Academic Aptitude Test

Academic Aptitude Test
Traditional Chinese香港學業能力測驗
Transcriptions
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationHēung góng hohk yihp nàhng lihk chāk yihm
JyutpingHoeng1 gong2 hok6 jip6 nang4 lik6 cak1 jim6
HKAAT
Traditional Chinese學能測驗
Transcriptions
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationHohk nàhng chāk yihm
JyutpingHok6 nang4 cak1 jim6

The Academic Aptitude Test (AAT; 學業能力測驗) was a public examination used in Hong Kong from 1978 to 1994 to assess students’ general abilities for secondary school placement. The candidates of the test were students studying in the sixth grade of primary schools. It was used to assist in the allocation of students to high schools, so the AAT had a significant impact on the educational system in Hong Kong at that time and on the public's perception of academic ability.

Before the abolishment of the test in 1994, this test, together with the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination and the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination, was known as the three major public examinations in Hong Kong. This test is designed to assess students' general learning potential rather than their mastery of school subjects. The following sections discuss its history, structure, administration, and the social impact and criticisms surrounding the test.