15 Assessment for
Learning in Hong Kong
Conceptions, Issues and Implications
Rita Berry
INTRODUCTION
Hong Kong has a long history of using formal, high-stakes summative tests
as the sole assessment method to make decisions on individuals’ educational
upward movements, employment opportunities and social mobility.
Standardized tests and examinations are set at diff erent stages in the education
system as the screening device. To survive this exam-oriented system,
a common practice is to teach and learn to the tests. Many teachers review
past examination papers, make educated guesses on the questions for the
examinations, provide students with model answers and make them memorize
the answers by heart. This kind of rote learning suppresses thinking
and minimizes creativity. Being aware of these problems, the Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region (SAR) government has taken bold initiatives
to make a change. These include the large-scale attempt in reforming learning
and assessment practice using the Target Oriented Curriculum (TOC)
and its linked Target Oriented Assessment (TOA) in the 20th century and
the Assessment for Learning (AfL) movements in the education reform in
the 21st century. The focus of these two main initiatives has been to make
assessment work for learning, as refl ected in the concepts of AfL (used
interchangeably with formative assessment) (Berry, 2011b).
The fundamental principle of AfL is making a strong connection
between assessment and learning. Being an integral part of the curriculum,
pedagogy and assessment cycle, assessment is used to induce, promote and
advance learning. It helps teachers to monitor student learning, identify
the learning needs of the students during their learning progression and,
when the needs have been identifi ed, provide direction or feedback to the
students in the steps to be taken to enhance learning. Students’ involvement
in the assessment activities is taken seriously, as they are the main players
of learning. The information gathered from assessment is interpreted and
with the new understanding of student learning, decisions can be made on
diff erent educational levels including adjustment of teaching content and
activities, modifi cation of curriculum plans and amendment of policies