ENGLISH-LANGUAGE · HKDSE
ENGLISH-LANGUAGE/21
(Writing)
English Language · 2024 · Variant 1
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA)
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
3.2 / 5
42
120 min
Transactional & Persuasive Real-World Writing
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
42
Duration
120 min
Session difficulty
3.2 / 5
Level 5**
~84% of max
Level 5*
~80% of max
Level 5
~72% of max
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
The 2024 Writing Paper offers highly accessible scenarios that lower the barrier to entry, but demand a high degree of register control and format awareness for those aiming for level 5 or above. The visual stimulus in Part A makes it easy to construct a logical complaint, while
The 2024 HKDSE English Language Paper 2 (Writing) presents balanced, highly relatable topics.
Part A features a practical email of complaint regarding a disappointing hotel stay.
Part B offers four diverse elective options covering social demographics, music promotion blogs, dog-friendly urban environments, and viral social media experiences.
Successful candidates demonstrated strong register control and authentic vocabulary.
Question difficulty map
How candidates performed on each question in this series
No data available in official reports
Assessment objectives
Skill and AO weighting from official examiner commentary
Skill weighting
Shows the skill mix this paper tested most heavily.
Content &
Weight: 9100%Relevan
Weight: 889%Language and Formulae
Weight: 778%Accuracy
Weight: 667%Organization &
Weight: 556%Register & Creative Writing
Weight: 444%Tone C
Weight: 333%Vocabulary
Weight: 222%Variety
Weight: 111%
Method marks watchlist
Where working, steps, or method marks were commonly lost
No data available in official reports
Recurring mistakes across years
Themes examiners flag in multiple recent sessions for this subject
No data available in official reports
Question choice intelligence
Mean scores and popularity for optional questions (HKDSE electives)
No data available in official reports
Level exemplars
What candidate scripts at each grade level looked like
No data available in official reports
Grade & admission context
How marks relate to grade thresholds and entry standards
Reporting source
HKEAA Subject Examination Report — comments on candidates’ performance with marking schemes
Level 5**
Outstanding — competitive JUPAS programmes (medicine, law, top faculties)
Level 5*
Excellent — strong JUPAS profile for selective programmes
Level 5
Good — meets most university entrance requirements
Level 4
Satisfactory — foundation programmes or less selective routes
Level 3
Pass threshold for many sub-degree and vocational pathways
Admission context
Levels feed JUPAS and non-JUPAS university applications; 5** and 5* are most selective
Deep insights
What top candidates did
Techniques and approaches examiners rewarded in this series
No data available in official reports
Command word playbook
How to match each command word to the expected response style
Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.
Match the expected response style for “Write” questions.
Match the expected response style for “Support” questions.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
Min per mark: 1.9
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
Travelling and Visiting
21 marks this session
MCQ trap analytics
Commonly chosen wrong options from examiner commentary
No data available in official reports
Topic heatmap across years
Mark concentration by topic and exam year for this subject
Mark intensity
The World of Sports
The Internet
Changes Brought about by Technology
Customs, Clothing and Food of Different Places
Great Stories
Occupations, Careers and Prospects
Successful People and Amazing Deeds
Customs, Clothing and Food of Different Places (Cultural Heritage)
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
Part A (Compulsory - Short Writing Task): Part B (Elective - Extended Writing Task):
Marks you can still earn
Where valid approaches outside the mark scheme may still gain credit
No data available in official reports
Practise what examiners flagged
Target weak topics from this report inside the Revui app
Travelling and Visiting
21 marks this session
Practise in RevuiEnglish Language
Session priority from examiner report
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
The 2024 Writing Paper offers highly accessible scenarios that lower the barrier to entry, but demand a high degree of register control and format awareness for those aiming for level 5 or above. The visual stimulus in Part A makes it easy to construct a logical complaint, while
- 2Message
The 2024 HKDSE English Language Paper 2 (Writing) presents balanced, highly relatable topics.
- 3Message
Part A features a practical email of complaint regarding a disappointing hotel stay.
- 4Message
Part B offers four diverse elective options covering social demographics, music promotion blogs, dog-friendly urban environments, and viral social media experiences.
- 5Message
Successful candidates demonstrated strong register control and authentic vocabulary.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
2024 2024
English Language
The 2024 HKDSE English Language Paper 2 (Writing) presents balanced, highly relatable topics. Part A features a practical email of complaint regarding a disappointing hotel stay. Part B offers four diverse elective options covering social demographics, music promotion blogs, dog-
The 2024 Writing Paper offers highly accessible scenarios that lower the barrier to entry, but demand a high degree of register control and format awareness for those aiming for level 5 or above. The visual stimulus in Part A makes it easy to construct a logical complaint, while
The 2024 HKDSE English Language Paper 2 (Writing) presents balanced, highly relatable topics.
Part A features a practical email of complaint regarding a disappointing hotel stay.
- Total marks
- 42
- Duration
- 120 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.2 / 5
- Level 5**
- ~84% of max
- Level 5*
- ~80% of max
- Level 5
- ~72% of max
Session analysis
The 2024 HKDSE English Language Paper 2 (Writing) presents balanced, highly relatable topics. Part A features a practical email of complaint regarding a disappointing hotel stay. Part B offers four diverse elective options covering social demographics, music promotion blogs, dog-friendly urban environments, and viral social media experiences. Successful candidates demonstrated strong register control and authentic vocabulary.
Updated Jun 11, 2026
Paper breakdown
Part A (Compulsory - Short Writing Task): Part B (Elective - Extended Writing Task):
Top chapters
Exam structure insights
Marks by chapter
See where the marks were concentrated so revision time goes to the highest-value topics.
Mark accessibility
Estimate which marks were basic, mid-level, or high-difficulty.
81% within easy or medium reach
Command word frequency
Spot common command words so answers match the expected response style.
Question type mix
Compare the mark share of each paper section and question type.
Short Transactional Writing
21·1·50%
Extended Elective Writing
21·4·50%
Study ROI
Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.
Difficulty trend
Compare difficulty across recent years.
Time vs marks
Compare marks with suggested time allocation to plan exam pacing.
Part A: Complaint E
0.53 m/minTotal marks
21
Total time
40 min
Avg pace
0.53
Cumulative marks ladder
The line is your running mark total question by question; dashed lines are the estimated grade cut-offs. See which question the line crosses your target grade at, so you know how far you must answer cleanly and which questions decide a band.
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
Changes Brought about by Technology (AI & Automation)
85%85%
Protecting the Environment & Eco-tourism
78%78%
Exam tips
Paper format
- Duration
- 2h
- Total marks
- 42
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.