PAST PAPER INSIGHTS

Which text types appear most often?

Explore how often each text type appeared in HKDSE English Writing and Listening & Integrated Skills past papers.

This is an independent DSE LevelMate analysis of official past papers, not official HKEAA guidance.

How to read this data

Overall

Combines individual text-type appearances from Paper 2 Writing and Paper 3 Integrated Skills.

Each appearance is counted once. Where applicable, Paper 3 B1 and B2 are recorded separately. Overall means total appearances across both papers, not the number of years appeared.

Writing · Paper 2

2 writing tasks in the current exam
  • Part A — compulsory short guided task, about 200 words
  • Part B — choose 1 of 4 longer questions, about 400 words
This frequency analysis focuses on Part B text types.

Listening & Integrated Skills · Paper 3

  • Part A — compulsory listening tasks
  • Part B — candidates choose either B1 or B2
  • B1 — easier section
  • B2 — more difficult section
This analysis records text types appearing in B1 and B2 separately.

How we count: Each text type is counted by its individual appearance in a past-paper task. Where applicable, B1 and B2 are recorded separately.

Overall frequency ranking

Combined frequency across Paper 2 Writing and Paper 3 Integrated Skills.Official past papers only, from 2012 to 2025.

  1. 01
    EmailPaper 2: 8 · Paper 3: 25
    33 total appearances
  2. 02
    ArticlePaper 2: 17 · Paper 3: 3
    20 total appearances
  3. 03
    LetterPaper 2: 14 · Paper 3: 4
    18 total appearances
  4. 04
    Letter to the editorPaper 2: 13 · Paper 3: 3
    16 total appearances
  5. 05
    StoryPaper 2: 12 · Paper 3: 0
    12 total appearances
  6. 06
    EssayPaper 2: 10 · Paper 3: 0
    10 total appearances
  7. 07
    Blog postPaper 2: 7 · Paper 3: 1
    8 total appearances
  8. 08
    ReportPaper 2: 2 · Paper 3: 6
    8 total appearances
  9. 09
    SpeechPaper 2: 5 · Paper 3: 3
    8 total appearances
  10. 10
    Feature articlePaper 2: 3 · Paper 3: 2
    5 total appearances
  11. 11
    Video scriptPaper 2: 0 · Paper 3: 4
    4 total appearances
  12. 12
    Argumentative essayPaper 2: 3 · Paper 3: 0
    3 total appearances
  13. 13
    LeafletPaper 2: 1 · Paper 3: 2
    3 total appearances
  14. 14
    AnnouncementPaper 2: 1 · Paper 3: 1
    2 total appearances
  15. 15
    Application formPaper 2: 1 · Paper 3: 1
    2 total appearances
  16. 16
    Application letterPaper 2: 2 · Paper 3: 0
    2 total appearances
  17. 17
    BiographyPaper 2: 1 · Paper 3: 1
    2 total appearances
  18. 18
    Debate speechPaper 2: 2 · Paper 3: 0
    2 total appearances
  19. 19
    Diary entryPaper 2: 2 · Paper 3: 0
    2 total appearances
  20. 20
    Fact filePaper 2: 0 · Paper 3: 2
    2 total appearances
  21. 21
    Incident reportPaper 2: 0 · Paper 3: 2
    2 total appearances
  22. 22
    News reportPaper 2: 2 · Paper 3: 0
    2 total appearances
  23. 23
    Online forum postPaper 2: 2 · Paper 3: 0
    2 total appearances
  24. 24
    ProposalPaper 2: 1 · Paper 3: 1
    2 total appearances
  25. 25
    ReviewPaper 2: 2 · Paper 3: 0
    2 total appearances
  26. 26
    WebpagePaper 2: 0 · Paper 3: 2
    2 total appearances
  27. 27
    Website announcementPaper 2: 0 · Paper 3: 2
    2 total appearances
  28. 28
    Advice letterPaper 2: 1 · Paper 3: 0
    1 total appearances
  29. 29
    Advice replyPaper 2: 1 · Paper 3: 0
    1 total appearances
  30. 30
    BrochurePaper 2: 0 · Paper 3: 1
    1 total appearances
  31. 31
    ChecklistPaper 2: 0 · Paper 3: 1
    1 total appearances
  32. 32
    EditorialPaper 2: 0 · Paper 3: 1
    1 total appearances
  33. 33
    FAQPaper 2: 0 · Paper 3: 1
    1 total appearances
  34. 34
    FlyerPaper 2: 0 · Paper 3: 1
    1 total appearances
  35. 35
    FormPaper 2: 0 · Paper 3: 1
    1 total appearances
  36. 36
    GuidePaper 2: 1 · Paper 3: 0
    1 total appearances
  37. 37
    Information pagePaper 2: 0 · Paper 3: 1
    1 total appearances
  38. 38
    Invitation letterPaper 2: 0 · Paper 3: 1
    1 total appearances
  39. 39
    Journal entryPaper 2: 1 · Paper 3: 0
    1 total appearances
  40. 40
    News articlePaper 2: 1 · Paper 3: 0
    1 total appearances
  41. 41
    Photo captions and descriptionsPaper 2: 1 · Paper 3: 0
    1 total appearances
  42. 42
    PosterPaper 2: 0 · Paper 3: 1
    1 total appearances
  43. 43
    Presentation scriptPaper 2: 0 · Paper 3: 1
    1 total appearances
  44. 44
    Programme textPaper 2: 0 · Paper 3: 1
    1 total appearances
  45. 45
    SchedulePaper 2: 0 · Paper 3: 1
    1 total appearances
  46. 46
    SummaryPaper 2: 0 · Paper 3: 1
    1 total appearances
  47. 47
    Survey introductionPaper 2: 0 · Paper 3: 1
    1 total appearances
  48. 48
    Website advice pagePaper 2: 0 · Paper 3: 1
    1 total appearances
  49. 49
    Website company historyPaper 2: 0 · Paper 3: 1
    1 total appearances
  50. 50
    Website descriptionPaper 2: 0 · Paper 3: 1
    1 total appearances
  51. 51
    Website introductionPaper 2: 0 · Paper 3: 1
    1 total appearances
  52. 52
    Website overviewPaper 2: 0 · Paper 3: 1
    1 total appearances
  53. 53
    Yearbook entryPaper 2: 1 · Paper 3: 0
    1 total appearances

Every appearance

Open a text type to see the complete year-by-year record.

Email

33 appearances

2025 · Paper 3 · B12024 · Paper 2 · A2024 · Paper 3 · B1
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2025Paper 3B1
2024Paper 2A
2024Paper 3B1
2024Paper 3B1
2024Paper 3B2
2023Paper 3B1
2023Paper 3B1
2023Paper 3B2
2022Paper 3B1
2022Paper 3B2
2021Paper 2B
2021Paper 3B2
2021Paper 3B2
2020Paper 3B1
2020Paper 3B2
2019Paper 2B
2019Paper 3B1
2018Paper 3B1
2018Paper 3B2
2018Paper 3B2
2017Paper 3B1
2016Paper 2B
2016Paper 3B2
2015Paper 2B
2015Paper 2B
2015Paper 3B1
2015Paper 3B2
2015Paper 3B2
2014Paper 2B
2013Paper 2B
2013Paper 3B1
2013Paper 3B2
2012Paper 3B1

Article

20 appearances

2025 · Paper 3 · B22024 · Paper 2 · B2023 · Paper 2 · B
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2025Paper 3B2
2024Paper 2B
2023Paper 2B
2023Paper 2B
2022Paper 2B
2019Paper 2B
2018Paper 2B
2018Paper 2B
2017Paper 2B
2016Paper 2B
2015Paper 2B
2015Paper 3B2
2014Paper 2A
2014Paper 2B
2014Paper 2B
2014Paper 2B
2013Paper 2B
2013Paper 2B
2012Paper 2B
2012Paper 3B2

Letter

18 appearances

2025 · Paper 3 · B22022 · Paper 2 · B2021 · Paper 2 · B
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2025Paper 3B2
2022Paper 2B
2021Paper 2B
2020Paper 2B
2020Paper 2B
2018Paper 2A
2018Paper 2B
2017Paper 2A
2017Paper 3B1
2016Paper 2B
2016Paper 3B1
2015Paper 2B
2015Paper 2B
2014Paper 2B
2014Paper 2B
2014Paper 3B1
2013Paper 2B
2012Paper 2B

Letter to the editor

16 appearances

2025 · Paper 2 · B2024 · Paper 2 · B2023 · Paper 2 · B
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2025Paper 2B
2024Paper 2B
2023Paper 2B
2022Paper 2B
2021Paper 2B
2021Paper 3B1
2021Paper 3B2
2017Paper 2B
2017Paper 2B
2016Paper 2B
2015Paper 2A
2015Paper 2B
2014Paper 2B
2014Paper 3B2
2013Paper 2B
2012Paper 2B

Story

12 appearances

2025 · Paper 2 · B2022 · Paper 2 · B2021 · Paper 2 · B
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2025Paper 2B
2022Paper 2B
2021Paper 2B
2020Paper 2B
2019Paper 2B
2018Paper 2B
2017Paper 2B
2016Paper 2B
2015Paper 2B
2014Paper 2B
2013Paper 2B
2012Paper 2B

Essay

10 appearances

2025 · Paper 2 · B2024 · Paper 2 · B2023 · Paper 2 · B
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2025Paper 2B
2024Paper 2B
2023Paper 2B
2023Paper 2B
2021Paper 2B
2020Paper 2B
2019Paper 2B
2017Paper 2B
2016Paper 2B
2016Paper 2B

Blog post

8 appearances

2025 · Paper 2 · B2024 · Paper 2 · B2024 · Paper 3 · B1
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2025Paper 2B
2024Paper 2B
2024Paper 3B1
2021Paper 2B
2020Paper 2B
2018Paper 2B
2017Paper 2B
2012Paper 2B

Report

8 appearances

2019 · Paper 3 · B22018 · Paper 3 · B12018 · Paper 3 · B2
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2019Paper 3B2
2018Paper 3B1
2018Paper 3B2
2017Paper 2B
2016Paper 3B1
2016Paper 3B2
2015Paper 2B
2014Paper 3B1

Speech

8 appearances

2022 · Paper 2 · B2022 · Paper 3 · B22019 · Paper 2 · B
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2022Paper 2B
2022Paper 3B2
2019Paper 2B
2019Paper 3B2
2016Paper 2A
2014Paper 3B2
2013Paper 2B
2012Paper 2B

Feature article

5 appearances

2023 · Paper 2 · B2020 · Paper 2 · B2013 · Paper 3 · B1
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2023Paper 2B
2020Paper 2B
2013Paper 3B1
2013Paper 3B2
2012Paper 2A

Video script

4 appearances

2024 · Paper 3 · B22023 · Paper 3 · B22020 · Paper 3 · B1
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2024Paper 3B2
2023Paper 3B2
2020Paper 3B1
2020Paper 3B2

Argumentative essay

3 appearances

2021 · Paper 2 · B2020 · Paper 2 · B2019 · Paper 2 · B
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2021Paper 2B
2020Paper 2B
2019Paper 2B

Leaflet

3 appearances

2025 · Paper 2 · A2022 · Paper 3 · B12012 · Paper 3 · B1
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2025Paper 2A
2022Paper 3B1
2012Paper 3B1

Announcement

2 appearances

2021 · Paper 2 · A2021 · Paper 3 · B1
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2021Paper 2A
2021Paper 3B1

Application form

2 appearances

2023 · Paper 2 · A2018 · Paper 3 · B1
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2023Paper 2A
2018Paper 3B1

Application letter

2 appearances

2021 · Paper 2 · B2018 · Paper 2 · B
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2021Paper 2B
2018Paper 2B

Biography

2 appearances

2022 · Paper 2 · B2015 · Paper 3 · B1
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2022Paper 2B
2015Paper 3B1

Debate speech

2 appearances

2018 · Paper 2 · B2017 · Paper 2 · B
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2018Paper 2B
2017Paper 2B

Diary entry

2 appearances

2023 · Paper 2 · B2013 · Paper 2 · B
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2023Paper 2B
2013Paper 2B

Fact file

2 appearances

2023 · Paper 3 · B12013 · Paper 3 · B1
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2023Paper 3B1
2013Paper 3B1

Incident report

2 appearances

2024 · Paper 3 · B22020 · Paper 3 · B2
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2024Paper 3B2
2020Paper 3B2

News report

2 appearances

2020 · Paper 2 · B2019 · Paper 2 · B
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2020Paper 2B
2019Paper 2B

Online forum post

2 appearances

2012 · Paper 2 · B2012 · Paper 2 · B
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2012Paper 2B
2012Paper 2B

Proposal

2 appearances

2025 · Paper 3 · B22016 · Paper 2 · B
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2025Paper 3B2
2016Paper 2B

Review

2 appearances

2020 · Paper 2 · A2019 · Paper 2 · B
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2020Paper 2A
2019Paper 2B

Webpage

2 appearances

2022 · Paper 3 · B12014 · Paper 3 · B1
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2022Paper 3B1
2014Paper 3B1

Website announcement

2 appearances

2023 · Paper 3 · B22019 · Paper 3 · B1
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2023Paper 3B2
2019Paper 3B1

Advice letter

1 appearance

2018 · Paper 2 · B
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2018Paper 2B

Advice reply

1 appearance

2022 · Paper 2 · B
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2022Paper 2B

Brochure

1 appearance

2017 · Paper 3 · B1
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2017Paper 3B1

Checklist

1 appearance

2019 · Paper 3 · B1
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2019Paper 3B1

Editorial

1 appearance

2013 · Paper 3 · B2
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2013Paper 3B2

FAQ

1 appearance

2020 · Paper 3 · B1
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2020Paper 3B1

Flyer

1 appearance

2016 · Paper 3 · B1
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2016Paper 3B1

Form

1 appearance

2021 · Paper 3 · B1
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2021Paper 3B1

Guide

1 appearance

2022 · Paper 2 · A
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2022Paper 2A

Information page

1 appearance

2014 · Paper 3 · B2
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2014Paper 3B2

Invitation letter

1 appearance

2017 · Paper 3 · B2
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2017Paper 3B2

Journal entry

1 appearance

2022 · Paper 2 · B
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2022Paper 2B

News article

1 appearance

2023 · Paper 2 · B
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2023Paper 2B

Photo captions and descriptions

1 appearance

2013 · Paper 2 · A
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2013Paper 2A

Poster

1 appearance

2025 · Paper 3 · B1
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2025Paper 3B1

Presentation script

1 appearance

2025 · Paper 3 · B1
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2025Paper 3B1

Programme text

1 appearance

2019 · Paper 3 · B2
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2019Paper 3B2

Schedule

1 appearance

2015 · Paper 3 · B1
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2015Paper 3B1

Summary

1 appearance

2017 · Paper 3 · B2
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2017Paper 3B2

Survey introduction

1 appearance

2012 · Paper 3 · B2
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2012Paper 3B2

Website advice page

1 appearance

2012 · Paper 3 · B2
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2012Paper 3B2

Website company history

1 appearance

2022 · Paper 3 · B2
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2022Paper 3B2

Website description

1 appearance

2012 · Paper 3 · B1
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2012Paper 3B1

Website introduction

1 appearance

2016 · Paper 3 · B2
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2016Paper 3B2

Website overview

1 appearance

2017 · Paper 3 · B2
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2017Paper 3B2

Yearbook entry

1 appearance

2019 · Paper 2 · A
View all appearances
YearPaperPart
2019Paper 2A