DSE English – Paper 4 Exam Analysis
Sample / Practice Tasks
| Year/ID | Elective | Topic | Task | First Bullet Point | Second Bullet Point | Third Bullet Point |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP_1 | Popular Culture | Celebrity and invasion of privacy | Write a letter to the editor | whether the media have too much freedom | whether famous people should have their privacy protected | why people like to read magazines for their shocking content and gossip |
| SP_2 | Popular Culture | Body modification/ body art | Write a school magazine article | why some teenagers like body art such as tattooing and nose piercing | the medical dangers of body art | how Hong Kong society views people with tattoos and their bodies pierced |
| SP_3 | Workplace Communication | Long working hours | Prepare a presentation | why Hong Kong people tend to work long hours | the health and social problems that can be caused by long working hours | things that people can do to avoid work addiction |
| Practice Paper Paper 4 | Elective | Topic | Task | First Bullet Point | Second Bullet Point | Third Bullet Point |
| PP_1.1 | Social Issues | Teenagers and materialism | Write a letter to the editor | whether teenagers are materialistic | whether teenagers are easily affected by their peers | how young children should be educated not to be materialistic |
| PP_1.2 | Workplace Communication | Summer part-time jobs | Discuss which option is suitable | the skills students would need to do these jobs | the benefits for students who are employed in these jobs | other kinds of jobs that may be suitable for students |
| PP_1.3 | Popular Culture | Aliens | Write an article | whether there is life on other planets | whether you believe that aliens have visited Earth | whether aliens would be a threat or a benefit to our planet |
Year 2012 Analysis
| Year/ID | Elective | Topic | Task | First Bullet | Second Bullet | Third Bullet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012_1.1 | Workplace Communication | Internships | Write a report | how an unpaid internship could be beneficial | what the challenges would be of being a summer intern | what characteristics a good intern should have |
| 2012_1.2 | Social Issues | Mooncake giving | Discuss | whether the tradition of giving mooncakes is wasteful | whether traditional mooncakes should be replaced with non-traditional versions | how to festival can be celebrated in a more environmentally-friendly way |
| 2012_1.3 | Popular Culture | Cosplay | Give a presentation | whether cosplay is popular in Hong Kong | how Hong Kong society views cosplayers | how experienced cosplayers can help new cosplayers |
| 2012_2.1 | Popular Culture | Stephen Chow | Organise a festival | aspects of his life and career people would be interested in | how you would get information about Stephen Chow | activities that you could organize |
| 2012_2.2 | Popular Culture | New technological products | Write an article | why people like to use technological products | the benefits of technological products in our lives | whether all technological products are useful |
| 2012_2.3 | Popular Culture | Diary writing | Promote an activity | why it is useful to keep a diary | how to make a diary interesting and memorable | which tips you would find most useful for writing a diary |
| 2012_3.1 | Sports Communication | Cross-harbour race | Write an essay | the popularity of swimming in Hong Kong in general | any potential dangers of swimming across the harbour | the benefits of the race for participants and Hong Kong |
| 2012_3.2 | Popular Culture | Summer study tour | Discuss pros and cons | what skills or knowledge can be gained from study tours | what difficulties or problems might be encountered on a study tour | whether you would recommend the above programme for your school |
| 2012_3.3 | Popular Culture | Japanese food | Organise an event | which activity would be best for attracting new members | how the event could be promoted | what other events the club could organize in the future |
| 2012_4.1 | Social Issues | Lack of living space | Prepare a project | how a lack of space affects the lives of Hong Kong people | how Hong Kong people cope with having so little space | any possible benefits of Hong Kong's lack of space |
| 2012_4.2 | Social Issues | Low carbon living | Promote a scheme | what the benefits of such a scheme would be | what students can do to become involved | how such a scheme could be promoted |
| 2012_4.3 | Popular Culture | 3D movies | Give a presentation | why 3D movies have become popular in Hong Kong | whether all movies should be changed into 3D format | other effects that can make watching movies more realistic |
| 2012_5.1 | Social Issues | Heritage conservation | Write a letter | why certain buildings should be preserved | how to balance urban development with heritage conservation | what action should be taken to help preserve such buildings |
| 2012_5.2 | Social Issues | Dolphin conservation | Discuss | why the dolphins should be better protected | how the threat to the dolphins can be highlighted to the public | whether protecting dolphin habitats is more important than the development of infrastructure |
| 2012_5.3 | Social Issues | Money management | Discuss | why it is necessary to teach good money management skills | whether showing a cartoon is the best way | what additional activities could be introduced |
| 2012_6.1 | Popular Culture | Restaurants in Hong Kong | Write reviews | the different kinds of cuisines in Hong Kong | the characteristics of a good restaurant | what a good restaurant review should include |
| 2012_6.2 | Popular Culture | Reality TV | Discuss | how people of different generations view reality shows | what type of reality shows people prefer | reasons why these shows are popular/unpopular |
| 2012_6.3 | Popular Culture | Teaching English using video games | Write a blog | any interesting English lessons you've had in school | any English lessons you've had in school that were not enjoyable | advantages or disadvantages of using video games in English lessons |
| 2012_7.1 | Popular Culture | Home swapping | Discuss pros and cons | what the risks of home swapping are | what the advantages of home swapping are | whether local culture can be better experienced through home swapping |
| 2012_7.2 | Popular Culture | Trends of toys and games in Hong Kong | Prepare a project | whether traditional toys and games are still popular | the advantages of non-traditional toys compared to traditional toys and games | what kinds of toys and games will be popular in the future |
| 2012_7.3 | Workplace Communication | Career choice | Discuss | the struggles young people face when deciding on a career | what criteria are important when making a career choice | what advice you would give to someone who does not know what job they would like to do |
| 2012_8.1 | Popular Culture | Outdoor music festival | Write a letter to the editor | whether there is a demand for outdoor music festivals in Hong Kong | whether the complaints about noise are a fair concern | what other events you would like to see held in the West Kowloon Cultural District |
| 2012_8.2 | Social Issues | Plastic surgery | Prepare a project | what kinds of men would seek plastic surgery | the reasons for its increasing popularity | any negative aspects of plastic surgery |
| 2012_8.3 | Popular Culture | Memory training | Give a presentation | the benefits of training one's memory | how one's memorizing ability can be trained | the types of people who could benefit from having an improved memory |
Year 2013 Analysis
| Year/ID | Elective | Topic | Task | First Bullet | Second Bullet | Third Bullet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013_1.1 | Popular Culture | Learning English outside classroom | Give a presentation | how you could learn English through YouTube and other social networking sites | what other ways you can think of to learn English outside the classroom | advice to give to students who are new to learning English by themselves |
| 2013_1.2 | Social Issues | Compulsory cooking class | Discuss | why young people usually do not know how to cook | the benefits and problems of having compulsory cooking classes | what should be taught in these classes |
| 2013_1.3 | Social Issues | Achieving long life | Give a short talk | which four of the eight factors to include in your talk and why | which rule is the most important for achieving a long life | activities that can be included in the Live Well Week |
| 2013_2.1 | Workplace Communication | Apprenticeship programmes | Discuss | the differences between apprenticeships and traditional schooling | whether Hong Kong students and parents would be open to the idea of apprenticeship programmes | how to get support from employers to take part in apprenticeship programmes |
| 2013_2.2 | Social Issues | Empty shop project | Write a letter | the benefits and problems of organizing empty shop projects in Hong Kong | what activities would be best for Hong Kong empty shop projects to hold | how to encourage companies and charities in Hong Kong to organize empty shop projects |
| 2013_2.3 | Popular Culture | Strange food in Hong Kong | Produce a brochure | other kinds of strange Hong Kong food to include in the brochure | why tourists may find these local foods strange | how to make these foods more attractive in the brochure |
| 2013_3.1 | Popular Culture | Unusual activities to keep fit | Organise an event | which of the activities in the extract above would be most suitable for a Health Awareness Fun Day | possible problems when organizing the Fun Day | other unusual activities to include in the Fun Day |
| 2013_3.2 | Social Issues | Living in Hong Kong | Improve a website | what teenagers need and want to know about living in a new place | the information from the above guide that you want to keep | how to make the website more attractive |
| 2013_3.3 | Social Issues | Cyber crimes | Give a presentation | why cyber crimes occur | the importance of protecting ourselves from cyber crimes | ways to protect ourselves from cyber crimes |
| 2013_4.1 | Debating | Animal cruelty | Prepare a debate | some foods that come from animals which are cruelly treated | arguments for the motion | arguments against the motion |
| 2013_4.2 | Sports Communication | Full contact sports | Discuss | reasons why some people are against full contact sports | the benefits to teenagers of participating in full contact sports | the difficulties of introducing full contact sports in schools |
| 2013_4.3 | Social Issues | Simple living | Organise a course | the skills that students will learn from this course | the benefits and problems this plan will bring | what other activities to include in the course |
| 2013_5.1 | Popular Culture | Digital devices and its effects | Give a presentation | how using them affects people's brains | how using them affects people's behaviour | how using them affects people's relationships with others |
| 2013_5.2 | Popular Culture | Cluttering | Write an article | reasons why people are unwilling to throw things away | the effects of having clutter in the home | what to do with the unwanted items |
| 2013_5.3 | Popular Culture | Luxury brands in Hong Kong | Prepare a project | why international brands want to open stores in Hong Kong | the advantages and problems this brings | what other information to include in the project |
| 2013_6.1 | Popular Culture | Use of robots at home | Write a report | the services that robots can provide for humans | the disadvantages of using robots in the home | what other kinds of robots you would like to see in the future |
| 2013_6.2 | Social Issues | Humans living on other planets | Give a presentation | the good and bad ideas from the Mars One project | what other issues should be considered when humans live on another planet | the reasons why people may want to move to another planet |
| 2013_6.3 | Debating | Benefits of video games | Prepare a debate | why video games are considered art | what benefits there are to playing computer games | how you will argue against the other team's ideas |
| 2013_7.1 | Social Issues | Dogs replace children | Give a presentation | the reasons why many dog owners place so much importance on their pets | the activities they do with their dogs in Hong Kong | the advantages and problems that may arise from spending so much time with their dogs |
| 2013_7.2 | Popular Culture | Cantopop | Prepare for a project | why Cantopop is a suitable topic for the school project | what to include in the proposal | whether you agree with the article that Cantopop is less popular today |
| 2013_7.3 | Social Issues | Peer pressure amongst teenagers | Give a presentation | the kinds of peer pressure that Hong Kong teenagers have | the positive and negative influences of peer pressure | what teens can do when they face peer pressure |
| 2013_8.1 | Popular Culture | Class blog | Discuss | the benefits and problems with having a class blog | which topics you want to include in your class blog | what information from the survey you will use to persuade your teacher |
| 2013_8.2 | Workplace Communication | Solving conflicts | Give a talk | the difficulties people face when working in a group | ways to solve or avoid conflicts or arguments | the benefits of working well in a group |
| 2013_8.3 | Popular Culture | Ideal form of beauty | Discuss | popular beliefs about what is considered good-looking for men and women | whether the colour of one's eyes is an important criterion in being considered good-looking | whether or not Western forms of beauty should be considered the ideal |
| 2013_9.1 | Social Issues | Hong Kong's identity and traditions | Prepare an exhibition | what ideas from the above article you want to include in your exhibition | what other traditional aspects of Hong Kong culture to include | how to present these things in a fun and humorous way |
| 2013_9.2 | Debating | Banning calculators in primary schools | Prepare a debate | advantages of using calculators in primary schools | problems of using calculators in primary schools | whether or not you agree that calculators should be banned in primary schools |
| 2013_9.3 | Short Stories | Choose English books | Recommend a book | whether you would recommend Hero on a Bicycle for the Reading Club | what other kinds of books you would choose | the benefits and challenges of reading fiction |
| 2013_10.1 | Popular Culture | Weird Japanese inventions | Set up a club | what the aims of your society will be | what will make your society different from the other clubs | which of the above inventions you would use to promote your society |
| 2013_10.2 | Social Issues | Dining and table manners | Prepare a workshop | some kinds of behaviour that might be considered rude at the dining table | some traditional rules and updated rules on dining manners | which rule is the most important one and why |
| 2013_10.3 | Social Issues | Helping children to succeed | Prepare a presentation | ways that Hong Kong parents try to help their children to succeed | what motivates Hong Kong children to succeed | advice to give parents |
Year 2014 Analysis
| Year/ID | Elective | Topic | Task | First Bullet | Second Bullet | Third Bullet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014_1.1 | Popular Culture | Writing emails | Give a talk | whether young people write emails in their daily lives | the challenges young people may face when writing formal emails | the advantages of using email over other forms of communication |
| 2014_1.2 | Workplace Communication | Airport ambassadors | Discuss | why the Airport needs Ambassadors | whether being an Airport Ambassador would be difficult for young people | what qualities/skills/characteristics are necessary to be a good Airport Ambassador |
| 2014_1.3 | Social Issues | Helicopter parenting | Write a letter to the editor | the qualities of good parents | whether helicopter parenting is good | other complaints young people have about the relationship with their parents |
| 2014_2.1 | Popular Culture | Taking food photos | Prepare a project | why some people love taking photos of food | any negative effects of taking photos of food | how to put together a blog about food photos |
| 2014_2.2 | Popular Culture | Street culture | Give a presentation | why some people think street culture is negative | reasons why street culture is becoming more popular | how to change people's attitudes towards street culture |
| 2014_2.3 | Social Issues | Hong Kong and Switzerland | Give a talk | how Hong Kong compares with Switzerland in the four points mentioned | whether Hong Kong's ranking should be higher | how Hong Kong can improve its happiness ranking |
| 2014_3.1 | Popular Culture | Slang words | Prepare a project | useful sources for collecting words commonly used by teenagers | ways to decide what words to include in your dictionary | how to present the information for the dictionary in an interesting way |
| 2014_3.2 | Social Issues | Finnish education system | Prepare for a discussion | the most positive aspects of Finland's education system | positive aspects of Hong Kong's education system | which characteristics of Finland's education system would not work in Hong Kong |
| 2014_3.3 | Social Issues | Construction of a ferris wheel | Discuss | whether Hong Kong needs a tourist attraction along the waterfront | whether a ferris wheel would be an ideal tourist attraction | how the land could be developed for other purposes |
| 2014_4.1 | Social Issues | Cyber-spying on kids | Give a presentation | whether parents should access their children's social media accounts | why parents want to monitor their children's online activities | why some children may not want their parents to be their Facebook "friends" |
| 2014_4.2 | Popular Culture | Culture of using coupons | Discuss | the types of coupons students normally use | the reasons why people like to use coupons | any potential disadvantages of couponing |
| 2014_4.3 | Popular Culture | Superheroes Society | Discuss | which of the three superheroes would best represent the society | how to attract new members to join | what activities the society could organize |
| 2014_5.1 | Popular Culture | International Film Day | Organise an event | whether or not international films will appeal to students | the benefits of holding an International Film Day | which of the three movies to choose for the opening film |
| 2014_5.2 | Workplace Communication | Career in studying dinosaurs | Prepare for a guest's visit | aspects of his life and career people would be interested in | questions to ask Dr. Xu | any other activities that can be included in Dr. Xu's visit |
| 2014_5.3 | Social Issues | Common health mistakes | Organise a workshop | how common these health 'mistakes' are in Hong Kong | the top three 'mistakes' to choose for the workshop | how to make the workshop interesting |
| 2014_6.1 | Sports Communication | Team sports | Give a presentation | the benefits of playing team sports compared to individual sports | the disadvantages of playing team sports compared to individual sports | how team sports can be promoted in Hong Kong |
| 2014_6.2 | Social Issues | E-books vs traditional books | Discuss | the benefits of e-textbooks | the benefits of traditional textbooks | how e-textbooks could change the way people learn |
| 2014_6.3 | Social Issues | Debt from tertiary education | Write a letter to the editor | expenses tertiary students face | the problems of having a loan | whether getting a degree is worth the cost |
| 2014_7.1 | Social Issues | Compulsory courtesy class | Discuss | whether courtesy classes should be compulsory or not | what can be taught in courtesy classes | which age group of students would benefit the most |
| 2014_7.2 | Popular Culture | Impacts of LEGO on young people | Prepare a project | whether LEGO is popular among young people | reasons for its popularity compared to other toys | pros and cons of playing with LEGO figures with different faces |
| 2014_7.3 | Debating | Advertising | Prepare a debate | positive effects of advertising on society | negative effects of advertising on society | what products should not be advertised |
| 2014_8.1 | Popular Culture | Super-sized food | Organise a stall | whether super-sized meals are becoming popular in Hong Kong | the pros and cons of using super-sized meals to attract customers | what food your group could super-size in order to attract customers to your stall |
| 2014_8.2 | Popular Culture | Jeremy Lin | Organise a workshop | activities to do in the workshop | questions to ask Jeremy Lin | what students could learn from Jeremy Lin |
| 2014_8.3 | Social Issues | Addiction to technology | Give a class presentation | why some Hong Kong teenagers are addicted to technology | possible signs of being addicted to technology | any tips or advice for overcoming technology addiction |
| 2014_9.1 | Workplace Communication | Summer internship | Discuss which option is suitable | why some teenagers would be keen to join the Hong Kong Police Force | which job duties in the Public Relations internship your group would prefer to do | benefits of the Public Relations internship compared to other jobs |
| 2014_9.2 | Workplace Communication | Customer service in Hong Kong | Prepare a project | why good customer service is important | whether or not customer service in Hong Kong is getting worse | how customer service can be improved |
| 2014_9.3 | Social Issues | Study time | Join a forum | the benefits of having Study Time in Hong Kong | the negative effects of having Study Time | whether Study Time could be implemented in Hong Kong |
| 2014_10.1 | Social Issues | Amount of power given to children | Prepare a discussion | whether Hong Kong children have too much power | the positive effects of disciplining children | the negative effects of disciplining children |
| 2014_10.2 | Sports Communication | Teenagers and dancing | Give a presentation | whether Hong Kong teenagers like dancing | what teens can learn from dance | what activities can be organized to promote the group |
| 2014_10.3 | Popular Culture | Subscribe to a magazine | Discuss which option is suitable | the pros and cons of choosing each magazine | the magazine to be chosen | other types of magazine the library should subscribe to |
Year 2015 Analysis
| Year/ID | Elective | Topic | Task | First Bullet | Second Bullet | Third Bullet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015_1.1 | Popular Culture | Tools for taking selfies | Give a talk | why selfies seem to be so popular among young people | the advantages and disadvantages of the gadgets advertised | which two you would recommend |
| 2015_1.2 | Popular Culture | Digital memory boxes | Discuss | the purpose or theme of your memory box | things your school could put inside | how to get as many students and teachers involved as possible |
| 2015_1.3 | Sports Communication | Youth Olympic Games | Organise activities | which of the above activities you think would be most suitable for school students | what other activities could be held based on the values of the Youth Olympic Games | how to get more people in the community involved in these activities |
| 2015_2.1 | Workplace Communication | Doll hospital | Discuss | why people want to repair their old toys | whether a doll hospital business in Hong Kong would be successful | how a doll hospital could be marketed |
| 2015_2.2 | Workplace Communication | Professional courses for senior students | Discuss which option is suitable | how the four courses can benefit students | what difficulties may be encountered if these courses are introduced | which course would be the most popular among students |
| 2015_2.3 | Workplace Communication | Young female astronaut | Plan an invitation | why you would like to invite Alyssa | what you would like Alyssa to talk about | any other activities that could be included in Alyssa's visit |
| 2015_3.1 | Social Issues | Bring Your Own Device policy | Discuss | the benefits and problems of this policy | how to prevent such problems | in which subjects mobile devices would be most useful for students |
| 2015_3.2 | Workplace Communication | Top jobs in the world | Organise a workshop | what skills students need for the five jobs | whether you think these jobs would be popular among students | how to make the workshop interesting |
| 2015_3.3 | Social Issues | Endless City | Discuss a proposal | what other facilities should be included in the Endless City | the pros and cons of living in the Endless City | whether a similar proposal would be popular in Hong Kong |
| 2015_4.1 | Workplace Communication | Writing online | Prepare for an article | the advantages of writing online | the problems faced by online writers | whether there should be censorship of what is published online |
| 2015_4.2 | Workplace Communication | Gen Y school leavers | Design a workshop | whether you agree with the description of Gen Y in Question 1 | which measures taken by employers in Question 2 would be most popular with young employees | how to make the workshop interesting |
| 2015_4.3 | Social Issues | Study tour to Antarctica | Discuss | whether Antarctica would be a suitable location | what difficulties students could face if they went to Antarctica | how to choose students to join the study tour |
| 2015_5.1 | Debating | Compulsory military service | Prepare a debate | arguments in favor of compulsory military service | arguments against compulsory military service | whether it would be a good idea to introduce compulsory military service for women |
| 2015_5.2 | Workplace Communication | Introducing robots into service industry | Write an article | advantages of using robots | reasons why people might be against using robots | other industries that could benefit from using robots |
| 2015_5.3 | Social Issues | Most essential items for living in Hong Kong | Discuss | which items might be different from those in the British survey | how the order might be different in Hong Kong | how different generations might differ in their choices |
| 2015_6.1 | Popular Culture | Youth leadership training camp | Discuss which option is suitable | which of the above camps is more suitable for students | the criteria for selecting students to join the camp | what concerns about the camp need to be addressed |
| 2015_6.2 | Social Issues | Upcycling | Organise a campaign | which item to upcycle and why | difficulties you may face | how to sell your upcycled product |
| 2015_6.3 | Social Issues | STEM subjects in Hong Kong | Prepare a meeting with parents and teachers | the reasons why fewer girls than boys are attracted to STEM subjects and STEM careers | what schools and universities can do to encourage more girls to study STEM subjects | how to persuade parents to let their daughters do STEM subjects |
| 2015_7.1 | Popular Culture | Dialogue in the Dark | Discuss which option is suitable | the benefits of each of the events | further details you would like to know about each | which event you would choose |
| 2015_7.2 | Social Issues | Hong Kong Open Photo Contest | Discuss | the benefits of taking part in the competition | which theme you would recommend to your school | what sort of things you could take photos of |
| 2015_7.3 | Popular Culture | Student of the Year Awards | Interview an awardee | what students can learn from Pok-man | other aspects of his life you would like to find out about | how to make the article more interesting |
| 2015_8.1 | Popular Culture | Celebrity and crime | Discuss | whether you agree with the punishments given to celebrities | why famous people who commit a crime are sometimes treated differently | whether you would still support a celebrity even after he or she has committed a crime |
| 2015_8.2 | Debating | Starting formal schooling before the age of six | Prepare a debate | arguments for the motion | arguments against the motion | which side you would prefer to take |
| 2015_8.3 | Popular Culture | William Sargent | Discuss which option is suitable | which activity you prefer and why | how you would promote your chosen activity in your school | questions to ask William Sargent |
| 2015_9.1 | Popular Culture | YouTuber stars | Discuss which option is suitable | the pros and cons of each choice | what you would like the YouTube star to talk about | any other activities that can be included in the visit |
| 2015_9.2 | Popular Culture | Standing desks | Prepare a presentation | advantages of standing desks | disadvantages of standing desks | how to make the presentation interesting |
| 2015_9.3 | Social Issues | Adopt-a-grandparent programme | Discuss | what the grandparents could do and why | the benefits of such a programme for the student and the school | how you might organize the programme |
Year 2016 Analysis
| Year/ID | Elective | Topic | Task | First Bullet | Second Bullet | Third Bullet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016_1.1 | Social Issues | Charity work outside Hong Kong | Discuss | the benefits of students doing charity work outside Hong Kong | the concerns of doing charity work outside Hong Kong | whether charity work outside Hong Kong should be a requirement at secondary school |
| 2016_1.2 | Workplace Communication | Starting own business | Discuss | whether Spacebox is a good business idea | ways the business idea could be improved | different ways to advertise your business |
| 2016_1.3 | Social Issues | Learning through play | Write an essay | games that you played when you were younger | the advantages and disadvantages of allowing children to play at school | whether learning through play should be a regular part of a child's education |
| 2016_2.1 | Social Issues | Phone scams | Give a presentation | the different types of scams | possible victims of scams | how to avoid being a victim of scams |
| 2016_2.2 | Popular Culture | Street art | Discuss | images Bao Ho should include in her painting | an appropriate location for the painting | how Bao Ho might help the school celebrate the Open Day |
| 2016_2.3 | Social Issues | Young adults living with parents | Discuss | the benefits of living at home with your parents | the disadvantages of living at home with your parents | other ways young adults can be independent while living with their parents |
| 2016_3.1 | Popular Culture | Educational computer software applications | Discuss which option is suitable | which of the four apps above is the most useful for students | what other kinds of educational apps Hong Kong students may need | whether there are any disadvantages of using apps for schoolwork |
| 2016_3.2 | Social Issues | Poor image of Hong Kong taxi drivers | Discuss | reasons for the dramatic rise in complaints | possible steps to improve the behaviour of taxi drivers | ways to promote Hong Kong taxis to tourists |
| 2016_3.3 | Debating | Wild animals | Prepare a debate | arguments for the motion | arguments against the motion | which side would be easier to argue |
| 2016_4.1 | Social Issues | Computer programming in secondary schools | Discuss | whether students should learn history and geography at school | whether compulsory programming should be taught at primary school | other subjects that can help students develop logical thinking and creativity |
| 2016_4.2 | Popular Culture | After-school hangouts | Give a presentation | the importance of socialising after school | which of the suggested places would be most popular with Hong Kong students | other places where students can socialise |
| 2016_4.3 | Popular Culture | Private kitchens | Prepare a school project | the advantages of private kitchens | the disadvantages of private kitchens | the impact private kitchens may have on the restaurant industry |
| 2016_5.1 | Poems and Songs | Busking | Reply to a letter to the editor | whether you agree or disagree with the writer's point of view | how to improve the quality of busking in Hong Kong | how the government can encourage busking |
| 2016_5.2 | Social Issues | History Week | Organise an event | which period you would choose | important features of that period | what events you would organise in the school |
| 2016_5.3 | Social Issues | Negative effects of electronic devices | Discuss | the negative effects of electronic devices on young people | why developing social skills is important | whether young people should be encouraged to have more face-to-face interaction |
| 2016_6.1 | Social Issues | Making Hong Kong a more walkable city | Design a campaign leaflet | the challenges people face when walking through the streets of Hong Kong | suggestions for improving the street conditions for pedestrians | content and organisation of the leaflet |
| 2016_6.2 | Social Issues | Singaporean laws | Discuss a proposal | some reasons why the Government would like to implement these laws | possible consequences of implementing these laws | the fairness of the punishments mentioned in the article |
| 2016_6.3 | Workplace Communication | Hong Kong-themed coffee shop in Shanghai | Prepare a presentation | what items you could sell in the coffee shop | what you would like to promote about Hong Kong | how you would decorate the coffee shop |
| 2016_7.1 | Social Issues | Treating Hong Kong children at schools as winners | Write an essay | the pros and cons of giving trophies to losing teams | whether learning how to lose is an important lesson to learn | whether certain competitive games should be discouraged at school |
| 2016_7.2 | Popular Culture | Emoticons | Discuss | the advantages of using emoticons to communicate | whether an emoticon is a good choice for Word of the Year | whether picture-based language will grow more or less popular in the future |
| 2016_7.3 | Social Issues | Meditation training in secondary schools | Discuss | why it might be necessary to teach students meditation | ways it could be introduced into schools | possible problems faced by schools |
| 2016_8.1 | Social Issues | Twins in schools | Prepare a school project | possible content for the project | how you are going to get the information you need | how you could present your project |
| 2016_8.2 | Popular Culture | Students' behaviour on social media | Discuss | whether it is important to present a good image on social media | what is acceptable behaviour on social media | other problems young people have using social media |
| 2016_8.3 | Sports Communication | Bicycle safety in Hong Kong | Give a talk | how to be safe when cycling in Hong Kong | the advantages and disadvantages of the gadgets advertised | which two you would recommend |
| 2016_9.1 | Short Stories | Encourage reading of literature | Discuss | whether fewer people are interested in reading literature than before | whether short story vending machines will encourage people to read more literature | other ways to promote the reading of literature |
| 2016_9.2 | Social Issues | International Left-Handers day | Organise activities | some of the frustrations that left-handed people experience | how these difficulties can be overcome | activities you may organise for the event |
| 2016_9.3 | Social Issues | Texting lanes | Discuss | the problems caused by using smartphones while walking | whether texting lanes can help to solve these problems | other ways of making people aware of the dangers of texting while walking |
Year 2017 Analysis
| Year/ID | Elective | Topic | Task | First Bullet | Second Bullet | Third Bullet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017_1.1 | Workplace Communication | Working in Shenzhen | Discuss | advantages and disadvantages of working in Shenzhen | whether this will become a popular trend | advice for people who would like to work in Shenzhen |
| 2017_1.2 | Social Issues | Giving money to parents | Write a reply to a blog entry | reasons people give money to their parents | whether this tradition should continue in Hong Kong today | other ways people can show respect to their parents |
| 2017_1.3 | Popular Culture | Book fair | Discuss | why the Hong Kong Book Fair is popular | whether Chinese martial arts literature was a suitable theme | a possible theme for the future |
| 2017_2.1 | Social Issues | Importance of Cantonese in Hong Kong | Prepare a project | problems non-Cantonese speaking people may have if they live in Hong Kong | advantages if they learn Cantonese | ways to help people who do not speak Cantonese feel more connected to Hong Kong |
| 2017_2.2 | Popular Culture | Ice bucket challenge | Discuss | why the Ice Bucket Challenge was so successful | other online activities you could hold to raise money for charity | whether your suggestions would be popular |
| 2017_2.3 | Social Issues | Weather signals | Prepare a project | the advantages of the current warning signals | possible problems caused for families, schools and businesses by the current signals | possible improvements to the current system |
| 2017_3.1 | Social Issues | Emotional Quotient | Prepare a presentation | what problems students face which affect their emotions | why EQ is important | ways your school can help students to develop emotional intelligence |
| 2017_3.2 | Popular Culture | Reading cultures & smartphones | Provide suggestions | what young people currently like about libraries | reasons many young people don't use libraries | new activities that might attract more people to use libraries |
| 2017_3.3 | Social Issues | Road accidents and car safety | Discuss | why the number of accidents has fallen in Hong Kong | some common causes of road accidents | what people should do to make sure they are safe while using the road |
| 2017_4.1 | Social Issues | Outdoor music performances | Prepare a project | why the elderly enjoy singing in parks | problems with having outdoor music performances | ways to overcome these problems |
| 2017_4.2 | Social Issues | Legal age for various activities | Discuss | why the government has age limits for people getting tattoos | why the age limits differ for different activities | whether any age limits should be changed |
| 2017_4.3 | Social Issues | Students withdrawing from society | Discuss | why some young people avoid social contact | why this is a problem for them and their families | how to overcome these problems |
| 2017_5.1 | Social Issues | Spoilt and over-protected parents | Prepare a project | what children might learn in a boot camp | whether boot camp would be popular with Hong Kong parents | other methods to encourage students to be more independent |
| 2017_5.2 | Social Issues | Foods affecting moods | Discuss | foods in schools which are good or bad for your mood | whether school menus should only offer healthy food | the benefits of having mood-enhancing foods |
| 2017_5.3 | Debating | Good teachers and educational success | Prepare a debate | arguments for the motion | arguments against the motion | which side would be easier to argue |
| 2017_6.1 | Popular Culture | Influence of iPhones | Prepare a project | how smartphones benefit people | why sales of iPhones did not grow in China in 2016 | whether iPhones will continue to be successful in China |
| 2017_6.2 | Social Issues | Online games | Discuss | the benefits of playing online games | possible activities for the Online Games Day | problems you may face setting up an Online Games Day |
| 2017_6.3 | Workplace Communication | Working holidays | Give a presentation | the advantages of going on a working holiday | whether the type of jobs in the advertisement are suitable for Hong Kong students | other types of jobs that are suitable for students |
| 2017_7.1 | Social Issues | Blood donations | Organise an event | why giving blood is important | how to encourage students to take part in the event | suitable times and places for the event |
| 2017_7.2 | Popular Culture | Tourist attractions in Hong Kong | Discuss which option is suitable | what attracts tourists to Hong Kong | what each picture represents about Hong Kong | which photograph should be chosen for the cover of the travel book |
| 2017_7.3 | Debating | More bus lanes in Hong Kong | Prepare a debate | whether buses are a convenient form of travel | whether bus lanes are a suitable solution to traffic congestion | other solutions to the traffic congestion problems |
| 2017_8.1 | Workplace Communication | Age discrimination in Hong Kong | Prepare a project | advantages of allowing older people to work | advantages of not allowing older people to work | what can be done to reduce discrimination against older people |
| 2017_8.2 | Social Issues | Fines and penalties | Discuss | whether the elderly cleaner should have been fined | whether fines and penalties stop people littering | any problems that fines and penalties cause |
| 2017_8.3 | Sports Communication | Night hiking | Organize a trip | why night hiking has become popular with students | what you should or should not take on the trip | any problems you may face on the trip |
Year 2018 Analysis
| Year/ID | Elective | Topic | Task | First Bullet | Second Bullet | Third Bullet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018_1.1 | Social Issues | Providing a domestic helper for all elderly people | Discuss | why the government suggested the idea | the advantages and disadvantages of the idea | any other ways to help elderly people who live alone |
| 2018_1.2 | Popular Culture | The decline of TVB | Prepare a project | why TVB was so successful in Hong Kong in the past | why there is a fall in the number of viewers | whether TVB can be successful again in the future |
| 2018_1.3 | Social Issues | Text messaging between teachers and students | Discuss | why students and parents want to text teachers | the advantages and disadvantages of students and teachers texting each other | what schools can do to improve other means of communication between students and teachers |
| 2018_2.1 | Social Issues | Bike-sharing services in Hong Kong | Discuss | the advantages of bike-sharing services | the problems of bike-sharing services and possible solutions | other sharing services that could be introduced in Hong Kong |
| 2018_2.2 | Popular Culture | OCamp | Discuss | the advantages and disadvantages of having an Ocamp | activities that would help new students get to know each other | how to organise the activities |
| 2018_2.3 | Social Issues | Giving money to students | Discuss | the advantages and disadvantages of the scheme | whether students will spend the money wisely | whether it should be available for all students in Hong Kong |
| 2018_3.1 | Social Issues | Doing nothing | Prepare a talk | whether students have enough free time | the advantages and disadvantages of students doing nothing | how you will explain to parents the value of letting their children do nothing |
| 2018_3.2 | Popular Culture | e-sports festival in Hong Kong | Organise a festival | advantages of holding an inter-school e-sports festival at your school | possible problems that may occur | how to promote the festival |
| 2018_3.3 | Workplace Communication | Being a firefighter | Give a presentation | what skills and qualities are needed to be a good firefighter | the advantages and disadvantages of working as a firefighter | activities that you could organise to help students learn about the job |
| 2018_4.1 | Popular Culture | Hong Kong music scene | Discuss | why older people criticise the younger generation | whether you think the criticism is fair | what is the biggest challenge for young people nowadays |
| 2018_4.2 | Social Issues | Hong Kong and Taiwan | Discuss | the differences between Hong Kong and Taiwan | the advantages and disadvantages of going to live in Taiwan | the most important factor in deciding whether to move to Taiwan |
| 2018_4.3 | Social Issues | Attendance policies in universities | Discuss | the advantages and disadvantages of HKBU's attendance policy | whether you think the policy will be successful | whether it could be applied to secondary schools |
| 2018_5.1 | Sports Communication | Rex Tso | Write a letter | why Rex would be a suitable speaker | how to persuade Rex to come to your school | whether boxing should be promoted in secondary schools in Hong Kong |
| 2018_5.2 | Social Issues | TV talent show | Discuss | why talent shows are popular | the advantages and disadvantages of taking part in talent shows | whether parents should let their children take part in talent shows |
| 2018_5.3 | Social Issues | Improving the waterfront | Propose facilities | what people might enjoy doing at Victoria Harbour front | what facilities might be suitable for Victoria Harbour front | how the new facilities could best be promoted |
| 2018_6.1 | Social Issues | Drones | Discuss | why drones are popular and useful | what problems drones might cause | what rules there should be about flying drones in Hong Kong |
| 2018_6.2 | Debating | Internet censorship and fake news | Prepare a debate | arguments for the motion | arguments against the motion | which side would be easier to argue |
| 2018_6.3 | Social Issues | Student dating | Discuss | whether you agree with the no dating rule adopted in China | the advantages and disadvantages of secondary school students dating | guidelines or advice schools should give students about dating |
| 2018_7.1 | Poems and Songs | Music therapy activities | Discuss | whether a gong bath would be suitable | other music therapy activities that might be suitable | how to promote music therapy at your school |
| 2018_7.2 | Social Issues | Paperless classrooms | Discuss | how schools can become paperless | what challenges there will be | whether you think it will be successful |
| 2018_7.3 | Workplace Communication | Employment traps | Organise an activity | the advantages and disadvantages of summer work | how to raise awareness of employment traps for students | summer jobs that would be suitable for students |
| 2018_8.1 | Social Issues | Animal therapy | Discuss | the advantages and disadvantages of animal therapy | what types of animal would be most suitable for a school | how the animals could be looked after and help the students |
| 2018_8.2 | Social Issues | Cashless society | Discuss | why many shops prefer people to pay by phone | what problems a cashless society may cause | whether Hong Kong should be cash-free in the near future |
| 2018_8.3 | Social Issues | City farms | Discuss | the benefits of renting a piece of farmland | whether students in your class would be interested in having a class farm | how to organise a class farm |
Year 2019 Analysis
| Year/ID | Elective | Topic | Task | First Bullet | Second Bullet | Third Bullet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019_1.1 | Social Issues | Redevelopment in Western District | Discuss | why old districts are redeveloped | what problems redevelopments cause | what the government should do to reduce the problems residents face |
| 2019_1.2 | Popular Culture | Wedding photos | Discuss | why wedding photographs are important | what is important for wedding photos to show | which styles you think is most popular |
| 2019_1.3 | Social Issues | Online Scams | Discuss | whether online crime is a serious problem in Hong Kong | what type of online crimes students should worry about most | how students should protect themselves |
| 2019_2.1 | Popular Culture | Fortune telling | Prepare a project | why people like going to fortune tellers | why fortune telling is an important part of Chinese culture | whether fortune telling will remain popular in the modern world |
| 2019_2.2 | Popular Culture | Apple Screen Time Control | Hold a meeting | whether parents should control students' screen time | advantages and disadvantages of Apple Screen Time Control | whether software like Apple Screen Time Control is the best way to limit students' screen time |
| 2019_2.3 | Sports Communication | Development of sport in Hong Kong | Prepare a project | whether Hong Kong is successful in international sport | whether sport is important to Hong Kong people | whether Hong Kong can learn from other countries to improve sports |
| 2019_3.1 | Popular Culture | Social media | Prepare a project | whether young people in Hong Kong use Facebook | what advice you would give people about using Facebook | whether social media will continue to be popular |
| 2019_3.2 | Workplace Communication | Gender pay gap | Discuss | whether there are differences in job performance between men and women | why women are generally paid less than men | how the gender pay gap could be reduced |
| 2019_3.3 | Social Issues | Cheating at school | Discuss | why students cheat | whether cheating is a common problem in schools | suitable ways of dealing with the problem |
| 2019_4.1 | Social Issues | Living in densely populated urban areas | Prepare a project | which letter you agree with | other situations when crowded places cause problems | how to deal with these problems |
| 2019_4.2 | Popular Culture | Unusual English names in Hong Kong | Discuss | how students choose their English name | what type of names you think are suitable and unsuitable | what problems unusual names cause |
| 2019_4.3 | Social Issues | Person of the year 2019 | Discuss | what can be learned from role models | why some students may not select the nominees listed | other potential nominees |
| 2019_5.1 | Social Issues | CCTV | Discuss | advantages of CCTV cameras | disadvantages of CCTV cameras | what rules there should be about the use of CCTV cameras in school |
| 2019_5.2 | Social Issues | Studying in mainland China | Facilitate a Q&A session | why Hong Kong universities want to develop in mainland China | what problems Hong Kong students may face studying on the Mainland | what advice to give to students thinking about studying on the Mainland |
| 2019_5.3 | Social Issues | Space travel | Write an essay | why people are so interested in space travel | whether space tourism will become popular | whether there are better ways to spend money |
| 2019_6.1 | Debating | Selective killing to control animal numbers | Prepare a debate | why governments use selective killing to control animal numbers | other methods of controlling animal numbers | whether or not you support culling |
| 2019_6.2 | Popular Culture | Translation devices | Discuss | the advantages and disadvantages of using translation devices | whether translation devices should be allowed at school | whether learning languages is still important |
| 2019_6.3 | Popular Culture | Problems caused by selfies | Discuss | why selfies are so popular | the dangers caused by taking selfies | why people are willing to take such risks |
| 2019_7.1 | Popular Culture | A Hong Kong drink | Discuss | a suitable name for the drink | why this name would be suitable | how else the government could promote the drink |
| 2019_7.2 | Social Issues | Using e-payments as lai see | Write an essay | why people are using e-payments for lai see | whether real money will remain popular | what other changes to the Lunar New Year people might dislike |
| 2019_7.3 | Social Issues | Inequality in Hong Kong | Write an essay | whether Hong Kong really is an unequal society | why unequal societies may have problems | policies that would make Hong Kong a more equal society |
| 2019_8.1 | Social Issues | Co-living | Discuss | the advantages of co-living | the advantages of co-living | what rules you think co-living accommodation should have |
| 2019_8.2 | Social Issues | Homeless people sleeping in McDonald's | Prepare a project | what problems homeless people face | why they go to McDonald's | how this affects McDonald's |
| 2019_8.3 | Social Issues | Political leaders | Hold a summer course | what skills a political leader needs in today's society | the strengths and limitations of older leaders | whether age should be a factor in choosing a leader |