Complete Guide to DSE Ethics and Religious Studies (ERS): Curriculum, Assessment & Tips

The Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) subject Ethics and Religious Studies (ERS) offers more than just academic knowledge—it fosters two essential 21st-century skills: value judgment and cultural understanding. Students are trained to analyze ethical dilemmas and religious beliefs through a structured, interdisciplinary lens, preparing them for both higher education and real-world decision-making.

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1. Subject Orientation and Key Features

ERS stands out among HKDSE electives for its rich blend of humanities disciplines and its relevance to real-life issues.

• Interdisciplinary Approach: Combines philosophy, ethics, and religious studies.
• Dual-Track Curriculum: Includes a compulsory Ethics Module and an elective Religious Studies Module.
• Emphasis on Critical Thinking: Over 40% of assessment focuses on argumentative reasoning and ethical evaluation.
• Recognized Internationally: Some UK universities accept ERS as a humanities subject for admissions.

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2. Curriculum Overview: Two Core Domains

🧭 Domain 1: Ethics (Compulsory)

Key Ethical Theories:

• Teleology: Utilitarianism, Egoism
• Deontology: Kantian Ethics
• Virtue Ethics: Aristotle’s ethics

Practical Application Topics:

• Utilitarianism applied to Hong Kong’s waste-charging scheme
• Kantian analysis of the moral status of artificial intelligence

✝️ Domain 2: Religious Studies (Elective)

Comparative Study of Six Major Religions:

Religion	Core Belief	Local Practice
Christianity	Ten Commandments	Church-run social services
Buddhism	Four Noble Truths	Chi Lin Nunnery’s educational outreach
Islam	Five Pillars of Islam	Kowloon Mosque community programs

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3. Assessment Structure: Three Key Components

📄 Paper 1: Ethics (2 hours 15 minutes)

• Question Types:
  • Data-response questions (30%)
  • Two out of three essay questions (70%)
• Sample High-Scoring Essay:
  “Should animals be granted rights?”
  • Compare Peter Singer’s Utilitarianism with Tom Regan’s Rights Theory

📄 Paper 2: Religious Studies (1 hour 30 minutes)

• Phenomenological Method:
  • Describe religious phenomena (e.g., Ramadan)
  • Compare practices (e.g., Islamic fasting vs. Catholic Lent)
  • Analyze societal functions (e.g., religion and social cohesion)

🧪 SBA (School-Based Assessment) – Religious Module Only

• Independent Research Project
  Example: “Community Involvement of Po Lin Monastery”
  • Requires fieldwork and reference to classical religious texts

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4. Key Concepts to Master

• Moral Dilemma Analysis Framework:
  1. Present the facts (e.g., abortion timing)
  2. Identify conflicting values (e.g., life vs autonomy)
  3. Apply ethical theories
  4. Propose a resolution or compromise
• Religious Hermeneutics:
  Understand the difference between literal and metaphorical interpretations of sacred texts (e.g., Genesis in Christianity)

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5. Top Study Resources and Exam Strategies

📚 Recommended Texts:

• The Elements of Moral Philosophy by James Rachels
• Religious Atlas of Hong Kong (HKU Press)

✍️ Answering Techniques:

Use the PEEL method for structuring ethics essays:

• Point – State your argument
• Explain – Elaborate on your reasoning
• Example – Cite real-life or theoretical cases
• Link – Connect back to the question

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6. 2023 HKDSE Exam Statistics

Grade	Ethics Score Rate	Religious Studies Score Rate
5**	12.3%	8.7%
4	28.5%	22.1%

Common Pitfalls:

• Mixing up relativism and subjectivism
• Oversimplifying the meaning and function of religious rituals

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7. University Admissions Pathways

🎓 Local Recognition:

• University of Hong Kong: Accepts ERS for Philosophy and Humanities programs
• CUHK: Religious Studies programs require Level 4 or above in the Religious Module

🌍 International Recognition:

• UK: Some universities include ERS in UCAS Tariff Points
• Canada: Recognized as a humanities elective for admission

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8. Innovative Teaching Approaches

• Ethics Role-Play & Debates: Simulate court trials on euthanasia or AI rights
• Interfaith Dialogues: Students role-play leaders of various religions
• Digital Humanities Tools:
  • GIS mapping of Hong Kong religious sites
  • Interactive ethical decision-making trees

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9. Exam Tips: Think Cross-Modular

• Link Religious Beliefs to Ethics:
  • Use religious rules (e.g., Ten Commandments) to explain Kantian deontology
  • Apply Buddhist concepts like Dependent Origination to environmental ethics
• Stay Current:
  • Reference modern debates (e.g., AI and ethics using ChatGPT’s guidelines)

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Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only. For the latest updates, please refer to the Hong Kong Education Bureau.
Original draft compiled with AI assistance. Edited by Professor Chan Kwok-wai. Managing Editor: Eric Kong.