The 2026 Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) results were released on July 15. This year, around 58,700 candidates sat for the exam, an increase of 5.4% from last year.
Traditionally, the DSE has been seen as a make-or-break exam that determines a student's university admission and future path. But does this view still hold true in 2026? We hit the streets to ask locals and those who've been through it about Hong Kong's exam culture and whether one exam can really decide a person's life.
Some described the competition as intense and stressful, but many pointed out that there are now multiple pathways to success — including associate degrees and higher diplomas. Interviewees also shared messages to their 18-year-old selves: "Failure is not a bad thing — it's an opportunity to do better," "DSE results don't define our future," and "Everything is going to be okay."
Here's what they had to say.
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