Hong Kong Discretionary Places Allocation Guide 2025: A Complete Guide to Primary One Secondary One Application

"Discretionary Places" is an important part of Hong Kong's school admission process, giving parents the opportunity to secure a place for their children in their favourite schools. Whether it is for Primary One admission or Secondary One selection, understanding the mechanism, scoring method and application strategy of Discretionary Places can greatly enhance the chance of success. This guide explains the application process for Discretionary Places in 2025 and provides practical tools and expert advice to help your child get into the school of his/her choice.

What is a discretionary place?

Self-allocation of Degree Application Forms and Related Documents

Application Form for Discretionary Places and Important Documents

Discretionary Places (DP) is the first stage of school admission in Hong Kong which allows schools to admit students according to their own admission criteria. At this stage, parents can submit applications directly to their favourite schools without being restricted by the school net. Understanding how this mechanism works is the first step to a successful application.

Primary 1 discretionary places

In the Primary One Admission process, about 50% places will be reserved as discretionary places in Government Primary Schools (Government and aided primary schools). Parents can only apply for one primary school for their children and the application form should be submitted to the school direct. The school will select students according to the "Points System Criteria" prescribed by the Education Bureau (EDB) or its own admission criteria.

S1 Discretionary Places

In the SSPA process, participating secondary schools will reserve not more than 30% places for discretionary places. Unlike Primary 1, students can apply to a maximum of two participating secondary schools and have to rank them according to their aspirations. Secondary schools may set their own admission criteria, usually taking into account factors such as students' academic results, performance in interviews and extra-curricular activities.

Important dates for self-allocated places in 2025

Application Timetable for Discretionary Places 2025
stage Primary One Admission Form 1 Admission
Date of Application Mid to late September 2024 Early to mid-January 2025
Interview Time October-November 2024 February-March 2025
Results Announcement Late November 2024 Late March 2025
Date of Registration End of November 2024 End of March 2025
Application for Uniform School Places Allocation January-February 2025 April-May 2025

Don't miss the important dates!

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Details of Primary One Discretionary Places

Illustration of the Application Process for Discretionary Places in Primary Schools

Types of Admissions: "Required" and "Points-Based" Students

Applicants for Primary One Discretionary Places (PODPs) are divided into two categories: "compulsory" (also known as "hereditary") and "point-scoring". It is important to know which category you belong to in order to formulate your application strategy.

Must-be-adopted students (hereditary students)

  • Parent working in the primary school
  • Brother/sister is studying in the primary school.
  • Schools must admit unconditionally
  • Maximum number of Primary One places 30%
  • If the number of applicants exceeds 30%, the school will be "over-enrolled".

Scorecard

  • Calculation of points according to the "Points Scoring System Criteria
  • The higher the score, the higher the chance of admission.
  • Occupying the total number of school places from 20% to 50%
  • Depends on the number of "mandatory" students
  • Competition is fierce and you need to be strategic in choosing schools

Points System for Primary One Discretionary Places

"The Points Scoring Criteria (PSC) is a set of criteria set by the Education Bureau (EDB) and is divided into three categories: A, B and C. Parents may select one criterion from each category to be used as the basis for scoring. Parents may choose one criterion in each category that their child meets as the basis for scoring.

Category Conditions Fraction
shellfish Dad or mum works full-time in the kindergarten or secondary section of the primary school, but only in the same school site. 20 points
shellfish An older brother or sister is enrolled in the secondary section of the primary school, but only if it is on the same school site. 20 points
shellfish Dad or mum is a governor of the primary school. 20 points
shellfish Dad, mum, brother or sister, who is a graduate of the primary school 10 points
shellfish The applicant is the first child born in the family. 5 points
beta- or type 2 Share the same religious beliefs as the school's sponsoring body 5 points
beta- or type 2 Dad or mum is a member of the club organised by the primary school. 5 points
Group C School-age admission (i.e. aged 5 years 8 months to 7 years at the start of the school year in September) 10 points
Discretionary Places Calculator Tool

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Details of Secondary One Discretionary Places

Application Procedure for Discretionary Places in Secondary Schools

Secondary 1 Discretionary Places are distinctly different from Primary 1 in that students can apply to up to two participating secondary schools and the schools can set their own admission criteria. Understanding the characteristics and strategies of secondary school admission is crucial to a successful application.

Secondary School Admission Criteria

Secondary schools normally take into account the following factors at the discretionary places stage:

Academic Performance

  • Internal Results for Primary 5 to Primary 6
  • Uniform Test and Examination Results
  • School Awards and Certificates
  • Learning Attitude and Performance

Interview Performance

  • Communication and presentation skills
  • English and Chinese language skills
  • Logic and Reaction
  • Etiquette and Grooming
  • Self-confidence and motivation

Other factors

  • Extra-curricular Activities and Competitions
  • Special talents (music, sports, etc.)
  • Community Service and Volunteer Experience
  • Links with schools (e.g. children of alumni)
  • Character and Conduct Rating

Application Strategy

When applying for a S1 Discretionary Places, the choice of school is particularly important. Below are some key considerations:

Secondary School Selection Strategy Analysis Chart

Access Strategy

  • First choice is to choose a school slightly above your ability.
  • Second Choice Schools
  • Suitable for students with outstanding academic performance and specialised skills.
  • Possible access to better educational resources

conservative strategy

  • Choose the more secure school for both aspirations.
  • Improve overall admission chances
  • Suitable for students with average to high academic performance but without outstanding performance.
  • Avoid the risk of losing both schools

Need advice on choosing a school?

Our team of Careers Advisors can provide personalised secondary school selection strategies based on your child's academic performance, interests and strengths.

Guidelines for Preparation of Application Documents

Documents Required for Application for Self-accredited Places

A well-prepared and organised application document is an important part of a successful application for a discretionary place. Below are the basic documents and points to note for applications for Primary 1 and Secondary 1 discretionary places.

Documents Required for Primary One Self-allocated Places

  • Primary One Admission Application Form (provided by the Education Bureau)
  • Original and duplicate birth certificates of children
  • Parent/Guardian ID card (original and duplicate)
  • Proof of address (within the last 3 months)
  • Photographs of children (recent)
  • Documentary proof of points scoring (if applicable):
    • Proof of graduation (parents/siblings are graduates of the school)
    • Religious proof (e.g., baptismal papers)
    • Proof of Club Membership
    • Other relevant supporting documents

Documents Required for S1 Discretionary Places

  • Application Form for Secondary One Admission (provided by the Education Bureau)
  • Student Handbook / Copy of Report Card (P5 and P6)
  • Student Learning Profile (if any)
  • Copy of Award and Certificate
  • Proof of extracurricular activities
  • Other documents required by the school (please check each school's website)

Important Notes

All copies must be signed by the parent to confirm that they "match the original". Some schools may require documents to be organised or bound in a particular way, please read their guidelines carefully.

Tips on Organising Documents for Applications for Self-accreditation Places

Difficulty in document preparation?

Download our application document checklist to ensure you don't miss any important documents. Our professional team also provides document review services to ensure that your application is complete and accurate.

Interview Preparation Tips

Interviews for school discretionary places

Interviews are a critical part of the self-assigned degree application process, especially for secondary school applications. Adequate preparation will help students to perform at their best during the interview and increase their chances of being accepted.

Primary One Exam Preparation

The Primary One Examination mainly assesses students' basic abilities, social skills and learning attitude. The following are some of the key areas of preparation:

Frequently Asked Interviews

  • Self-introduction (name, age, interests, etc.)
  • Basic cognitive skills (colours, shapes, numbers, etc.)
  • Language Proficiency (English and Chinese)
  • Simple Logical Thinking Questions
  • General Knowledge Problems
  • Group Activity Performance

Preparation Recommendations

  • Practice mock interviews but avoid over-training
  • Cultivate a confident but natural way of expressing yourself
  • Training in basic etiquette (greetings, thank yous, etc.)
  • Appropriate eye contact and body language
  • Wear clean and decent clothes
  • Familiarise yourself with the interview environment in advance to reduce nervousness

Preparation for S1 Exam

Secondary school interviews are more comprehensive and in-depth, assessing a student's academic ability, logical thinking, presentation skills and personal qualities.

Frequently Asked Questions and Answering Techniques for Secondary School Interviews

How to deal with interviews in English and Chinese?

An interview in English and Chinese is a common part of the interviews for Secondary School Discretionary Places. Preparation is possible:

  • Practise basic self-introduction (in English and Chinese)
  • Be prepared to talk about your interests and strengths.
  • Read English articles and practise answering related questions.
  • Enhancement of fluency and self-confidence
  • Understand the characteristics of the school and prepare answers to relevant questions

How do I prepare for a group discussion or activity?

Small group discussions or activities are an important part of assessing students' co-operation and leadership skills:

  • Be proactive in learning but not over-stealing the limelight.
  • Practise listening and responding to others.
  • Cultivate a logical and clear presentation
  • Learning to give constructive advice at the right time
  • Maintain courtesy and respect for others

Enhancing Interview Performance

We offer professional interview training programmes with experienced tutors to help students excel in real interviews through mock interviews and personalised feedback.

Successful Application Strategy

Illustration of Successful Application Strategy for Discretionary Places

Successful self-assigned degree applications require thorough strategic planning. Below are a few key strategies to help you increase the success rate of your application:

School Selection Strategy

Primary One Selection

  • Evaluate your child's scoring strengths and choose a school accordingly.
  • To understand the past enrolment situation and the level of competition in the school.
  • Consider the proximity and accessibility of the school to your home
  • Assess whether the teaching philosophy of the school is suitable for your child
  • Consideration of long-term planning for secondary school education (e.g. through-train and feeder schools)

Secondary One Election School

  • Choosing the right level of school based on your child's academic performance
  • Consider your child's interests and strengths and choose a school with the appropriate characteristics.
  • appropriately widen the gap between the difficulty levels of the two applicant schools
  • Understanding the admission criteria and preferences of schools
  • Consider the suitability of the school's medium of instruction (Chinese/English).

Enhancing Competitive Strategies

Ways to Enhance the Competitiveness of Self-assigned Degree Applications

Academic Performance

  • Maintain good academic performance and learning attitude
  • Participation in subject competitions and obtaining certificates
  • Cultivate Reading Habits and Enhance Language Proficiency
  • Maintain good classroom performance and conduct grades

Whole Person Development

  • Development of diversified interests and strengths (music, sports, arts, etc.)
  • Participate in extra-curricular activities and competitions inside and outside the school.
  • Developing leadership and teamwork
  • Participate in community service and volunteer activities

Application Preparation

  • Careful preparation of application documents and student records
  • Understanding the characteristics and requirements of target schools
  • Prepare well for interview techniques and content
  • Develop self-confidence and good communication skills

Need a personalised application strategy?

Our Careers Consultants can provide tailor-made application strategies and guidance based on your child's specific circumstances to significantly increase the chances of admission.

Frequently Asked Questions on Discretionary Places

Parents' discussion on discretionary places

If I am admitted to two secondary schools at the same time, which one will I be allocated to?

If you are admitted to two schools at the same time at the S1 Discretionary Places stage, the EDB will allocate the student to the school of your first choice according to the order of preference as stated in your application form. Therefore, careful consideration should be given when filling in the order of preference.

If I am not admitted at the Discretionary Places Admission stage, do I still have a chance to be admitted to my favourite school?

If you are not admitted at the Discretionary Places Admission stage, you can still choose the school at the Central Allocation stage. In addition, if there are still vacancies in the school after the allocation result is announced, you can also try to apply through "door knocking". However, popular schools are usually fully enrolled at the Discretionary Places Admission stage, so the chance of success in the Central Allocation and door knocking is relatively low.

What is the difference between DSS schools and government subsidised schools in terms of discretionary places?

DSS schools participating in the school places allocation exercise may reserve places in excess of 30% as discretionary places, while government schools are restricted to 30%. In addition, DSS schools adopt the "no choice, no allocation" principle at the central allocation stage, i.e. only students who have listed the DSS school as their preferred schools will be allocated to that school. DSS schools may also determine their own admission criteria and school fees, whereas government schools have to follow the EDB's rules.

How can NCS students apply for discretionary places?

NCS students are eligible to apply for discretionary places in the same way as local students. EDB will provide translated application forms and related information for NCS students. Some schools will also make special arrangements for NCS students, such as providing translation service during interviews. Parents of NCS students may contact the NCS Student Support Service of EDB for more information and assistance.

How can I find out the enrolment situation and the level of competition in each school?

To learn about the school's enrolment and level of competition, you can refer to the following resources:

  • Information on the distribution of school places published on the EDB website
  • Admission information provided on the school website or in briefing sessions
  • Parent forums and social media discussions and shares
  • Analyses and recommendations provided by professional study consultants
  • Observations of School Open Days and Visits

Any other questions?

Our professional team is always on hand to answer all your questions about self-allocated places, providing you with the most up-to-date and accurate information and advice.

Conclusion and Recommendations

Successful Applicants for Self-allocated Places and Parents

Discretionary Places are an important stage in the admission process of Hong Kong schools, providing parents with the opportunity to compete for their children's favourite schools. Successful applications require a thorough understanding of the admission mechanism, careful preparation of application documents, strategic selection of schools, and overall enhancement of your child's competitiveness.

Whether you are applying for a Primary 1 or Secondary 1 discretionary place, advance planning and preparation is key. Understanding your strengths and limitations, setting reasonable expectations and strategies, and maintaining a positive and patient attitude throughout the process will greatly enhance your chances of success.

Finally, remember that every child is unique and the best school for them is one that will fulfil their potential and nurture their interests. We hope this guide will provide you with useful information and guidance to help your child get into the school of their choice.

Let our professional team help you

Our team of Careers Consultants has a wealth of experience and expertise and can provide you with a full range of Careers Support Services, from school selection advice to interview training, to help your child succeed in gaining entry to their ideal school.

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