What are the advantages of studying in an international school in Hong Kong?
1. The school has a long history, the curriculum is more mature, and the tuition is lower than that of mainland international schools;
2. Students come from families with different industry backgrounds, which can not only broaden their international horizons, but also expand their network of contacts;
/>3. Adapt to the overseas learning model in advance and lay the foundation for future overseas studies, such as Dery International School.


Due to historical, economic and geographical reasons, international school education in Hong Kong started early and developed relatively well. It has unique advantages and good experience, as well as international teaching concepts and education methods. Many mainland parents choose Hong Kong international schools as the starting point for their children’s education. Therefore, many mainland parents choose to immigrate their families to Hong Kong in order to ensure that their children are eligible to attend Hong Kong international schools. So what are the common questions when applying to international schools in Hong Kong?


Q1. How many international schools are there in Hong Kong? Do you have any good recommendations?
There are currently 50 international schools in Hong Kong. One part is owned by the English School Association and can be recognized by the ESF logo, and the rest are operated by private independent school groups. Most international schools in Hong Kong adopt the IB curriculum, and many schools have very good results. Parents can first understand whether the educational philosophy of the target school is in line with their children's personalities and whether the curriculum is in line with their children's future development plans before making the next choice.

Q2. What is the best age to enter an international school?
As to the question of what is the best age to enter an international school, the general view is that the younger the better, because this way the exam difficulty is relatively low. However, because everyone has this idea, the competition for applications from kindergarten to first grade is particularly fierce. If you are patient and willing to wait patiently on the waiting list, admission opportunities will be processed on a rolling basis. This application method has no deadline. The earlier you apply to the school, the sooner it will be reviewed and the results will be available and the decision will be made. You can apply for this method at any time after the application opens until the school is full. Take applying for the first grade of primary school as an example. You may need to wait for one to two years (during this period, you will first study in a traditional primary school). Only after receiving the notification and passing the exam can you successfully transfer to an international school and master a certain level of Chinese language ability. At the age of ten to eleven, if the child already has a certain level of Chinese proficiency, it is quite appropriate to transfer to an international school.

Q3. Is the tuition fee of Hong Kong International School high?
Because there is no government funding, the tuition fees of international schools are very high. The registration fee for international schools generally starts from HK$1,000. Tuition fees for international schools range from 10,000 to 20,000 to 30,000 per month. Generally, you need to pay ten months of tuition per year. In addition to tuition fees, there are various fees such as school establishment fees, bonds, nomination rights fees, etc. after admission. Although the financial burden on the family must be considered, tuition fees are not necessarily related to reputation or educational level. Parents should take time to visit the school and attend briefing sessions to deepen their understanding of the school.

Q4. Can I apply for a newly opened international school?
Every "divine school" starts from scratch and gradually accumulates fame and achievements. Therefore, when choosing a school, in addition to paying attention to the school's reputation, we should also pay attention to the school's sponsoring group, teachers, campus hardware facilities and teaching background, and comprehensively consider various factors. Schools coming from the United Kingdom and the United States are usually large groups with strong financial resources. They will not give up easily just because they accept a few fewer students. Instead, they will adhere to strict admissions standards. Therefore, parents should pay enough attention to the new school and not underestimate it.

Q5. What are the courses of Hong Kong International School?
Hong Kong international school courses are divided into IB courses (International Baccalaureate courses) and international courses offered in Hong Kong by various countries, such as British IGCSE and A Level courses, American AP courses, Montessori courses in kindergarten, etc. Parents can discuss and plan with their children in advance, choose corresponding courses according to the universities in their favorite countries, and plan and prepare early.

Q6. Is it difficult to fill in the application form?
When preparing application materials, in addition to basic personal information, transcripts, and identity documents of family members, you should also pay attention to demonstrating fluent English writing skills in the application form, which will help enhance the school’s recognition of your family. impression. For example, in the English Foundation School application form, there is a column specifically reserved for parents to explain why they chose this school and their expectations for the school. In addition, parents can also describe how they actively participate in school activities when their children attend school in the future, such as participating in parent-teacher meetings, participating in school volunteer activities, etc. When filling in these contents, you should be as detailed and truthful as possible to avoid being too hasty in order to leave a good impression on the school.

Q7. What documents are generally required to be submitted when applying?
a) Identity document
Copy of student’s birth certificate
Copy of child’s passport, including current visa status in Hong Kong
Copy of parent’s passport, including current visa status in Hong Kong
Copies of parents’ and children’s Hong Kong identity cards (if applicable to Hong Kong residents)
Some schools require proof of Hong Kong address
Passport-style photo of the applicant
b) Proof of academic performance/other information (English translation provided)
Applying for kindergarten: the most recent transcript (if any) is required
Applying for grades 1 to 11: transcripts for the last two school years (if any)
Enrolling in grades 12 to 13 this year: transcripts and public examination certificates for the past two years

Q8. Are there any other materials that need to be prepared?
Yes.
If you are a transfer student, you need a letter of recommendation from the original school. When registering, in addition to attaching transcripts from the past two academic years, many international schools also require students applying for third grade and above to provide a letter of recommendation from the school they are currently attending. Please note that this process may take up to two months for parents to receive letters of recommendation, so you need to start preparing as early as possible.

In addition, many schools require students to fill in SEN (Special Educational Needs) information during the application process. This part requires parents to fill in whether their children need special academic or medical care and attach a detailed report in English from an educational psychologist or medical expert.

For students applying for grades 7 to 13, we recommend that you submit an additional page of activities and achievements resume in English. In this resume, please list the activities and achievements the applicant has participated in in recent years, such as sports achievements, community service, adoption programs, musical instruments proficient and levels obtained, as well as any other activities or achievements. This will help the school get to know your child better and provide you with more targeted advice and guidance.

Q9. What will be tested in the entrance examination?
The school will arrange suitable assessment scope and methods for students of different ages, such as children from preschool, kindergarten to second grade of elementary school. The school will generally arrange a test of about one hour in a relaxed environment. First of all, Children are allowed to participate in games or painting activities in the form of group activities, and some will be in the form of cooperative games. During this period, the interviewing teacher will observe and ask questions in English according to the child's language background.

Q10. Is the entrance exam difficult?
The higher the grade, the higher the difficulty. The exams for grades three to six mainly focus on assessing English and mathematics proficiency, while interviews are one-on-one conversations in English. The school hopes to understand the students' personalities, and the more popular topics revolve around the students' strengths, interests and wishes. Grades 7 to 12 are slightly more difficult, and the written test takes about three hours. The written test mainly tests English composition and mathematics. Students must first pass a written test and then undergo an interview. The interview format is generally conducted individually or in a group discussion.

Q11. Do I need to prepare in advance for the international school entrance exam? Is there any simulation training?
The international school written examination is mainly divided into English and mathematics. The English subject includes reading comprehension and English writing, while the mathematics subject also has questions and answers in English. If you pass the written test, you will be invited for an interview. Many candidates lose points in English writing due to insufficient training in creative writing. Many international school tutoring clubs have special classes in English creative writing and international school entrance exams. It is recommended to arrange and prepare in advance.

We at KOI Education have entrance training for specific Hong Kong international schools. They are written test improvement and interview simulations based on real exam sites and past papers. Parents who want to know more can contact us (end of article Contact information is available)~

Q12. What questions are usually asked in interviews?
The question is not inevitable, but it can be a reference for parents:

①Why are you interested in our school?
(Why are you interested in our school?)

②What's your favorite subject? Least favorite?
(What are your favorite and least favorite subjects?)

③What do you read outside of school?
(What extracurricular books do you read?)

④What's your greatest strength as a student?What do you need to improve?
(As a student, what is your greatest strength? What do you need to improve?)

⑤What has happened recently in current events that interests you ?
（What current events are you interested in recently?）

⑥Tell me a bit about your family.
（Tell me a bit about your family.）

⑦What sports do you play?
(What sport do you play?)

⑧Tell me about your friends. How would they describe you?
(How would your friends describe you? )

⑨What do you want to be when you grow up?
（What do you want to be when you grow up?）

⑩What questions do you have for me?
（What questions do you have for me? Want to ask? )
It is generally recommended that children ask questions as much as possible to show their enthusiasm and expectation for learning. You can ask whether the school has exchange student programs, overseas summer camps and other activities to let the interviewer know that your children are interested in these activities.

Q13. How to effectively improve interview performance?
The format of interviews is gradually diversifying. In addition to traditional questions and answers and self-introductions, interviews will also be conducted to get to know students through conversations. Therefore, in order to cope with this change, on the one hand, parents need to pay attention to the cultivation of their children's English ability. There is no quick shortcut for this, and it can only be improved by letting them listen, speak, read and write more in an English environment. On the other hand, parents should also encourage their children to stay interested in daily life and things happening around them, and to express more of their views and opinions. In addition, you can greatly improve your performance by accumulating experience through mock interviews and taking entrance exams from different schools. Therefore, being fully prepared and adapting to changes in interview formats is crucial for your child's future development.


The fees, academic system, philosophy, and even structure of each Hong Kong international school are different. The best school may not necessarily be the most suitable for your child. Choose a school for your child. Multiple factors need to be considered.

The biggest key to preparation is to be "accurate" enough, and only then can you be "prepared" to fight.
Are you ready?

If you want to know more about Hong Kong International Schools and prepare your children for school, please contact us!