Early Admission Scheme

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The Early Admission Scheme (or simply "EAS"), held by the University Grants Committee in Hong Kong SAR, China, enables students to enter the University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong or the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology through a special and painless route. Candidates with 6 or more 'A's (Distinctions) in the HKCEE (at least 2 language subjects scoring 'C' or above is a must) are eligible for applying the Early Admission Scheme which may grant them the admission to the aforementioned institutions without the need to sit for the HKALE.

However, there are more and more critics on the Scheme that it imposes an unfairness to Form 7 students (especially to those who have obtained remarkable HKCEE results but achieved grade 'D' or below in either one or both language subject(s), those who are unable show their talent to the maximum extent in the HKCEE or who are not excel in examination skills (academic area) but in other areas which are ignored by the scheme.) who are required to sit for the HKALE which is of higher difficulty level than the HKCEE.

These non-EAS students are likely to face huge pressure as the EAS students are often labelled as 'better students' whereas non-EAS students are categorized as 'less abled' students. Non-EAS students have to face an absolutely tedious Advanced Level Examination. Moreover, these EAS students occupy many of the university places leaving non-EAS students fewer university places.

Furthermore, the general public and many education experts criticize that HKCEE is not an appropriate examination for being a selection criteria of universities' admission procedure. Apart from this, the keen competition for places in the universities would extent to the HKCEE, and Form 5 students (HKCEE candidates) may encounter a high psychological pressure. It is also doubtful whether EAS-benefited students are mature enough to choose suitable university programmes which would probably determine their whole life. Adverse effect on EAS-benefited student (who have already seized places in the universities) learning in Form 6 would also be inevitable. Notwithstanding the critics, it is believed that the Committee will continue to run the Scheme until the reform of the Hong Kong education system is implemented in 2008, so as to retain exceptional Hong Kong students.