All Python Topics in HKDSE Paper 1 (Full List)

The Definitive HKDSE Paper 1 Python Syllabus

After analysing every HKDSE ICT Paper 1 from 2012 to 2025, we've compiled the complete list of Python topics that have actually been tested. Use this as your master checklist — if you've mastered everything here, you're ready for any question.

Core Syntax (Tested in 100% of Papers)

• print() with sep and end parameters
• input() and type casting (int(), float(), str())
• Variable assignment and multiple assignment
• Arithmetic operators: +, -, *, /, //, %, **
• Comparison operators: ==, !=, <, >, <=, >=
• Logical operators: and, or, not

Control Flow (95%+ of Papers)

• if, elif, else statements (including nested)
• for loops with range() — 1-arg, 2-arg, 3-arg forms
• while loops with condition-based exit
• break and continue
• Nested loops (common in 2D data problems)

Data Structures

Strings (85% of papers)

• Indexing and slicing: s[0], s[1:4], s[::-1]
• Methods: .upper(), .lower(), .strip(), .split(), .replace(), .find(), .count()
• Concatenation and .join()
• f-string formatting: f"{var:.2f}"

Lists (88% of papers)

• Creation and indexing
• Methods: .append(), .pop(), .insert(), .remove(), .sort(), .reverse()
• Functions: len(), sum(), max(), min()
• 2D lists (lists of lists)
• List comprehension (occasional)

Dictionaries (60% of papers, increasing)

• Creation, access, assignment
• Methods: .keys(), .values(), .items(), .get()
• Iterating with for key in dict:

Functions (90% of Papers)

• Defining with def
• Parameters and default arguments
• return statements (including multiple returns)
• Local vs global scope
• Functions calling other functions

File I/O (70% of Papers)

• Reading: open(), .read(), .readline(), .readlines()
• Writing: .write(), .writelines()
• with statement (context manager)
• CSV-style parsing with .split(',')

Object-Oriented Programming (65% of Papers 1B)

• Class definition with class
• __init__ constructor
• Instance methods and self
• Attribute access
• Simple inheritance (rare but has appeared)

Standard Library Modules

• math — sqrt, ceil, floor, pi
• random — randint, random, choice, shuffle
• datetime — basic date handling (rare)

Frequency Ranking (High to Low)

1. Variables, I/O, conditions, for loops (every single paper)
2. Functions and lists (almost every paper)
3. Strings and string methods (85%)
4. File I/O (70%)
5. OOP (65%, Paper 1B only)
6. Dictionaries (60%, trending up)
7. 2D lists (50%, when exam has matrix problems)
8. Random/math modules (30%)