Individual schemes / programmes basically select 5 HKDSE subjects for calculation of admission scores. Admission score calculation mechanisms adopted by schemes / programmes include “Any Best 5 Subjects” and "Chinese & English Languages + Any Best 3 Subjects". On top of these, starting from the 2025/26 admissions exercise, schemes / programmes may include an additional bonus score for the 3rd elective subject. Therefore, two more score calculation mechanisms "Any Best 5 Subjects (plus an additional bonus score for the 6th subject)" or "Chinese & English Languages + Any Best 3 Subjects (plus an additional bonus score for the 6th subject)" are added. After all, individual schemes / programmes adopt only one of the mechanisms mentioned for calculating the admission score for initial prioritisation of applicants.
The level of attainment of core subject, "Citizenship and Social Development" or "Liberal Studies", would not be included in admission score calculation.
The different score calculation mechanisms are as follows:
5 Subjects:
(i) Any Best 5 Subjects
The “best” 5 HKDSE subjects (after subject weightings have been applied) will be taken into account.
(ii) Chinese & English Languages + Any Best 3 Subjects
Chinese Language and English Language, plus any 3 “best” subjects (after subject weightings have been applied) will be taken into account.
5 Subjects plus an Additional Bonus Score for the Third Elective Subject:
(i) Any Best 5 Subjects (plus an additional bonus score for the 6th subject)
The "best" 5 HKDSE subjects (after subject weightings have been applied) plus an additional bonus score for the 6th subject (without subject weighting) will be taken into account.
(ii) Chinese & English Languages + Any Best 3 Subjects (plus an additional bonus score for the 6th subject)
Chinese Language and English Language, plus any 3 "best" subjects (after subject weightings have been applied) plus an additional bonus score for the 6th subject (without subject weighting) will be taken into account.
Applicants should check the admission score calculation mechanism of individual schemes / programmes at Study@PolyU. Examples illustrating how applicants’ admission scores are derived based on the above calculation mechanisms can be found here.
Individual schemes / programmes will consider relevant Applied Learning (ApL) subjects. In the calculation of admission score, "Attained with Distinction (I)" and "Attained with Distinction" (obtained in 2017 or before) in relevant ApL subjects will be taken as Level 3, while "Attained with Distinction (II)" will be taken as Level 4. Only one relevant ApL subject can be used for calculation of the admission score for prioritization.
The Extended Modules of Mathematics (i.e. M1 or M2) will be treated as a single subject in calculating the admission scores of JUPAS applicants. However, if students have taken both M1 and M2, they will only be considered as one subject and the best grade will be taken into consideration in admission score calculation.
The following conversion points are applied for HKDSE subjects:
Category A: Core and Elective Subjects Level Attainments | Converted Level Points for Scores Calculation |
5** | 8.5 |
5* | 7 |
5 | 5.5 |
4 | 4 |
3 | 3 |
2 | 2 |
1 | 1 |
Unclassified | 0 |
Category B: Applied Learning (ApL) Subjects Level Attainments | Converted Level Points for Scores Calculation |
Attained with Distinction (II) | 4 |
Attained with Distinction / Attained with Distinction (I) | 3 |
Attained | 0 |
Category C: Other Language Subjects Grade Attainments (2024 and before) | Converted Level Points for Scores Calculation |
A | 5 |
B | 4 |
C | 3 |
D | 2 |
E | 1 |
Unclassified | 0 |
Category C: Other Language Subjects Grade Attainments (2025) | Level/Grade Attainments | Converted Level Points for Scores Calculation |
| N1 | 8.5 |
N2 | 5.5 | |
N3 | 3 | |
| 6 | 8.5 |
5 | 7 | |
4 | 4 | |
3 | 3 | |
| C2 | 8.5 |
C1 | 7 | |
B2 | 5.5 | |
B1 | 4 | |
A2 | 3 |
The remaining subjects will be included in the calculation of the reference score which takes all subjects attempted into account.
“Preferred” subjects of individual programmes will be given the highest weighting. Other subjects will be given appropriate weightings depending on their relevance to the schemes / programmes. The subject weighting of individual schemes /programmes can be found from the JUPAS score calculator.
All HKDSE applicants will initially be prioritized based on the admission score. For applicants with the same admission score, schemes / programmes will make reference to their reference score which is an aggregation of all HKDSE subject results with subject weightings applied. An average score which is an average of all HKDSE Category A subject attempts without subject weightings applied, and interview / test performance may also be taken into account by some schemes / programmes when determining applicants’ priority on the merit order list, if any.
The level attainment of the subjects would not be included in the admission score calculation.
