The Education Bureau released the 2026 Secondary School Places Allocation (SSPA) results on 7 July 2026. A total of 48,545 students participated; counting both the discretionary and central allocation stages, 95% were satisfied with a top-three choice, level with last year’s record high, while 84% received their first choice, down one percentage point. Beneath the numbers sits the tug-of-war between a shrinking school-age population and increasingly assertive parental school selection.
By stage: among those awarded a discretionary place, 68% got their first choice; among those placed through central allocation (Part A unrestricted by net plus Part B by net), 91% received a top-three choice and 74% their first. All three figures match the prior year, showing the allocation machinery itself is stable — the “mystery” factor is far smaller than folklore suggests.
On release day, every P6 participant must return to their primary school to collect the allocation certificate and registration certificate. Parents registered with iAM Smart for the SSPA e-platform can view results from 10am and also receive an SMS. Registration at the allocated secondary must happen on 9 or 10 July; failure to attend in person requires a prior written authorisation, or the place is treated as declined.
Next comes the much-discussed “knocking”. Since 2023 the EDB caps each secondary class at one place for knock-in students — half the previous two-per-class allowance — making the contest fiercer. In other words, knocking is not “more tries, more chances”; it is a precise strike at the very few leftover places.
Documents for knocking mirror the discretionary stage: the student’s ID, allocation certificate, the last two years’ reports, and extracurricular and award records, plus any evidence of strength in English or Mathematics. Many popular schools accept applications within a day or two of release, some with written and oral tests. The child’s key preparation is a clear answer to “why this school” — demonstrating genuine knowledge of its ethos, curriculum and activities beats a rehearsed generic reply.
Note that a persistently high satisfaction rate does not raise knock success; with few knock places reserved, schools weigh “fit” even more. If the allocated school is not a clear mismatch, knocking blindly only adds pressure on the child. The EDB also urges a positive mindset: outcomes depend less on the school assigned than on whether the child stays motivated.
One final administrative step: after allocation, students must bring the paper allocation certificate to the Pre-Secondary One Hong Kong Attainment Test (Mathematics, English, Chinese) on 14 July. It does not affect placement but informs streaming, so check the school’s test arrangement when registering on 9 or 10 July and do not let this small item slip.