語文歷來是高考受關注最多的科目,不論是內地還是香港、臺灣,專家們都在努力探索合適的語文能力評估方式,近年來各地的高考改革,語文試題的變化及重要程度更加明顯。自2013年北京市教委向社會廣泛徵求提高語文高考分值意見開始,內地進入“大語文”時代,2017年被稱為“新高考元年”,語文高考愈發重視對語文學科核心素養的考查。香港地區高中新課程的實施始於2009年,課程變動導致香港中學文憑考試(HKDSE)應運而生。首屆香港中學文憑考試於2012開始,其中中文科作為四項核心考試之一,在中學文憑試上佔有重要地位。臺灣地區自2002年起全面實施大學多元入學方案,語文科試題尤其體現出重視對傳統國學文化傳承。共同作為三地母語的語文科高考顯然需要更深入的研究,這不僅可以幫助了解各地語文教育的特點,也可以讓我們了解當前內地語文教育發展的現狀,融合眾家之長,為今後語文試題命制和語文教學提供參考和建議。在本研究之前,文獻大多是對內地與香港,或大陸與臺灣高考試題的比較研究,且年代較為久遠,鮮有對內地、香港、臺灣近些年語文高考試題的三地比較研究。本研究基於當前內地、香港、臺灣語文高考的大背景,以2012-2017年大陸語文全國I卷、香港中學文憑試(DSE)語文卷和臺灣學測語文卷為研究對象,採用文本分析法和比較分析法,首先對三地六年語文試題的試卷結構和內容分別進行梳理分析,在此基礎上進行試卷異同點的比較研究,分析三地高考語文試卷各自的特色和可相互借鑒之處。論文主要研究結果發現:第一,各地語文試卷體現不同的語文教育目的;第二,對“語文素養”的考查各有偏重;第三,閱讀材料不同程度地體現出與現實生活的聯繫;第四,試卷結構及試題題型靈活多樣。在此基礎上得出五點主要結論:第一,課程標準或文件的指導功能突出;第二,試卷都充分照顧“一綱多本”的影響;第三,對語文能力的考查體現出不同形式的探索;第四,對閱讀能力考查要點的安排同中有異;第五,三地語文高考試卷的編制處於不斷調整變化之中。綜合這些結論,對試題的命制提出了四點建議:第一,要進一步強化試卷對傳統文化的考查;第二,加強語文試卷與當下社會的聯繫;第三,閱讀能力考查要點宜增加鑒賞、表達應用和探究能力;第四,增強語文試卷寫作的選擇性和自由度。

This study investigates the perceptions of stakeholders on the impact of a high-stakes assessment of English language teachers' proficiency – the minimum language standards Language Proficiency Assessment for Teachers (English) [LPATE], which was introduced in 2000. Given that the test has now been in place for 17 years, the study investigates the extent to which the LPATE assessment has contributed to English language teacher standards in Hong Kong. Interview data from 24 participants in primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong, reveal a number of positive links between the LPATE test and English language teaching as a profession. The introduction of the LPATE was deemed to be necessary in terms of setting, raising and maintaining language proficiency standards; stakeholders' awareness that English teachers need to have high language standards, subject-matter knowledge and pedagogical skills related to English language teaching; and that now an increasing number of English teachers are exempt from the LPATE through having opted for relevant degrees and teacher training, questions should be asked about how and whether the LPATE should be used in more relevant and meaningful ways.
[Copyright © 2017 The Author(s).]

Art education in Hong Kong has undergone various changes in response to educational reform. In art assessment, a major change in the Hong Kong New Senior Secondary (NSS) Curriculum is the inclusion of art criticism as a compulsory component of the new public examination. Assessing students’ abilities to interpret art in an art criticism public examination context is a critical issue in Hong Kong because the new senior secondary curriculum and assessment has brought attention to the role of written language in the art examination paper. This means the examination assesses not only students’ abilities to interpret art, but also their language abilities required to respond to art in written form. Since this new mode of assessment of art criticism has been published a number of issues have appeared. Recent studies show that teachers and students perceive this development negatively and they believe that the written format will assess students’ written language abilities rather than their critical abilities. These findings challenge the justification of the new art assessment policy and raise questions about the role of written language in responding to art. This article aims to raise the issue of the marriage between language and art criticism in the Hong Kong public examination context. It argues and examines the relationship of language to art interpretation, reasoning in the assessment, and issues in the public art criticism examination context. The issues addressed in this article provide opportunities for researchers and policy makers to reconsider and refine the new form of examination.
[Copyright © 2017 The Author. Ijade © 2017 NSEAD/John Wiley & Sons Ltd.]

Hong Kong is famous for its examination-dominated culture, which heavily relies on the public examinations. So ingrained has it become that the whole society is sensitive to any change in such an assessment mechanism. In recent years, the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority has used both external and school-based assessment as part of high stakes end of schooling assessment. Recent reforms have increased this reliance on school based assessment. The objectivity of external assessment is easily accepted by the society and the addition of school-based assessment components is often supported by tertiary institutions. Yet the practice of including school-based assessment results in addition to public examinations has been challenged by practitioners such as teachers in secondary schools as well as by the public. This paper focuses on understanding the views of teachers concerning school based assessment since such views are likely to add pressure to its implementation. In particular it will examine why teachers and the public appear to have more faith in external assessment rather than the professional judgment of teachers.