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Secondary School Places Allocation: a parent's guide

The SSPA in plain words: three key terms, the year's timeline, how discretionary and central allocation work, and the questions parents ask most. Official details rest with the EDB.

Three key terms first

Academic Report
Schools report internal exam results to the EDB during late P5 and P6 (usually three times). It does not decide which school you get — it decides your allocation band and order in central allocation.
Discretionary Places (DP)
Each aided/government school reserves about 30% of places for direct applications — up to two schools, no school-network restriction. An offer means the place is yours; central allocation no longer applies to you.
Central Allocation (CA)
The remaining ~70% of places are allocated by the EDB computer: Part A (~10%, any school territory-wide) and Part B (~90%, own school network). Forms in April, results in early July.

The year at a glance (P6)

  1. 1Late P5 – P6 first term: Academic Reports — Schools report results about three times, forming the basis of allocation bands and order.
  2. 2Early January (P6): DP applications — Apply directly to up to two schools; DSS/private schools set their own schedules — track them separately.
  3. 3End of March: DP results — An offer completes allocation for you; if not offered, you simply proceed to central allocation with no penalty.
  4. 4Early April: CA choice form — Fill in Part A (territory-wide) and Part B (own network) choices and return via the primary school.
  5. 5Early July: CA results + registration — The allocated school is announced; register at the school on the designated dates.
  6. 6July: door-knocking — As a last step, parents may apply directly to schools with leftover places — no guarantee.

Discretionary places: ~30%, worth a try

Each aided/government school reserves about 30% of its places; apply to at most two schools, anywhere in Hong Kong. When applications exceed places, schools rank applicants by the EDB's common points system (family connection to the school — alumni parents, siblings on roll — not academic results) and may interview; details rest with the EDB. DSS and private schools set their own intake methods and fees.

Central allocation: Parts A & B, how the computer works

Part A is about 10% of CA places — any school; Part B is about 90%, own network only. The computer works in four steps:

  1. 1Banding — By reported results, students are split into three allocation bands of roughly one third each.
  2. 2Random number — Within each band a random number sets the order.
  3. 3Part A first — Part A choices are processed first, then Part B.
  4. 4Down the list — When your turn comes, choices are checked in order: first school with a vacancy left wins.

Fill Part A with territory-wide favourites (it does not reduce Part B chances); fill Part B top-down. Forms in April; results and registration in early July.

Questions parents ask most

Does the band follow my child forever?
No. The band is only an ordering tool for the computer draw — schools are not told, and it disappears the moment secondary school begins.

Any penalty for failing DP?
None. You simply go on to central allocation — so applying to the dream school costs nothing.

Can I leave CA choices blank?
Never. Fill Part B from top preference down and use every line — blanks are wasted chances.

Out-of-network allocation?
Part B follows your residential network; special cases (e.g. relocation) can be raised with the EDB individually.

Strategy tips

Use DP on the dream school (no downside) — one ambitious pick, one safer pick. In Part B rank from ambitious to steady and use every line; consider door-knocking only after July results.

Official details: EDB Secondary School Places Allocation