A recent survey conductedby the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups found that students were very concerned abouttheir academic results, with around 60 per cent marking it at 7 points or above on a 0-10points scale.

    When asked to indicate to what extent did the mark-basedassessment of students' performance put pressure on them, 36 per cent again marked it at 7points or above.

    In spite of the pressure, a significant number ofstudents, 48 per cent, still considered examinations and marks as the best way to assessperformance in school.

    Parents' expectations and their own aspirations were foundto be the two main causes of pressure, accounting for 35 per cent and 32 per cent ofstudents' replies respectively. Around one-third of students said that they would feelunhappy if their parents scolded them for obtaining poor academic results.

    Although students were concerned about their academicresults, more than half of them disagreed that academic performance determined one'ssuccess or failure. Thirty-five per cent had a strong objection to this perception.

    The survey also observed that academic results had a greatimpact on students' self-esteem, with 38 per cent marking the significance index at 7points or above.

    In expressing their views about including a student'sschool results with his / her performance in the Hong Kong Certificate of EducationExamination, 54 per cent were in support of this suggestion while 42 per cent were againstthe idea. The survey found that girls were more receptive to this suggestion than wereboys.

    The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups conducted thistelephone survey from 9 to 13 November 1998. A total of 537 full-time students, aged 12 to29, were successfully interviewed. Of the total 537 respondents, each had, on average,three tests per week. More than half of them claimed that their current academicperformance was fair. Only less than 1 per cent claimed a very good or excellent result.

    Forty-four per cent of students said that they would notfeel pressure if their close classmates' academic performance was better than theirs, evenif only slightly different while around 16 per cent thought differently. Another 30 percent would feel pressure if the difference in results was very big.

    When asked what would make them most happy in school,slightly more than 14 per cent of students answered that it would be obtaining goodacademic results and high marks. Around 12 per cent said what they most wanted to achievein the learning process was good academic results and high marks.