What this page answers
This page covers the three key dates after results for the 2025/2027 cycle (Primary 6 in 2026/27, Secondary 1 entry in September 2027): reading the result on 6 July 2027, registering at the allocated secondary on 8 and 9 July, and the Pre-Secondary One Hong Kong Attainment Test on Tuesday 13 July. It explains the test’s purpose, the sampling and adjustment mechanism, what happens on the day, bad-weather rules, and the school-run placement tests and summer activities that the Education Bureau does not regulate. Dates and mechanisms follow the Bureau’s briefing and circulars; paragraphs about school-set arrangements are labelled as general guidance.
Three weeks at a glance
The Bureau has published the results, registration and HKAT dates below. Everything else in July is set by each secondary school.
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| 6 July 2027 | Discretionary Places and Central Allocation results announced together; collect at the primary school or on the e-platform |
| 8 and 9 July 2027 | Register at the allocated secondary. If typhoon signal 8 or above, a red or black rainstorm warning, or “extreme conditions” is in force that day, follow radio and television announcements |
| Tuesday 13 July 2027 | Pre-Secondary One Hong Kong Attainment Test (Pre-S1 HKAT): morning only, Mathematics → English → Chinese, 50 minutes each; schools choose whether to run it |
| Rest of July (each school sets its own dates) | Placement tests, summer bridging, uniforms and booklists have no Education Bureau timetable; follow the allocated secondary’s notices |
Take a fictional student, Ming. On 6 July 2027 he confirms at his primary or on the e-platform that he has been allocated a secondary place. He registers at that school on 8 July and sits the HKAT there on the morning of 13 July. The test does not change the place already allocated, and the score is not written back into this cycle’s allocation programme.
Registration
Students allocated a Secondary 1 place must register at that secondary on 8 and 9 July 2027. If typhoon signal 8 or above, a red or black rainstorm warning, or “extreme conditions” falls on results or registration day, follow radio and television announcements. Do not assume the registration window moves on its own.
The Bureau’s public briefing does not spell out the consequence of missing Secondary 1 registration. If you cannot attend on the published days, contact the allocated secondary and the School Places Allocation Section (2832 7740 / 2832 7700) at once and follow their instructions.
What the Pre-S1 HKAT is
In the Bureau’s words, the Pre-S1 HKAT lets secondary schools assess newcomers’ strengths and weaknesses in Chinese, English and Mathematics so they can plan learning support. Some schools also use the scores to form classes; that is school practice, not an Education Bureau rule.
Since 2006, sampled HKAT results in even years have been the tool that adjusts a primary school’s later cohorts’ internal marks. The computer first standardises each student’s internal scores, then adjusts them by the average of the school’s two most recent samples. The 2025/2027 cycle uses the school’s 2024 and 2026 samples; 2027 is not a sampling year. The sitting student’s own result does not directly affect their allocation. The Bureau also states that schools and parents need not drill for the test.
On the day
The 2027 test is on Tuesday 13 July, in the morning. The date does not move even if registration is postponed by bad weather. Schools choose whether to run it; those that do must complete all three papers that morning in the fixed order: Mathematics, then English, then Chinese, 50 minutes each.
Format details match the 2026 Q&A (the same design applies in 2027). Chinese and English papers include listening plus reading/writing; with a listening exemption, Chinese reading/writing alone is 40 minutes and English 35 minutes. The Mathematics paper is bilingual; answers may be in Chinese or English; no calculator. Use a black or blue pen for the language papers; pencil is allowed for Maths diagrams. Students bring the allocation slip (派位證). Papers are confidential and rewritten each year; parents cannot see scripts. There is no make-up test for absentees; submit an absence letter to the school.
Students assessed for special educational needs in primary school can receive comparable arrangements, such as extra time (normally not more than 25%), a separate room, enlarged papers, or a listening exemption. Parents give the secondary school the professional report so the school can apply the arrangements already assessed.
Bad weather
If typhoon signal 8 or above is pre-warned or in force during the test, the test stops immediately. Under a red or black rainstorm warning the test continues. If the Bureau closes all schools, the test moves to the next day at the same times. Bad-weather rules for results and registration days follow radio and television announcements, and should be read separately from the three test-day rules above.
Placement tests and summer arrangements
General guidance, not an Education Bureau rule. The Bureau sets no common rule for school-run Secondary 1 placement tests, summer bridging programmes, uniforms or booklists. Some schools use HKAT scores to form classes; others may set their own arrangements. Families should follow the allocated secondary’s notices for forms, test dates or purchases. Do not assume every school works the same way.
叩門 (leftover places)
Leftover-place approaches (叩門) sit outside the Bureau allocation mechanism: the Bureau has no rule or date for Secondary 1 叩門. After results, each school decides whether and when to consider late enquiries. If the family still wants to enquire elsewhere after registering, see叩門 guidance.
Common misunderstandings
“The HKAT decides my child’s banding.” It does not. Bands are cut by the allocation programme before results on 6 July; the test is held after results and does not rewrite this cohort’s band.
“A poor HKAT score can move my child to another school.” It cannot. The Bureau states that the test does not directly affect that sitting student’s allocation; the place is already fixed on results day.
“Absentees can retake the test.” They cannot. There is no make-up session; submit an absence letter to the school.
“Parents can collect the paper to check answers.” They cannot. Papers are confidential; parents cannot see scripts, and each year’s paper is newly written.
“The 2027 results feed the 2027 allocation.” They do not. 2027 is not a sampling year; this cycle already used the primary’s 2024 and 2026 sample averages. Sampling adjusts later cohorts’ internal marks, not this cohort’s allocation result.
Next steps
For every date from the internal assessments through to results, see theSSPA timeline. If you still want to enquire about leftover places after registering, see叩門 guidance. For how bands are cut and why no site can compute an exact Band, seewhy there is no exact banding.
FAQ
When is the 2027 Pre-S1 HKAT held?
On Tuesday 13 July 2027, the first Tuesday after results (6 July) and registration (8 and 9 July). The date does not move even if registration is postponed by bad weather. Schools choose whether to run it; those that do must run all three papers that morning in the fixed order Mathematics, English, then Chinese, 50 minutes each.
Can the test change which secondary school my child was allocated?
No. The Education Bureau states that the test does not directly affect that sitting student’s allocation. Since 2006, sampled results in even years adjust the primary school’s later cohorts’ internal marks; 2027 is not a sampling year. The 2025/2027 cycle already used the school’s 2024 and 2026 sample averages.
Is there a make-up session, and can parents see the papers?
There is no make-up test. Absentees submit an absence letter to the school. Papers are confidential, rewritten each year, and parents cannot see scripts. Students bring the allocation slip (派位證).
How do students with SEN or a listening exemption sit the test?
Students assessed for special educational needs in primary school can receive comparable arrangements, such as extra time (normally not more than 25%), a separate room, enlarged papers, or a listening exemption. Parents give the secondary school the professional report. With a listening exemption, Chinese reading/writing alone is 40 minutes and English 35 minutes.
What happens if the weather is bad on test day?
If typhoon signal 8 or above is pre-warned or in force during the test, the test stops immediately. Under a red or black rainstorm warning the test continues. If the Bureau closes all schools, the test moves to the next day at the same times.
What if we miss registration on 8 and 9 July?
The Bureau’s public briefing does not spell out the consequence of missing Secondary 1 registration. Contact the allocated secondary and the School Places Allocation Section (2832 7740 / 2832 7700) at once and follow their instructions. Do not assume the place is automatically cancelled or still held.