Letter to the President of the PTA
- State your opinion either for or against a four-day school week
- Give reasons to support your view
› Average Score by Elective (2012–2021, out of 21) expand Ranked highest → lowest
Scores shown are mean marks out of 21. Scroll right on small screens.
| Elective | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debating 📢 | 12.28 | 11.33 | 10.01 | 12.35 | 11.3 | 10.73 | 13.05 | 11.65 | 12.45 | 11.65 | 11.7 |
| Social Issues 🌐 | 12.42 | 10.46 | 10.37 | 11.03 | 9.35 | 11.1 | 11 | 12.1 | 11.7 | 12 | 11.15 |
| Popular Culture ✨ | 13.14 | 10.39 | 9.46 | 11.23 | 6.6 | 9.71 | 11.8 | 10.55 | 11.15 | 12.3 | 10.65 |
| Workplace 💼 | 10.25 | 11.05 | 9 | 8.98 | 10.85 | 10.09 | 10.05 | 10.98 | 9.8 | 10.85 | 10.2 |
| Poems & Songs 🎶 | 8.15 | 10.38 | 8.02 | 7.84 | 10.85 | 10.62 | 5.35 | 11.8 | 12.05 | 8.65 | 9.35 |
| Short Stories 📖 | 8.95 | 9.81 | 8.51 | 7.5 | 8.55 | 9.17 | 9.35 | 8.35 | 11.8 | 9.5 | 9.15 |
| Sports 🥇 | 9.65 | 6.12 | 8.66 | 8.68 | 9.75 | 8.45 | 10.4 | 9.2 | 10.35 | 9.7 | 9.1 |
| Drama 🎭 | 9.57 | 7.66 | 6.46 | 8.89 | 9.75 | 9.54 | 9.2 | 10.25 | 8.7 | 8.45 | 8.85 |
2022
Debating 📢
Four-day school week
Drama 🎭
The hero and the villain
Journal entry
- Reflect on which role you preferred playing
- Explain the reasons
Poems & Songs 🎶
Bio for a musical group
Artist biography
- Background information about the group
- Style of music
- Plans for the future
Popular Culture ✨
YouTube channel from a teenage perspective
Article for Teen Magazine
- Why you started this channel
- What you have learned in the process
Story about survival in nature
Short story
- Write a story about a hiker who got caught in a storm while hiking in the mountains
Young people's lack of interest in traditional art forms
Letter to the editor
Sports 🥇
Being second in the inter-school championship
Speech
Workplace 💼
Opening a café vs. accepting a promotion at current company
Letter of advice for a job magazine
2021
Debating 📢
Social media influencers
Argumentative essay
- Discuss whether social media influencers are more trustworthy than traditional media advertisements
Drama 🎭
A new TV drama series about three generations of a family
Formal letter to the production manager
- Introduce the characters, plot and setting
- Explain why the idea would be popular with viewers
Poems & Songs 🎶
New friends and old friends
Essay
- What is the difference between old and new friendships?
- Are older friendships better than new ones?
Popular Culture ✨
The 21-day Gratitude Challenge
Blog post
- Why you accepted this challenge
- What you hoped to achieve
- Reflect on the 21 days and whether taking on this challenge has changed you
Scary story about a security guard on duty at night
Short story
- Write a scary story based on four pictures: two people in the security room, a security guard falling asleep, alarm ringing, security guard patrolling (in any order)
Low sales of electric cars
Letter to the editor
- Discuss why sales of electric vehicles are so low
- Suggest what can be done to attract more people to drive these vehicles
Sports 🥇
Professional athlete looking for a career change
Job application letter
- Introduce yourself and your athletic history
- Explain your interest and suitability for the job
Workplace 💼
Advocating for the cancellation of the no-exchange/no-refund policy
Email to sales manager
- Explain why the policy should be changed
- Suggest what changes could be made
- Discuss ways to prevent customers from taking advantage of the new policy
2020
Debating 📢
Warning labels on foods high in sugar, saturated fat and salt
Argumentative essay
- Argue either for or against the effectiveness of food warning labels in changing people's eating habits
Drama 🎭
Chinese Opera
Blog post
- Describe your experience watching Chinese Opera in the new Xiqu Centre in West Kowloon Cultural District
- Describe the impact it had on you
Poems & Songs 🎶
Best New Artist
Feature article in a magazine
- Report on Zoe's sudden rise to fame
- Report on where the ideas behind her songs came from
Popular Culture ✨
Hong Kong's housing estates becoming Instagram spots
Essay
- What attracts Instagrammers to Hong Kong's housing estates
- How residents feel about this
Disappearing staff in a research station
Short story
- Write the first chapter only of a story based on the scenario
Small independent stationery shops in Hong Kong closing
News report
- Explain the trend
- Discuss whether independent stationery shops can survive
Sports 🥇
Proposing Dragon Boat Racing in future Olympics
Formal letter to the International Olympic Committee
- Explain how it appeals to young people
- Explain how it promotes gender equality
- Explain how it attracts media coverage
Workplace 💼
Applying for a work transfer
Email to manager
- Highlight your work experience
- Highlight why you would like to transfer
- Highlight how your transfer will benefit the organisation
2019
Debating 📢
"Do social media platforms encourage or stifle public debate?"
Argumentative essay
- Choose one side of the argument and state your position
- Give reasons and evidence
Drama 🎭
New Cinderella
Film review
- Brief description of the plot
- How the characters are portrayed
- Why the director wanted to make this film
Poems & Songs 🎶
Criticism
Speech
- Discuss what a critic does
- How to give criticism
- Ways to respond to criticism
- Need to refer to the quote
Popular Culture ✨
Getting information about the latest trends in pop culture
Article for Young Post
- Sources of information about the latest trends
The New Tortoise and the Hare
Short story
- Describe the race
- Include the ending that the two characters team up to race against other contestants and win
- Include a message for the story
Hiring international talents
Essay
- Explain some benefits and challenges international talent brings to HK
- Ways to ensure that people from local community are not neglected
Sports 🥇
Unexpected incident during the final game of the season
News report
- Describe the incident and what happened afterwards
- Include thoughts and opinions from different people involved
Workplace 💼
Designing campaign poster for a district council election candidate
Email to the council election committee
- Explain the ideas behind the designs and how they would make a good campaign theme
- Share the idea for a new design
2018
Debating 📢
"The policy of reporting students' class position should be abolished"
Debate speech
- Argue either for or against the motion
Drama 🎭
Showing video-recordings of live drama performances
Magazine feature article
- Explain why the video-recordings are (not) a good way to attract more people to watch stage plays
Poems & Songs 🎶
Summer poetry workshop
Letter of application
- Explain why you are interested in participating in the workshop
- Why you should be selected to take part in this workshop
Popular Culture ✨
Trend of athleisure
Article for local newspaper
- Reasons for the rise of the athleisure trend
Open bird cage
Short story
- Describe the events leading to the open bird cage
- Describe the events that take place afterwards
Parental intervention in choosing a career
Letter of advice for a teen magazine
52.3% selected · Mean 11/21
Sports 🥇
Hong Kong Marathon
Blog entry (on HK Marathon website)
- Encourage other young people to take part in the next marathon
Workplace 💼
Complaints about work-related emails and text messages received out of office hours
Letter to staff
- Address the complaints
2017
Debating 📢
"Watching TV makes us smarter"
Debate speech
- Give three reasons
Drama 🎭
Romantic love and happy marriage
Essay
- Define romantic love and happy marriage
- Explain why romantic love is (not) necessary for a happy marriage
Poems & Songs 🎶
Opportunities
Blog post
- Write about one opportunity that you missed
- One opportunity that you took
- Need to refer to the song
Popular Culture ✨
Protecting intangible cultural heritage (traditional egg tarts or mahjong)
Letter to the editor
- Reasons why we should protect
- Ways to protect
Wildlife
Short story
- Describe the events leading to a lion climbing up a kitchen stove
Hong Kong NEETs
Report
- Explain why the number of NEETs in HK is rising
- Suggest what can be done to help these youths
- Give reasons to support suggestions
Sports 🥇
Dancers are athletes
School magazine article
- Write about physical strength and skills as a member of the dancing team
- Self-discipline and training
Workplace 💼
Graduates being less hard-working and less willing to face challenges
Letter to the editor
- Disagree with the issue
- Give three reasons and/or examples
2016
Debating 📢
Parents installing apps on children's mobile phones that monitor their activities
Letter to the editor
- State whether you agree with the parents' actions
- Give three reasons
Drama 🎭
Studying at HKAPA
Personal email
- Convince parents to support the decision to study at HKAPA instead of another institution
Poems & Songs 🎶
Fear
Essay
- Explain how important it is to acknowledge the challenges we face and find ways to cope with them
- Use relevant personal examples
- Refer to the quote provided
Popular Culture ✨
Proposing a Youth Festival to showcase youth trends in Hong Kong
Proposal
- Suggest one or two trends
- Ways to present them
Revenge is sweet
Short story
- Explain why the protagonist took revenge
"Hong Kong's Disappearing Street Life"
Essay
- Focus on one aspect of local street life or culture that is fast disappearing
- Suggest why it is worth preserving
Sports 🥇
Using sports facilities after school hours
Letter to the editor
- State the opinion on allowing the public to use the facilities
- Give three reasons
Workplace 💼
Graduates finding a job in other cities in Asia
Essay
- Discuss your views on this suggestion
- Give three reasons
2015
Debating 📢
Land use of undeveloped harbour front area
Letter to the editor
- State the opinion either for or against leaving the area open for public use
- Give three reasons
Drama 🎭
Elderly realizing their dreams
Story
- Describe the elderly realizing their dreams
Poems & Songs 🎶
Language arts festival
Formal letter to the Central Library
- Suggest two interesting activities
- Explain how these activities would increase students' interest in learning English
Popular Culture ✨
Fewer people going to cinemas than before
Report
- Reasons for the decline
- Suggestions to address the issue
Meet the author
Formal email to a teacher
- Explain why you have selected the author
- Suggest activities the author can either lead or help with
Sending children to other countries to complete schooling
School magazine article
- Examine two reasons for the phenomenon
- Discuss the impact on local schools and on children who leave
Sports 🥇
Disappointing PE lessons
Formal letter to the Principal
- Explain why classmates are unhappy about existing PE lessons
- Suggest activities that could be introduced in future PE lessons
- Explain why students would prefer them
Workplace 💼
Handling complaints about the company
Email to the manager
- Summarize details of a recent complaint
- Suggest three possible actions
2014
Debating 📢
Limited access to school lockers
Formal letter to the school Principal
- Persuade her to change the policy on lockers as the chairperson of the Student Union
Drama 🎭
Poor behaviour during a drama performance
Formal email to Drama Club members
- Describe the complaint received
- Explain what behaviour is prohibited/encouraged and reasons
Poems & Songs 🎶
Hong Kong Schools Poetry Festival
School magazine feature article
- How you prepared for the competition
- What you learned from this experience
Popular Culture ✨
Stand-up comedy show
Article for school magazine
- Describe the show
- Discuss the challenges performers might face
- How students can benefit from watching it
Roommate's sudden departure
Short story
- Describe the events that led to your roommate's sudden departure
- Explain why your roommate suddenly left the hall
Filming movies in the city centre
Letter to the editor
- Give your opinion
- Give three reasons
Sports 🥇
Requesting donation of old equipment from a fitness centre
Formal letter to a fitness centre
- Describe how the donation could benefit the school and the fitness centre
Workplace 💼
Summer job experiences as a costumed character performer
Newspaper article
- Describe the typical working day
- The good things and bad things about the job
2013
Debating 📢
People making unreasonable complaints
Letter to the editor
- Describe the situation which some people complained about
- Outline the point of view of the complainants
- Indicate why they are unreasonable
Drama 🎭
Betraying best friend
Diary entry
- Describe an instance of betrayal
- Make reference to the plot of Julius Caesar
Poems & Songs 🎶
Time
Speech
- Explain how time can slip away if you don't make good use of it
- Explain how to make good use of time
- Need to refer to the song
Popular Culture ✨
Popularity of Asian stars in Western countries
Article for school newspaper
- Reasons for the rise
Vandals hit museum
Short story
- Explain why the masterpieces were damaged
Private school bus service operators not following proper safety procedures
Formal letter to the Bus Operators Association
- Express concerns
- Give three recommendations for how private school bus services can be improved
Sports 🥇
Producing a programme about a local HK sporting event
Formal email to a teacher
- Suggest a sporting event
- Explain what would be included in the programme
- Outline how to make the programme interesting to schoolmates
Workplace 💼
Many people leaving the office late
Company newsletter article
- Describe the situation
- Discuss the negative effects
- Give two suggestions to improve the situation
2012
Debating 📢
Recruiting school debating club members
Speech in the school assembly
- Explain the activities the debating club organizes
- Benefits of being in the club
- Importance in life of being a good debater
Drama 🎭
Incorporating drama into English lessons
Forum post
- Explain the (lack of) educational benefits of using drama in lessons
- Share your experience of learning through drama
Poems & Songs 🎶
First performance at a music festival
Blog post
- Describe the performance
- How you felt
- The atmosphere
- The things you could have done better
Popular Culture ✨
Cosmetic surgery and obsession with physical beauty
Letter to the editor
7.3% selected · Mean 13.14/21
Poor brother driving an expensive sports car
Short story
- Explain how you found out the truth
Mental health
Magazine feature article
- Describe the friend's depression
- How he/she overcame it
- Give advice on how to help fight depression
Sports 🥇
Doing virtual sports versus real sports
Online post in a health e-magazine
- Write your views
Workplace 💼
A campaign about recruiting criminals or drug addicts back into the workforce
Formal letter
- Outline the new project
- Explain the benefits
- Persuade businesses to join the scheme
Practice Paper
Debating 📢
"Nuclear power is the best source of energy for the future"
Debate speech
Drama 🎭
Drama rehearsal
Diary entry
- Describe what happened at the rehearsal
- Whether it was a success
- What you need to improve before the next rehearsal
Poems & Songs 🎶
Foul language in songs and freedom of speech
Letter to the editor
- Explain why songs containing foul language do not have a negative influence on society
- Explain how songs are just a means of expression under freedom of speech
Popular Culture ✨
Proposing a reality TV show for school TV network
Proposal
- Theme and content of the show
- Why this would be popular with students
- How to make it appealing to viewers
What makes a good short story
School magazine article
- Explain why you found the talk interesting
- What you learnt
The joys of being a teenager in Hong Kong
Speech for a conference
Sports 🥇
Removing PE lessons from the curriculum
Formal letter to the Secretary of Education
- Express your views
Workplace 💼
Job interview
Personal email
- Offer advice on how to prepare for the interview
- What to do during the interview
Sample Paper
Debating 📢
Inter-school debating contest
Report for school newsletter
- Describe the topic for debate
- How the team performed
- Which team won the competition
- What the prize was
Drama 🎭
Disastrous school play performance
Review
- Describe what the play was about
- Explain what went wrong on the night
Poems & Songs 🎶
A poem advertising a restaurant
Personal letter
- Comment on the things you like best about the poem
- What could be improved to make the advertisement more effective
Popular Culture ✨
Planning a special birthday event for a parent on a reality show
Personal letter
- Describe how the event was organized
- How your parent felt about it being shown on TV
Changes in Hong Kong
Personal letter
- Describe the changes in Hong Kong
- How you feel about them
Abusing pets
Formal letter to the SPCA
- Show concern
- Give details of any incidents of abuse
- Suggest measures to ensure the welfare of pets and explain why they are urgent
Sports 🥇
Taking up motorbike racing as a hobby
Informal letter
- Explain why you are worried about the hobby
- Persuade him to take up a different sport
- Give reasons for the recommendation
Workplace 💼
Work experience programme
School magazine article
- Describe the experience during the "Working Week"
- The feeling about the chosen job
More data — click to expand
› Trends in Text Types expand Exposition · Narrative · Recount
| Category | Text Type | Frequency | Years & Question Numbers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exposition | Feature article | 18 | SPQ8, PPQ3, 12Q1, 12Q9, 13Q6, 13Q7, 14Q1, 14Q6, 14Q7, 14Q8, 15Q4, 16Q3, 17Q8, 18Q6, 18Q7, 19Q5, 20Q7, 22Q2 |
| Exposition | Formal letter | 14 | SPQ9, PPQ6, 12Q8, 13Q4, 14Q2, 14Q5, 15Q2, 15Q8, 17Q1, 18Q3, 20Q4, 20Q5, 21Q9, 22Q9 |
| Exposition | Letter to the editor | 12 | PPQ4, 12Q6, 13Q5, 14Q4, 15Q1, 15Q5, 16Q2, 16Q4, 17Q5, 17Q9, 21Q2, 22Q5 |
| Exposition | Speech | 7 | PPQ9, 12Q5, 13Q8, 16Q1, 19Q7, 21Q1, 22Q4 |
| Exposition | Formal email | 6 | 13Q2, 14Q3, 15Q6, 15Q9, 19Q8, 21Q3 |
| Exposition | Essay | 6 | 16Q5, 16Q8, 17Q4, 19Q2, 20Q2, 21Q8 |
| Exposition | Letter of advice | 4 | SPQ2, PPQ8, 18Q4, 22Q3 |
| Exposition | Debate speech | 3 | PPQ7, 17Q6, 18Q5 |
| Exposition | Personal letter | 3 | SPQ4, SPQ6, SPQ7 |
| Exposition | Review | 3 | SPQ3, 19Q6, 20Q1 |
| Exposition | Argumentative essay | 3 | 19Q3, 20Q6, 21Q5 |
| Exposition | Proposal | 2 | PPQ5, 16Q7 |
| Exposition | Report | 2 | 15Q7, 17Q7 |
| Exposition | Forum post | 2 | 12Q2, 12Q3 |
| Exposition | Letter of application | 2 | 18Q8, 21Q4 |
| Exposition | Information poster | 1 | PPQ1 |
| Exposition | Personal email | 1 | 16Q9 |
| Exposition | Parents' letter | 1 | 18Q1 |
| Exposition | News report | 1 | 20Q3 |
| Exposition | Artist biography | 1 | 22Q6 |
| Narrative | Short story | 11 | 12Q7, 13Q9, 14Q9, 15Q3, 16Q6, 17Q3, 18Q9, 19Q9, 20Q8, 21Q7, 22Q8 |
| Narrative | Travel guide | 1 | 22Q1 |
| Recount | Blog post | 5 | 12Q4, 17Q2, 18Q2, 20Q9, 21Q6 |
| Recount | News report (recount) | 3 | SPQ1, SPQ5, 19Q4 |
| Recount | Diary / journal entry | 3 | PPQ2, 13Q3, 22Q7 |
| Recount | Photo descriptions | 1 | 13Q1 |
| Recount | Yearbook entry | 1 | 19Q1 |