What is HKDSE about in 2026?

Key information

• What Skills are Tested? 
  The exam tests Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking, each worth 25% of the total mark.

• What Exam? 
  The HKDSE French exam uses the internationally recognized DELF A2 (Diplôme d’Études en Langue Française).

• What is Required? 
  You must achieve DELF A2 or higher to get an HKDSE Category C result.

Two for One: You get two official certificates—the DELF certificate and the HKDSE result—from one exam.

🇫🇷 Your French Success in Hong Kong: The HKDSE French Exam (DELF A2)

The French language is a gateway to international opportunities, and for students in Hong Kong, the HKDSE Category C (Other Languages) subject for French now offers an even smoother path to official certification. Since 2025, the French certification is based on the globally recognized DELF A2 (or higher levels), marking a significant and beneficial change for students.

📝 HKDSE French Exam Structure (DELF A2)

The HKDSE French examination utilizes the internationally recognized DELF A2 (Diplôme d’Études en Langue Française), which assesses all four core language skills. This format provides students with “one exam, two certificates”—the official French government diploma and an HKDSE Category C result.

To make this information easily digestible and mobile-friendly, here is the structure in a bulleted format:

• Listening (Compréhension de l’oral)
  • Focus: Understanding short, simple recordings about everyday life.
  • Duration: Approximately 35 minutes
  • Weighting: 25% of the total mark
• Reading (Compréhension des écrits)
  • Focus: Understanding short, simple written texts on familiar topics.
  • Duration: Approximately 45 minutes
  • Weighting: 25% of the total mark
• Writing (Production écrite)
  • Focus: Producing two short, simple written texts (e.g., a letter, message, or description) on everyday situations.
  • Duration: Approximately 45 minutes
  • Weighting: 25% of the total mark
• Speaking (Production orale)
  • Focus: A three-part test involving a guided conversation, exchanging information, and a short monologue/role-play.
  • Duration: 6–8 minutes preparation + 10 minutes exam
  • Weighting: 25% of the total mark

Passing Requirement: To successfully pass the DELF A2, you need an overall score of at least 50/100, with a minimum of 5/25 in each of the four components.

✅ The DELF Advantage: A Flexible Path to Certification

The shift from the previous Cambridge International Advanced Subsidiary (AS) level examination to the DELF A2standard for HKDSE French is a major benefit for Hong Kong students. This change offers significant advantages in terms of accessibility, flexibility, and global recognition:

• Lower Entry Level, Easier to Achieve: The previous AS-level was significantly more demanding. The DELF A2 is an Elementary User level (CEFR A2), which requires a far more manageable time investment (estimated 270 learning hours) for students to achieve a Category C result.
• Multiple Attempts & Best Score Reporting: Unlike many single, high-stakes exams, the DELF exam can be taken multiple times within the two years preceding the HKDSE you sit. The HKEAA will only report the highest language proficiency level and result attained on your HKDSE certificate. This retake flexibility significantly reduces pressure and provides a powerful safety net for students.
• Internationally Recognized and Valid for Life: The DELF/DALF are official diplomas issued by the French Ministry of Education. Achieving this certification provides a lifelong, internationally recognized proof of French proficiency, useful for academic applications (especially in French universities) and career prospects worldwide.

This modern structure makes French a more attractive and strategic elective choice, providing HK students with a highly valuable, dual certification that is both simpler to achieve and much more flexible to manage during their demanding secondary school years.

🌍 The Cultural & Life Topics

The syllabus aims for practical, real-world communication. The French you learn will cover a diverse range of topics, ensuring you can navigate life in a Francophone environment and appreciate the rich French culture.

Key thematic areas for the exam include:

• Daily Life & People: Family, young people, patterns of daily life, food, and drink.
• Health & Wellness: Health and fitness.
• Work & Leisure: Work, leisure, and sport.
• The Global Community: Travel and tourism, cultural life, social and economic development, and the environment.

✨ Why Choose French? The Interactive French Advantage

Learning French with a French tutor is more than just passing an exam; it’s a profound investment in your future.

1. Academic & Career Boost: French is a working and official language of international organizations like the UN and the EU. Achieving a B2 level or higher is often required for direct university entry in France! Your French skills give you a competitive edge in sectors like luxury goods, diplomacy, tourism, and business.
2. Cultural Immersion: Learn the language of fashion, gastronomy, art, cinema, and philosophy. By mastering French, you gain direct access to an incomparable cultural universe and can experience travel more authentically.
3. Brain Power: Studies show that learning a new language like French enhances cognitive skills, including memory, concentration, and problem-solving abilities. Plus, as a Romance language, it acts as a stepping stone to easily learning Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese!

At Interactive French, our expert native French tutor team specializes in personalized preparation for the DELF A2 and higher levels. We provide structured lessons, targeted exam strategies, and an engaging, interactive environment to help you not just pass, but excel and embrace the full richness of the language.

Ready to start your journey to fluency and secure a top result in your HKDSE French exam?