The Use of English Examination
This AS-level examination, which is commonly taken with the A-Levels, tests the ability of students to understand and use English at a level required for tertiary education.
The Use of English (UE) examination was introduced in 1989 as an independent subject as a part of entrance requirement of HKU. It was divided into 4 sections to test students' listening, writing, reading and language skills; plus practical skills for work and study.
Since 1994, the UE examination becomes an AS-level subject and a requirement for JUPAS degree-level programme, also a 20-minute oral examination was added in this reform.
There are five sections in the UE Examination:
- Section A - Listening Test
It lasts for 1 hour and is allocated 18% of the total subject mark. Candidates are required to follow what they hear to take notes or interpret pictures. The recorded exam material is broadcasted on RTHK and candidates have to use their own radios to listen. RTHK Radio 2 will broadcast a version of Ralph Vaughan Williams' Fantasia on Greensleeves played by the Sinfonia of London, conducted by Sir John Barbirolli before and during the intermissions of the test. - Section B - Writing
It lasts for 1 hour and 15 minutes and is allocated 18% of the total subject mark. Candidates are required to choose a topic out of four options and write an expository essay of approximately 500 words. - Section C - Reading and Language Systems
It lasts for 1 hour and 30 minutes and is allocated 18% of the total subject mark. The reading part consists of multiple-choice questions based on a passage taken from a publication. One third of the total mark of the entire paper is allocated to this section. Types of questions in the Language Systems part are multiple-choice questions on cloze passage and continuity. There are also matching, cloze summary and proof-reading exercises to test candidates' overall language skills. - Section D - Oral
It lasts for 20 minutes and is allocated 18% of the total subject mark. There should be a minimum of three candidates and a maximum of four candidates in each group. Candidates are given 10 minutes to read a passage of 300 words and prepare a presentation based on the passage which lasts no more than 2 minutes. After each candidate has given his/her presentation, the group is given two minutes to prepare mentally for a discussion which will last for eight minutes for 3 candidates and ten minutes for 4 candidates. - Section E - Practical Skills for Work and Study
It lasts for 1 hour and 45 minutes and is allocated 28% of the total subject mark. Candidates are given a situation, a role and 2-3 tasks to perform. They are given a data file containing information in various formats and with the data file, they are to select the kind of relevant information they need to fulfill the tasks required. Writing tasks involved may be a report, an article, a letter, a proposal or a newsletter.
A pass in the UE is considered essential to being accepted to any degree program under the JUPAS (However, some universities accept a band 6 in IELTS or similar as an alternative of HKALE English pass).
Read more about this topic: Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination
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