye on the clock and stop writing immediately when told.
Rules to check
Bring and display the identification document required by the provider. If you do not have acceptable ID, you may be refused entry or asked to complete a declaration; confirm with the provider in advance what alternative evidence is accepted.
Do not bring unauthorised items into the examination room. Phones, smart watches, wireless earphones, notes, textbooks and any device with communication or storage capability must be switched off and left in your bag out of reach, or left at home. Possession of unauthorised material can be treated as misconduct even if you did not use it.
Follow all instructions from invigilators, including where to sit, when to start and stop writing, and how to hand in papers. Do not begin writing before you are told and do not continue after the signal to stop; writing after time is called can lead to a penalty.
Communicate only with invigilators during the paper. Do not talk to, signal to, or exchange anything with another candidate. If you need to leave the room, raise your hand and wait to be accompanied as the centre requires.
If you need to use the washroom during the paper, raise your hand and wait for an invigilator; you may be escorted and may not be given extra time. Confirm with the provider the exact arrangements at your centre.
Do not remove question papers, answer sheets or any examination material from the room unless an invigilator explicitly permits it. Materials are collected and accounted for before candidates are released.
Declare any irregularity that affects you, such as illness, a disturbance, or a problem with your paper, to the invigilator at the time and follow the provider's procedure for reporting it afterwards. Requests for special consideration usually depend on timely reporting and may require evidence such as a medical certificate; confirm with the provider.
Understand how your result is determined before the day. Marks come from your performance on the papers in the current assessment framework, and grade boundaries are set after the examination rather than in advance. Confirm with the provider the current paper structure, weighting and any school-based assessment component that applies to your entry.