application for exemption from the language

7/30/2019 Application for Exemption From the Language

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EDUCATION BUREAU CIRCULAR MEMORANDUM NO. 71/2012

From : Secretary for Education To : Heads of Secondary and Primary Schools

(except ESF schools and international

Ref. : EDB/LTQ/PRO/8 schools) - for necessary action

Date : 27 April 2012

Application for Exemption from the Language Proficiency Requirement

for English and Putonghua (PTH) Teachers(Note: This circular should be read by school heads and all English/PTH teachers)

Summary

This circular memorandum informs schools of the details concerning the application for

exemption from the Language Proficiency Requirement (LPR) for English/PTH teachers1.

Details

2. There are two calls for application for exemption from the LPR in the 2011/12 school

year, one in the first school term and the other in the second school term. This is the second call

for application for exemption in this school year.

Exemption from the LPR

3. Partial exemption from the LPR (PTH) will be granted to applicants with appropriate

qualifications. Applicants who are holding the Certificate for the Test of Advanced Proficiency

in PTH2 awarded by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) and

have obtained passes or above in Listening, Transcription, or Speaking (including Reading,

Presentation and Conversation) will be deemed to have attained Level 3 proficiency in the

corresponding papers in the LPR (PTH): Listening and Recognition, Pinyin, and Speaking.

Holders of the Certificate for the Test of Proficiency in PTH (Grade B, Level 2 or above) awarded

by the State Language Commission will be deemed to have attained Level 3 proficiency in

Speaking in the LPR (PTH). Please note that there is no exemption from the Classroom

Language Assessment for the LPR (PTH).

4. Full exemption from the LPR (English Language) will be granted to applicants with a

relevant degree plus relevant professional training. These applicants will be deemed to have

reached Level 3 proficiency in all papers in the LPR (English Language). Qualifications

satisfying the requirement(s) for English teachers as recommended by the Standing Committee on

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Details of the LPR for English/PTH teachers could be found on the website of the Education Bureau(http://www.edb.gov.hk > Teachers Development > Training & Qualifications > Language ProficiencyRequirement).

2 The HKEAA has ceased to conduct the Test of Advanced Proficiency in PTH since 2009, but holders of thecertificate for this test previously awarded by the HKEAA can still apply for exemption.


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Language Education and Research (SCOLAR), including the relevant Postgraduate Programmes

in Subject Knowledge (PGSK) which satisfy the relevant degree requirement, will also be

considered for exemption from the LPR (English Language).

(i) A relevant degree means a recognized degree or higher degree withsubstantial components on the study of English and its use. In the main, thisincludes degrees specifically in the study of the English language (including

English studies, English literature and linguistics), degrees in education with

specialism in English, degrees in the communicative use of English and degrees

in translation with English as one of the principal languages studied. Holders

of a non-relevant degree who subsequently completed the PGSK in English will

be considered as having a relevant degree in English for LPR exemption.

(ii) Relevant teacher training means recognized initial teacher training withspecialism in English and supervised practicum in English teaching. Initialteacher training obtained before September 2000 is recognized for exemption

regardless of the subject of specialism whilst initial teacher training obtained in

or after September 2000 must be one with specialism in English.

(iii) A list of qualifications awarded by local institutes and recognized for exemptionis at Appendix 1. Please note that Appendix 1 is a reference list only and

applicants with qualifications equivalent to those in Appendix 1 may also

forward their applications for consideration. Qualifications not on the list

will, upon application, be checked whether they meet the requirementsstipulated in (i) and (ii) above, and may also be recognized for exemption.

Application Procedure

5. We are now inviting teachers and prospective teachers with appropriate qualifications to

apply for exemption from the LPR. Application forms (Appendices 2 and 3) and Notes on

Application for Exemption from the LPR (Appendix 4) are enclosed. Applicants should submit

their completed application form(s) together with certified photocopies of the supporting

documents by post, in person or by an authorized representative. Applications should reach the

Language Teacher Qualifications (LTQ) Team, Education Bureau at Room 1707, 17/F., Murray

Building, Garden Road, Central, Hong Kong by 21 May 2012.

6. Please note that the assessment of applications is based on the supporting documents.

Applications will be considered only when sufficient supporting evidence is submitted.

Photocopies of all supporting documents are to be duly certified, for example, by applicants

school heads. Applicants failing to submit the necessary documents or provide sufficient

information on their qualifications will be notified to submit the required documents/informationby a due date. All the supporting documents submitted together with the applications will not be

returned to the applicants.


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7. Provided that applicants submit all the necessary supporting documents/information

with the applications, they will be informed of the results individually in about three months from

the deadline of application or the date specified for the submission of additional

documents/information.

8. Applicants for exemption from the LPR (English Language) are requested to note the

following:

(i) Applicants who expect to complete their academic/professional training

programmes in the 2011/12 school year and therefore obtain the

qualifications required for exemption upon graduation should also submit

their applications for exemption. They should mark on Page 4 of the

application form at Appendix 2 that further supporting documents would be

provided later.

(ii) Applicants should submit the necessary documentary evidence related to theiracademic qualifications, including official transcripts and graduation

diplomas/certificates issued by the academic authorities or universities concerned.

If applicants fail to provide the necessary documents, their applications will not

be considered.

(iii) Holders ofnon-local academic and teacher training qualifications should also

submit results of qualification assessment issued by the Hong Kong Council

for Accreditation of Academic & Vocational Qualifications (formerly the Hong

Kong Council for Academic Accreditation) and/or assessment reports issued by

the Government.

(iv) Where dissertations are required for their degrees, applicants should also submit

photocopies of the cover page, the abstract, the table of contents and bibliography

of their dissertations.

(v) The Vetting Committee on Exemption from the LPR (English Language) will,

based on the documents/information provided by applicants, makerecommendations to the Education Bureau on whether or not qualifications not

included in Appendix 1 could be considered for exemption.

Appeal Procedure

9. Applicants not satisfied with the results can make an appeal by submitting a written

request to the LTQ Team of this Bureau together with additional supporting documents/

information, as appropriate, within two weeks from the issue of the results. Appellants

failing to submit the necessary documents or provide sufficient information on their qualificationswill be notified to submit the required documents/information by a due date. If appellants fail to

comply within the specified period, their appeals will not be further processed.


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10. Provided that appellants submit all the necessary supporting documents/information with

the appeals, they will be informed of the results individually in about three months from the

deadline of the appeal or the date specified for the submission of additional documents/information.

Appendices

11. Enclosed please find the following Appendices:

(i) Appendix 1 List of Qualifications Awarded by Local Institutes and Recognized

for Exemption from the Language Proficiency Requirement (English Language);

(ii) Appendix 2 Application Form for Exemption from the Language Proficiency

Requirement (English Language);

(iii) Appendix 3 Application Form for Exemption from the Language Proficiency

Requirement (PTH); and

(iv) Appendix 4 Notes on Application for Exemption from the Language Proficiency

Requirement.

Applicants may download the application forms from the website of this Bureau

(http://www.edb.gov.hk).

Enquiry

12. For enquiries related to application for exemption from the LPR (English Language),

please contact Mr Hyman WONG at 2921 8938, and for enquiries related to application for

exemption from the LPR (PTH), please contact Ms Janita KWAN at 3150 8013.

(S K LEUNG)for Secretary for Education

c.c. Heads of Sections for information


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Institute Degree

37 Hong Kong Shue Yan UniversityBachelor of Arts (Honours) in English (4-year full-time)

(Added on 1 April 2009)

38 The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityBachelor of Arts (Honours) in English Studies for the

Professions (Added on 7 September 2009)

39 The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Master of Arts in English Language Arts (Added on 22 October 2009)

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Language Studies (Three-Year Full-Time)(Added on 8 July 2010)

40 The Hong Kong Institute of Education Restructured as Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Language Studies (Four-Year

Full-Time)

(Added on 27 February 2012)

English

41 The Hong Kong Institute of EducationMaster of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, English

Studies (Added on 12 July 2011)

42 The Open University of Hong KongBachelor of Arts (Honours) in Chinese and English (Major in English)

(Added on 12 July 2011)

43 The Open University of Hong KongBachelor of Arts in Chinese and English (Major in English)

(Added on 12 July 2011)

44 City University of Hong Kong Master of Arts in English Studies (Added on 12 July 2011)

45 City University of Hong Kong Master of Arts in English Studies (Literary and Cultural Studies)(Added on 9 March 2012)


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Institute Degree

20 Hong Kong Baptist University Bachelor of Education (Honours) Engli

21 The Hong Kong Institute of Education

Master of Education (English Language Education Specialization)

Renamed as Master of Education (TESOL and English Language Education

Specialization) (12 February 2007)

Engli

22 The Hong Kong Institute of Education

Master of Education (English Language Education Specialization)

Renamed as Master of Education (TESOL and English Language Education

Specialization) (12 February 2007)

Engli

23 The Open University of Hong Kong

Bachelor of Education (Honours) (English Strand) and Bachelor of Language

Studies (English) (Honours) (Added on 1 June 2006)

This double degree programme has been accepted as a bundle for exemption

rom the LPR. As such, either degree of the double degree programme would

not be considered on its own as being accepted for exemption from the LPR,

unless the individual degree concerned has been recognized independently as

being accepted for exemption from the LPR.

24 The University of Hong Kong

Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education in Language Education (English)

(Added on 1 June 2006)



not be considered on its own as being accepted for exemption from the LPR,unless the individual degree concerned has been recognized independently as


Bachelor of Education (Honours) (English Language)

(Added on 31 October 2006)

25 The Hong Kong Institute of Education Restructured as Bachelor of Education (Honours) (English Language)

(Five-Year Full-Time)



Bachelor of Education with Honours in English Language Teaching and

Bachelor of English Language Studies with Honours



rom the LPR. As such, either degree of the double degree programme wouldnot be considered on its own as being accepted for exemption from the LPR,




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C. Degrees in language & communication (English)

Institute Degree

1 City University of Hong Kong Bachelor of Arts with Honours in English for Professional Communication

Master of Arts in English for Specific Purposes2 City University of Hong Kong

Renamed as Master of Arts in English Studies (English for Specific Purposes)

3 The University of Hong Kong BA in Language and Communication Wit

D. Degrees in translation with English as one of the principal languages studied

Institute Degree

1 City University of Hong Kong Degree of Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Translation and Interpretation

2 City University of Hong Kong Master of Arts in Translation and Interpretation

3 Hong Kong Baptist University Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Translation

4 Lingnan University Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Translation

5 The Chinese University of Hong Kong Bachelor of Arts Maj

6 The Chinese University of Hong Kong Master of Arts in Translation

7 The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Translation and Chinese Bachelor of Arts in Language and Translation (English and Chinese)

8 The Open University of Hong Kong Renamed as Bachelor of Arts in Language and Translation

Bachelor of Arts in Language and Translation (Honours)

9 The University of Hong Kong Bachelor of Arts Maj

10 City University of Hong KongBA(Hons) in Language Studies (with specialization in Translation and

Interpretation

11 City University of Hong Kong MA in Language Studies (with specialization in Translation and Interpretation)

12 The Hong Kong Polytechnic University MA in Translating and Interpreting (added on 1 March 2010)


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Relevant Teacher Training

E. Degrees in Education with specialism in English (The following qualifications are considered as both relevant degrees and

(Qualifications in this Section are also included in Section A/B of the Reference List.)

Institute Degree

Bachelor of Education (Language Education) Eng

1 The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Restructured and renamed as Bachelor of Arts (English Studies) and Bachelor ofEducation (English Language Education)





being accepted for exemption from the LPR. (Revised on 27 August 2008)

2 The Chinese University of Hong Kong Bachelor of Education (Primary Education) Maj

3 The Hong Kong Institute of Education Bachelor of Education (Honours) (Primary) Maj

4 The University of Hong Kong Bachelor of Education (Language Education) Eng

5 The University of Hong Kong Bachelor of Education (Primary/Secondary Education) Maj

6 The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English Language Teaching (in collaboration withthe Hong Kong Institute of Education)

Bachelor of Education (Honours) in Secondary Education Eng

7 The Open University of Hong Kong Renamed as Bachelor of Education with Honours in Secondary Education

(English Strand)

Bachelor of Education (Honours) in Primary Education Eng

8 The Open University of Hong Kong Renamed as Bachelor of Education with Honours in Primary Education (English

Strand)

9 The Hong Kong Institute of Education Bachelor of Education (Honours) (Languages) Maj

10 The Hong Kong Institute of Education Bachelor of Education (Honours) (Language Teaching) Maj

11The Hong Kong Institute of Education

and Lingnan University

BA (Hon) in Contemporary English and Education (Four-year Full-time)

(Added on 27 January 2006)12 Hong Kong Baptist University Bachelor of Education (Added on 1 June 2006) Eng

13 Hong Kong Baptist University Bachelor of Education (Honours) Eng


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Institute Degree


Bachelor of Education (Honours) (English Strand) and Bachelor of Language

Studies (English) (Honours) (Added on 1 June 2006)




unless the individual degree concerned has been recognized independently asbeing accepted for exemption from the LPR.

15 The University of Hong Kong

Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education in Language Education (English)

(Added on 1 June 2006)






Bachelor of Education (Honours) (English Language)

(Added on 31 October 2006)

16 The Hong Kong Institute of Education Restructured as Bachelor of Education (Honours) (English Language)

(Five-Year Full-Time)(Added on 27 February 2012)


Bachelor of Education with Honours in English Language Teaching and

Bachelor of English Language Studies with Honours







18The Chinese University of Hong Kong

and the Hong Kong Institute of Education

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) English Studies and Education (Four-year Full-time)


Re-titled as Bachelor of Arts (English Studies) and Bachelor of Education(Honours) (English Language Education)






(Revised on 27 August 2008)


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Institute Degree

19 Hong Kong Baptist University

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English Language and Literature and Bachelor of

Education in English Language Teaching (Added on 27 August 2008)




unless the individual degree concerned has been recognized independently asbeing accepted for exemption from the LPR.


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Appendix 2 (Page 1 of 4)

RESTRICTED

APPLICATION FORM

EXEMPTION FROM THE LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENT

(ENGLISH LANGUAGE)

1. Please enclose a stamped (postage: HK$1.40) self-addressed envelope for the acknowledgementof receipt of your application.

2. Please complete Sections A and B in block letters.3. Please ensure the accuracy of the postal address. The result of the application will be sent to the

postal address provided.

4. All applications, together with the certified photocopies of all supporting documents, should be

directed to the Language Teacher Qualifications Team, Education Bureau, Room 1707, Murray

Building, Garden Road, Central, Hong Kong.5. The supporting documents submitted together with the applications will not be returned to the

applicants.

6. Please refer to the related circular memorandum when you are filling in the application form.

Section A. Personal Particulars

HKID: ( )

Name in English: (Surname First)

Name in Chinese: Sex: M F

Contact Telephone Number:

Postal Address:

Flat/Room Floor Block

Name of Building

Estate/Village

Street No. & Name

District Name

Region:* Hong Kong Kowloon New Territories

School/Organization: (if applicable)

* Please put a tick in the appropriate box.


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RESTRICTED

Section B. QualificationsApplicants should indicate their qualifications in Parts (1) to (4) of this Section as appropriate.

Please refer to the Reference List (Appendix 1) and Notes 1-4 on this page when completing this Section.

OfficeUse

(1) Degree or Higher Degree (Please put a tick in the appropriate box and fill in the blanks provided.)

a relevant degree on the Reference List Code No.(Please refer to Sections A, B, C &D in Appendix 1 )

e.g. A 0 1 a relevant degree not on the Reference List

a non-relevant degree plus a relevant qualification indicated in Part (3)

Title:

Year:

Major Subject:

Awarding Institute:

(2) Teacher Training (Please put a tick in the appropriate box and fill in the blanks provided.)

relevant teacher training on the Reference List Code No.(Please refer to Sections E &F in Appendix 1 )

e.g. F 0 1

relevant teacher training but not on the Reference List

non-relevant teacher training plus a recognized relevant qualification indicated in Part (4)

Title:

Year:

Major Subject:

Awarding Institute:

(3) Recognized post-graduate diploma/certificate in subject knowledge (PGSK) of English Language(For holders of a non-English major degree)

Code No. of the Programme on the Reference List G(Please refer to Section G inAppendix 1 )

e.g. G 0 1

Title:

Year:

Major Subject: English

Awarding Institute:

(4) Other recognized relevant teacher training(For holders of initial teacher training with a major in subjects other than English obtained after Sept 2000.)

Code No. of the Programme on the Reference List F(Please refer to Section F inAppendix 1 )

e.g. F 0 1

Title:

Year:


Awarding Institute:

(5) Other qualifications (relevant to English that you think could be considered for this application)

Title:

Year:


Awarding Institute:

Notes

1. A Bachelor of Education degree with specialism in English (except add-on Education degrees) is considered as both a relevantdegree and relevant teacher training and should therefore be entered for both categories.

2. To be accepted for exemption, an add-on Education degree programme has to be accompanied by a recognized relevant initialteacher training qualification.

3. Initial teacher training obtained before September 2000 is recognized for exemption regardless of the subject of specialism.4. Please provide evidence of assessment of non-local qualification(s), if any.


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RESTRICTED

Section C. Declaration

1. I declare that all the information provided is correct and true. I understand that if I givefalse or incorrect information, I shall render myself liable to disqualification from the

application for exemption from the Language Proficiency Requirement and any

exemption granted may be revoked.

2. I understand that I may be requested to provide further documentary evidence, whererequired on my qualifications. Failure to comply with this requirement may render theapplication difficult to be processed and hence exemption will not be granted.

3. I understand that the acceptance of qualifications for exemption is for the purpose ofgranting exemption from the Language Proficiency Requirement (English Language) onlyand does not have any implication for qualification assessment for appointment.

4. I agree that the personal data provided above can be used by the Vetting Committee onExemption from the Language Proficiency Requirement and the Education Bureau for

vetting of the application for exemption from the Language Proficiency Requirement andrelated activities.

Applicants signature : Date:


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RESTRICTED

Section D. Documents to be submitted with the application form

1. Please provide certified true copies of all relevant supporting documents including certificates andtranscripts.

2.

Please complete the checklist below for documents to be submitted.3. Please enclose a stamped self-addressed envelope for the acknowledgement of receipt of yourapplication.

A Checklist for Documents to be Submitted

I have attached the following documents with my application.(Please put a tick in the appropriate boxes.)

Yes No N.A. (For Office Use)

For all qualifications

a. Degree certificate(s)/Graduation diploma(s)

b. Official transcript(s)

For qualifications not on the Reference List

a. Results of qualification assessment issued by the HongKong Council for Accreditation of Academic &

Vocational Qualifications (formerly the Hong KongCouncil for Academic Accreditation) / the Government(For non-local qualifications only)

b. Documents showing the major/specialism, mode,

duration and course outlines /descriptions (if available)

c. Cover page, abstract, table of contents andbibliography of dissertation(s), where dissertation(s)

is/are required for the degree(s)

d. Documents indicating details of teaching practice such asthe number of weeks/hours, subject(s) and level(s) taught(For non-local teacher training only)

e. Others (if appropriate, please specify)

Remarks: (e.g. why and when any required documents will be submitted later)

Applicants signature : Date:

For Office Use

R NR P

Remarks:

Date :


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1.

1.4

2.

3.

4.

1707

5.

6.

( )

*

( )

Flat/Room

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Block

Name of Building

Estate/Village

/

Street No. & Name

District Name

Region *: Hong Kong Kowloon New Territories

()

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*


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1.

2.

3.

A01

B02

A01

B02

II I III

__________________________________


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Notes on Application for Exemption

from the Language Proficiency Requirement (LPR)

GENERAL

1. Teachers and prospective teachers with appropriate qualifications may apply for exemption.

2. Applications should be submitted to the Education Bureau by post, in person or by an authorized

representative at the following address:

Language Teacher Qualifications Team, Education Bureau,

Room 1707, 17/F, Murray Building, Garden Road, Central, Hong Kong.

3. The application must be accompanied by copies of all relevant documents, including certificates and

transcripts and other official documents issued by the Registrar of the tertiary institutes, and duly certified,

for example, by the applicants school head.

4. All applications should reach the Language Teacher Qualifications Team on or before 21 May 2012.

APPLICATION FOR EXEMPTION FROM THE LPR (ENGLISH LANGUAGE)

5. Applicants will be granted full exemption from the LPR (English Language) and deemed to have reached

Level 3 proficiency in each paper in the LPR if they (i) hold a relevant degree, and (ii) have successfully

completed relevant teacher training. Qualifications satisfying the requirements for English teachers as

recommended by the Standing Committee on Language Education and Research (SCOLAR), including the

Postgraduate Programmes in Subject Knowledge (PGSK) which satisfy the relevant degree requirement, will

also be considered for exemption from the LPR (English Language).

6. A relevant degree means a recognized degree or higher degree with substantial components on the study ofEnglish and its use. In the main, this includes degrees specifically in the study of the English language

(including English studies, English literature and linguistics), degrees in education with specialism in English,

degrees in the communicative use of English and degrees in translation with English as one of the principal

languages studied.

7. Relevant teacher training means recognized initial teacher training with specialism in English and

supervised English teaching practice. Initial teacher training obtained before September 2000 is recognized

for exemption regardless of the subject of specialism whilst initial teacher training obtained in or after

September 2000 must be one with specialism in English.

8. Holders of non-local qualifications should submit results of qualification assessment by the Hong Kong

Council for Accreditation of Academic & Vocational Qualifications (formerly the Hong Kong Council for

Academic Accreditation). For recognized non-local teacher training, the length of the course and the

practicum in English teaching should be specified.

9. Where dissertations are required for their degrees, applicants should also submit photocopies of the cover

page, the abstract, table of contents and bibliography of their dissertations.

10. The List of Qualifications Awarded by Local Institutes and Recognized for Exemption is attached for

applicants reference (Appendix 1). The List covers the relevant degrees and teacher training programmes

offered by local institutes. Qualifications not on the List may also be recognized for exemption.


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11. The list of qualifications recognized for exemption is to be used for the purpose of exemption from the LPR

(English Language) only and has no implications for qualification assessment for appointment to the Civil

Service or in the aided sector.

APPLICATION FOR EXEMPTION FROM THE LPR (PTH)

12. Applicants who have been awarded the Certificate for the Test of Advanced Proficiency in Putonghua

conducted by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority and obtained passes or above in

Listening, Transcription and Speaking (including Reading, Oral Presentation and Conversation) will be

deemed to have attained Level 3 proficiency in the corresponding papers in the LPR, namely, Listening and

Recognition, Pinyin, and Speaking. Please note that the HKEAA has ceased to conduct the Test of

Advanced Proficiency in PTH since 2009, but holders of the certificate for this test previously awarded by

the HKEAA can still apply for exemption.

13. Applicants who have obtained Grade B, Level 2 or above in the Test of Proficiency in PTH conducted by theState Language Commission will be deemed to have attained Level 3 proficiency in Speaking.

14. There is no exemption from the proficiency requirement in the PTH Classroom Language Assessment for any

applicants.