HKDSE Lit Eng exam-day guide
HKDSE Lit Eng · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admission form and identity document
Bring the HKDSE admission form issued by the HKEAA and the original identity document used for registration (usually your Hong Kong Identity Card). Check the name and candidate number match. If you have lost your ID or admission form, contact the HKEAA and your school immediately; do not assume a replacement will be accepted at the door.
Black or blue ballpoint pens
Bring at least three working pens. Write in black or blue ink as instructed on the paper. Pencil is normally only for diagrams or multiple-choice answer sheets if the paper uses them; confirm the exact stationery instruction printed on your admission form and the HKEAA candidate handbook.
Pencil, eraser, sharpener
For any multiple-choice answer sheet or diagram work. Keep them in a clear pencil case if the venue requires transparent containers.
Ruler and highlighter
A transparent ruler is useful for underlining and for any diagram-based questions. Highlighters are for your own annotation only; do not use them to write answers.
No programmable or smart devices on your desk
Phones, smartwatches, and wearable devices must be switched off and stored as instructed by the supervisor. Do not keep them in your pocket. Confirm the venue's exact device rules with the HKEAA or your school.
Clear water bottle with the label removed
Stay hydrated, but check the venue's rules on bottles and labels. If unsure, ask your school or the HKEAA before the exam day.
Know your reporting time and venue
Check the admission form for the exact reporting time and address. Arrive early; late candidates may not be admitted once the paper has started, and listening papers have strict start times. Confirm the late-arrival policy with the HKEAA.
Plan the journey and a backup route
Check transport disruptions the night before and on the morning. Aim to be at the venue at least 30 minutes before the reporting time. Have a backup route and enough money or a charged Octopus card.
Watch and timing plan
A simple analogue watch is safer than a smartwatch. Plan how many minutes you will spend on each section. If you rely on the venue clock, sit where you can see it; otherwise bring a basic watch. Confirm with the provider whether any watch type is prohibited.
Light snack and tissues
A small snack for after the paper and tissues for practical comfort. Check whether food is allowed in the venue; keep it in your bag.
Review the paper format and text list
Know which sections are compulsory, how many questions you must answer, and which set texts are covered. The HKDSE Literature in English paper typically asks you to study a range of set texts and write essays; confirm the current year's format and text list with the HKEAA or your teacher, as it can change.
Emergency contact and school contact
Save your school's exam contact and the HKEAA enquiry number in your phone, and write them on paper in case your phone battery dies. If you are ill or unable to attend, contact your school and the HKEAA as early as possible; do not simply not turn up.
Plan the day
Switch from learning new material to consolidating. Re-read your notes on each set text: plot, character, theme, narrative technique, and key quotations. Make a one-page summary per text with five or six flexible quotations you can use across different questions. Practise planning essays under timed conditions: spend 5–8 minutes on a plan, then write. Review mark schemes or past paper feedback if your school provides it, but do not try to memorise model answers. Check the exam venue, reporting time, and transport. Prepare your stationery and bag the night before the 72-hour window so nothing is left to chance. Sleep properly; do not pull all-nighters.
Do a light review only: your one-page summaries, quotation lists, and a few essay plans. Do not start a new text or a new interpretation. Confirm the reporting time and venue again. Pack your admission form, ID, pens, pencil, eraser, ruler, watch, water, and tissues. Charge your phone but plan to switch it off at the venue. Set two alarms. Eat a normal meal and go to bed at a reasonable hour. If you feel unwell, contact your school and the HKEAA about special consideration procedures; confirm the exact rules with the provider.
Eat breakfast and drink water. Leave home with extra time for transport. Arrive at the venue at least 30 minutes before the reporting time. Switch off your phone and any smart device before entering the hall, and store them as instructed. Go to the toilet before the paper starts. Find your seat, check your candidate number, and read the front of the question paper carefully. Listen to the supervisor's instructions. If you are late, report to the supervisor immediately and follow their directions; do not disturb other candidates.
Read the whole paper first and choose your questions according to the instructions. Check whether there is a compulsory section and how many questions you must answer. Allocate your time before you start writing and stick to it; leave 5–10 minutes at the end to check. Plan each essay briefly: a clear thesis, three or four developed points with textual evidence, and a conclusion. Answer the question asked, not the question you prepared. Use precise literary terms only where they help. Quote accurately; if you cannot remember the exact words, paraphrase and say so. Write legibly and number your answers clearly. If you run out of time, write your remaining points in note form if the paper allows; confirm the rules on notes with the supervisor. Do not look at other candidates' work or communicate in any way.
Rules to check
Bring the admission form and the original identity document used for registration. You may be refused entry if you cannot produce them. If you have lost either, contact the HKEAA and your school immediately; confirm replacement procedures with the provider.
Switch off all phones, smartwatches, and wearable devices before entering the examination hall and store them as instructed. Keeping a device on your person or on your desk can be treated as a serious breach of the rules. Confirm the exact device policy with the HKEAA.
Follow the supervisor's instructions at all times. Do not communicate with other candidates once you are in the hall, and do not look at their work. Raise your hand if you need to speak to a supervisor.
Write in black or blue ink unless the paper instructs otherwise. Use pencil only where permitted, such as on a multiple-choice answer sheet or for diagrams. Do not use correction fluid unless the paper allows it; confirm with the provider.
Arrive by the reporting time. Late candidates may be admitted at the supervisor's discretion, but listening papers and some sections have strict start times. Confirm the late-arrival policy with the HKEAA.
If you need to leave the hall during the paper, raise your hand and wait for a supervisor. You will normally be escorted, and you may not be allowed extra time. Confirm the toilet and break rules with the provider before the exam day.
Do not take any examination material, rough work, or question papers out of the hall unless the supervisor says you may. Follow the instructions on what to do with your answer book and any loose sheets.
If you are ill, have a disability, or experience an emergency, tell the supervisor and your school as soon as possible. Special consideration and access arrangements have strict deadlines and evidence requirements; confirm the exact procedures with the HKEAA.