The HKDSE, also known as the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination, is organized by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) and is a comprehensive assessment examination that most Hong Kong Form Six graduates are required to take.

This examination is comparable to other similar types of examinations such as the IB, A-LEVEL, SAT, and its results are recognized by nearly 300 higher education institutions in over 20 countries worldwide, including prestigious institutions such as the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, and Yale University. The content of the examination overlaps significantly with the knowledge covered in the mainland's college entrance examination (Gaokao). It is the only international examination in the world that allows candidates to choose to answer in Chinese, making it the most suitable international path for mainland students to pursue higher education.