Pupils should try to match their choices of secondary schools with their academic abilities. For more assistance in their selection of secondary schools, pupils and their parents are advised to seek guidance from their teachers and to read the information guide which will be available when they have to make their choices. Pupils in the Special and Express courses offer seven to eight subjects at the GCE 'O' level examination. Those with exceptional academic ability may offer a ninth subject. Generally, schools will have two courses, Special and Express, or Express and Normal.
Pupils can move from one course to another at the lower secondary levels.
Schools will keep records of pupils' performance and progress to allow fair and accurate decisions to be made regarding the movement of pupils across courses and levels. Transfer from a less demanding to a more demanding course and vice versa may take place at the end of Secondary 1 and Secondary 2 based on the performance of pupils and the professional assessment of the principal and teachers. There is provision for pupils who have under-achieved to be retained or laterally transferred to a less demanding course. When deciding on pupil movements, school principals and teachers will exercise their professional judgement in the best interests of their pupils. Pupils who do well in the GCE 'N' level examination will have the option of doing a fifth year in school and be prepared for the GCE 'O' level examination.