group. Candidates were given 10 minutes to read a passage of 300 words and prepare a presentation based on the passage of up to 2 minutes. After each candidate gave a presentation, the group was given two minutes to prepare mentally for a discussion of eight minutes for 3 candidates and ten minutes for 4 candidates. Section E – Practical Skills for Work and StudyIt lasted for 1 hour and 45 minutes and was allocated 28% of the total subject mark. Candidates were given a situation, a role and 2–3 tasks to perform. They were given a data file containing information in various formats and with the data file and were to select the kind of relevant information needed to fulfill the tasks required. Writing tasks involved could be a report, an article, a letter, a proposal or a newsletter. A pass in the UE was considered essential to being accepted to any degree program under the Joint University Programmes Admissions System, but some universities accepted a band 6 in IELTS or similar as an alternative of HKALE English pass. Comparison with IELTS A survey was conducted to equate the results with the International English Language Testing System by the HKEAA. Controversy of new marking scheme The controversy followed the HKEAA's announcement in 2007 that if a candidate exceeded the word limit (500 words) in a task in Section E (Practical skills for work and study), anything written beyond the limit would not be marked. However, according to the marking guidelines issued the previous year, students who did so should be deducted only two marks from the style mark for doing so. That resulted in criticism by many students, who claimed that although the word limit instruction was stated in the paper, they were not clearly informed of the marking criteria and that the marking scheme the HKEAA adopted in the previous year gave them a misleading impression. The authority later stated that candidates should have read all instructions before attempting the questions. It also stated that candidates who followed the instructions strictly should be treated fairly. Chinese Language and Culture examination The examination was taken usually with other examinations to assess the ability of students in using Chinese and their understanding of Chinese culture. Introduced in 1993, the examination had tests in the following: Paper 1A – Practical writing (實用文類寫作); Paper 1B – Reading Comprehension (閱讀理解測驗); Paper 2 –