O Level Chinese Language Syllabus


(From year 2022 onwards)

* The information provided below is an English translation by Miss SY Wang. The original document in Chinese Language can be obtained HERE.


    The O level Chinese Examination (1160) comprises the following.

  1. Paper One: Situational Writing and Essay Writing
  2. Paper Two: Comprehension and Application
  3. Paper Three: Oral Examination and Listening Comprehension




  O Level Chinese Language
Paper One: Situational Writing and Essay Writing

Approved dictionaries (printed or electronic) by Ministry of Education are allowed to be used.

Duration of Paper One is 2 hours.

Total marks for Paper One is 60.



Section One: Situational Writing


There are 2 questions in total.

Candidates only need to answer 1 out of the 2 questions.

Typically, situational writing comprises responses to emails.

This section carries 20 marks.



Section Two: Essay Writing


There are 3 questions in total.

Candidates only need to answer 1 out of the 3 questions.

Typically, essay writing comprises narrative essay writing, expository essay writing and argumentative essay writing.

This section carries 40 marks.





  O Level Chinese Language
Paper Two: Comprehension and Application

Duration of Paper Two is 1 hour 30 minutes.

Total marks for Paper Two is 70.

Paper Two comprises cloze passage, comprehension I and comprehension II.



Section One: Cloze Passage


(A) Cloze Passage

A passage inclusive of 10 multiple choice questions will be provided.

This section carries 10 marks.


Section Two: Comprehension I

3 to 4 comprehension passage will be provided.

There are 10 multiple choice questions in total.

This section carries 20 marks.



Section Three: Comprehension II


2 to 3 comprehension passages will be provided.

There are 10 open ended questions in total.

This section carries 40 marks.





  O Level Chinese Language
Paper Three: Oral Examination

Duration of Paper Three is approximately 20 minutes.

Total marks for Paper Three is 70.

Paper Three comprises the following:

Section One: Oral (50 marks)

Section Two: Listening Comprehension (20 marks)



Section One: Oral


(A) Read Aloud

A passage will be provided.

Candidates are to read aloud in front of the examiners.

This section carries 10 marks.


(B) Oral Discussion

A video (approximately 1 minute) will be provided.

Candidates are allowed to view the video repeatedly.

Candidates are required to engage in an oral discussion with the examiners.

This section carries 40 marks.

Candidates have 10 minutes to prepare for oral before the actual examination takes place with the examiners.



Section Two: Listening Comprehension


6 listening passages will be provided.

There will be 10 multiple choice questions in all.

This section carries 40 marks.