A Critical Review of the English Speaking Paper in the HKDSE Examination

Abstract

In recent years, Hong Kong students’ English oral proficiency has been declining. Teachers and senior secondary candidates alike blame the English speaking paper in the city’s public examination for its negative backwash effect into English speaking classrooms. This paper seeks to critique the appropriacy and usefulness of the English speaking paper in the city-wide pre-college level examination, i.e. the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) examination. The speaking paper consists of two parts: An 8-minute group interaction based on a piece of reading material, and a follow-up 1-minute individual response to a question that the examiner poses. The test specifications will be discussed in a tripartite consideration of validity, reliability and practicality in relation to the speaking construct. The test’s impact on teaching and learning in the local educational system will also be explored, featuring the growinginfluence of tutorial centres. Authentic documents will be presented during the discussion, including exam materials, marking schemes, assessment reports and ‘exam notes’ from tutorial giants of the city. Some comparison with the IELTS speaking test will be drawn as well. Finally, a few key suggestions for improving the test design will be made accordingly.