Hong Kong Grading Scale for HKCEE and HKDSE Results
Researched from official sources, drafted with AI assistance, and checked by a human editor. How we make these pagesSuggest a correction
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The Hong Kong grading scale used for HKCEE runs from A to F, with A highest and F lowest.
No universal passing threshold or percentage conversion is specified; grading rules are set at the territory level by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA).
This page explains how to read and report Hong Kong grades, including the role of the HKDSE Examination as the main school-leaving exam.
It also covers interpreting grades when teaching Hong Kong students online or abroad and points to related systems and sources.
Reading the Hong Kong scale
HKCEE grades run from A, the best grade, to F, the worst. No single pass mark or percentage key is stated for this scale.
| Grade | Meaning | Passing |
|---|---|---|
| A | Highest grade | Yes |
| B | Yes | |
| C | Yes | |
| D | Yes | |
| E | Yes | |
| F | Yes |
The sources state no pass mark for this scale; the grades report levels of achievement.
For HKCEE Chinese Language and English Language examinations, results used five performance levels, with Level 5 the highest; candidates below Level 1 were designated Unclassified (U) (hkeaa.edu.hk).
For HKDSE Category A subjects, Level 1 is the lowest reported level, and performance below it is designated Unclassified and not reported on the certificate (hkeaa.edu.hk).
In Category B Applied Learning subjects, Attained is the lowest reported level; lower performance is designated Unattained and not reported on the certificate (hkeaa.edu.hk).
In Category C subjects, grade E is the lowest reported grade; lower achievement is designated Ungraded and not reported on the certificate (hkeaa.edu.hk).
Compared with related systems
Hong Kong
No pass mark
Afghanistan
4 of 5 grades pass
Bangladesh
6 of 7 grades pass
Australia
No pass mark
Who sets Hong Kong grades and how they are reported
Hong Kong’s grading rules are set nationally by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA), which grades all Category A subjects.
Course providers assess Category B Applied Learning subjects, with HKEAA moderation; Cambridge International Examinations sets the papers and conducts marking and grading for Category C subjects (hkeaa.edu.hk).
The main public examination is the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Examination, which reports achievement levels through standards-referenced reporting rather than competitive ranking (edb.gov.hk).
The HKDSE certificate lists subject-level results and, where applicable, component-level results.
Moderated School-based Assessment results are combined with public examination results and reported as an overall component or subject level, not separately (hkeaa.edu.hk).
If you teach Hong Kong students online or abroad
Check the student’s report card or transcript for the grading key. Ask the student or school to clarify any grades you cannot interpret, and record the key alongside the grades.
Set the scale up once in a gradebook so every report card and transcript you produce uses the same key.
Related grading systems
- Afghanistan5-step points scale, 90-100 is best; passing grade 40-54 (D)
- Bangladesh7-step letter-grade scale, A+ is best; passing grade D (Sufficient)
- Australia4-step letter-grade scale, A is best; passing grade No pass mark
- Bahamas7-step letter-grade scale, A is best; passing grade No pass mark
- Belize5-step letter-grade scale, A is best; passing grade No pass mark
- Botswana10-step grading scale, A* is best; passing grade No pass mark
Sources and verification
- [1]hkeaa.edu.hk. Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority - HKCEE (1978 - 2011). Accessed Nov 5, 2026. Official source
- [2]hkeaa.edu.hk. Grading Procedures and Standards-referenced Reporting in the HKDSE Examination. pdf. Accessed Nov 5, 2026. Official source
- [3]edb.gov.hk. Assessment Literacy and School Assessment. pdf. Accessed Nov 5, 2026. Official source
The facts on this page were last verified on Nov 5, 2026. Suggest a correction
Frequently asked questions
How do Hong Kong grades convert to US grades?
No US grade conversion is specified for Hong Kong grades.
Do schools in Hong Kong use percentages for grades?
No percentage key is stated for the HKCEE scale. The HKDSE scales report achievement levels or grades, and the supplied information gives no percentage conversions for them.
Is a D a good grade in Hong Kong?
The supplied information does not establish whether a D is a good grade in Hong Kong. On the HKCEE scale, D is one of the grades between A, the highest, and F, the lowest.
