334 Scheme - Disadvantages

Disadvantages

• The change in format of external examination adds burden on teachers and students in the transition cohorts, as they may be accustomed to the old examinations.
• Liberal studies is a new subject, which requires additional training for teachers.
• Since the two public exams are combined into one, there is no longer a first exam to act as a filter. Due to the wide range in the competency levels exhibited by the student population, designing the new exam papers becomes more difficult and time-consuming.
• The exams, first started in 2012, were considerably easier compared to international accepted exams such as the IB Diploma. This means that often many will achieve high marks, due to the exams being very easy. Questions such as "Name 5 cities mentioned in the magazine article" appeared in the English exam. The History exam is often criticized as a easy course as 50% of the grade is based on data analysis. Some believe that this is very unfair as data analysis requires little historical knowledge. Some say that the exams are easier versions of the IB History exams. When the HKDSE History exam is compared to the IB History exam, it is significantly easier and they cover 10% of the material IB History students cover.