• Introduction

The Chemistry Practical Learning Portfolio Scheme (2025/26) (hereinafter referred to as the Portfolio Scheme) is organised by the Science Education Section of Education Bureau (EDB). The Portfolio Scheme recognises and documents S4 students' chemistry learning by recording the number and types of practical activities completed by students during the 2025/26 school year, and acknowledges the efforts of chemistry teachers and laboratory technicians in promoting practical learning. By launching this initiative, we aim to further promote practical activities, with a view to fostering students' conceptual understanding of chemistry and enhancing their scientific inquiry skills and problem-solving capabilities, thereby encouraging schools to provide more high-quality practical activities for their students.

• Objectives

• To encourage and recognise student participation in chemistry practical experiments;
• To highlight and acknowledge the efforts of chemistry teachers and laboratory technicians in promoting practical learning;
• To strengthen students' scientific inquiry and scientific thinking skills;
• To create a credible record of students' laboratory experience to support future applications for science/STEAM-related programmes; and
• To foster a stronger practical culture in secondary chemistry education.

• Target participants and enrolment

• Eligible schools: All government, aided, caput and Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) secondary schools (including special schools) offering S4 Chemistry.
• Eligible students: S4 students studying Chemistry (S4-6) Curriculum in local publicly-funded secondary schools.
• Application process: Schools should submit one application form on behalf of participating students.

• Scheme details

(a) Recognition Levels

Each student will receive a personalised portfolio listing the experiments conducted in the 2025/26 school year, along with an EDB-issued digital certificate. Recognition levels are assigned based on the number of experiments completed:

Remark: Students must complete at least 5 experiments to qualify for a portfolio record.

(b) Experiment Requirements

For an experiment to be counted for the Portfolio Scheme, it should:

• be conducted by students (individually or in groups) under teacher supervision, and related to Chemistry curriculum topics;
• involve clear objectives and experimental procedures distinct from other experiments conducted;
• not be conducted in the date same as any of those of submitted experiments within a class / subject group (i.e. no more than one experiment information submitted for a specific date for a class / subject group);
• include at least two of the following elements: data collection, observation recording, use of standard laboratory apparatus, data analysis (or calculation), and reasoning (or discussion) of results; and
• include at least one higher-order thinking question to promote scientific reasoning or inquiry skills.

(c) Higher-Order Thinking Questions

To enhance the quality and effectiveness of chemistry practicals in supporting learning and teaching, each experiment must include one or more higher-order thinking questions. These questions are designed to move learning beyond rote memorisation and factual recall, and help foster scientific reasoning and inquiry skills.

• Info_Sheet_on_Higher-order_Thinking_Questions  
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(d) Recognition for Teachers and Laboratory Technicians

Certificates of Appreciation will be issued to participating schools to acknowledge the efforts of Chemistry teachers and laboratory technicians in supporting practical learning.

• School participation process

• Application Method

• Application form
• Interested schools should complete the application form and return it to the Science Education Section, EDB by email (cpsc@edb.gov.hk) on or before 31 October 2025 (Friday).

• Note

This Portfolio Scheme is being organised for the first time, with S4 as the pilot level. Science Education Section of EDB will review its implementation and effectiveness, with the aim of gradually extending it to S5 and S6 in the future.

• Enquiries

For enquiries, please contact Science Education Section, Innovation Technology Education Division, Education Bureau on 3698 3440.