HANCOCK JOHN TAX EXEMPT SERIES FUND
NSAR-A, 1995-04-28
Previous: SOVEREIGN BANCORP INC, 424B5, 1995-04-28
Next: HANCOCK JOHN TAX EXEMPT SERIES FUND, N-30D, 1995-04-28



<PAGE>      PAGE  1
000 A000000 02/28/95
000 C000000 811921
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0
000 J000000 A
001 A000000 JOHN HANCOCK TAX-EXEMPT SERIES FUND
001 B000000 811-5079
001 C000000 6173751700
002 A000000 101 HUNTINGTON AVENUE
002 B000000 BOSTON
002 C000000 MA
002 D010000 02199
002 D020000 7603
003  000000 N
004  000000 N
005  000000 N
006  000000 N
007 A000000 Y
007 B000000  3
007 C010100  1
007 C020100 CALIFORNIA PORTFOLIO
007 C030100 N
007 C010200  2
007 C020200 MASSACHUSETTS PORTFOLIO
007 C030200 N
007 C010300  3
007 C020300 NEW YORK PORTFOLIO
007 C030300 N
007 C010400  4
007 C010500  5
007 C010600  6
007 C010700  7
007 C010800  8
007 C010900  9
007 C011000 10
008 A00AA01 JOHN HANCOCK ADVISERS, INC.
008 B00AA01 A
008 C00AA01 801-8124
008 D01AA01 BOSTON
008 D02AA01 MA
008 D03AA01 02199
008 D04AA01 7603
011 A00AA01 JOHN HANCOCK FUNDS, INC.
011 B00AA01 8-43582
011 C01AA01 BOSTON
011 C02AA01 MA
011 C03AA01 02199
<PAGE>      PAGE  2
011 C04AA01 7603
012 A00AA01 JOHN HANCOCK INVESTOR SERVICES CORPORATION
012 B00AA01 84-1885
012 C01AA01 BOSTON
012 C02AA01 MA
012 C03AA01 02199
013 A00AA01 PRICE WATERHOUSE
013 B01AA01 BOSTON
013 B02AA01 MA
013 B03AA01 02110
014 A00AA01 JOHN HANCOCK DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
014 B00AA01 8-13995
014 A00AA02 JOHN HANCOCK BROKER DISTRIBUTION SERVICES INC
014 B00AA02 8-43582
014 A00AA03 TUCKER ANTHONY, INC.
014 B00AA03 8-24297
014 A00AA04 SUTRO & CO., INC.
014 B00AA04 8-7981
015 A00AA01 INVESTORS BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
015 B00AA01 C
015 C01AA01 BOSTON
015 C02AA01 MA
015 C03AA01 02106
015 E01AA01 X
018  00AA00 Y
019 A00AA00 Y
019 B00AA00   60
019 C00AA00 JOHNHANCOC
020 A000001 BEAR STEARNS
020 B000001 13-2975144
020 C000001      5
020 C000002      0
020 C000003      0
020 C000004      0
020 C000005      0
020 C000006      0
020 C000007      0
020 C000008      0
020 C000009      0
020 C000010      0
021  000000        5
022 A000001 BANKERS TRUST
022 B000001 13-4941247
022 C000001     32537
022 D000001         0
022 A000002 KIDDER PEABODY
022 B000002 13-5650440
022 C000002     25030
022 D000002         0
022 A000003 UBS (UNION BK OF SWITZERLAND)
022 B000003 04-2474663
<PAGE>      PAGE  3
022 C000003     10317
022 D000003         0
022 A000004 WILLIAM E. SIMONS & CO.
022 B000004 22-3017217
022 C000004      5348
022 D000004      4956
022 A000005 SANWA BANK, LTD.
022 C000005      8925
022 D000005         0
022 A000006 STONE & YOUNGBERG
022 B000006 94-1052545
022 C000006      2671
022 D000006      2403
022 A000007 SMITH BARNEY SHEARSON
022 B000007 13-1912900
022 C000007      1888
022 D000007      2983
022 A000008 PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES
022 B000008 22-2347336
022 C000008      1818
022 D000008      1142
022 A000009 FLEET NORSTAR SECURITIES
022 C000009      1008
022 D000009      1170
022 A000010 FIRST ALBANY CORP.
022 B000010 14-1391446
022 C000010       963
022 D000010      1001
023 C000000      92410
023 D000000      18062
024  00AA00 N
025 D00AA01       0
025 D00AA02       0
025 D00AA03       0
025 D00AA04       0
025 D00AA05       0
025 D00AA06       0
025 D00AA07       0
025 D00AA08       0
026 A000000 N
026 B000000 Y
026 C000000 N
026 D000000 Y
026 E000000 N
026 F000000 N
026 G010000 N
026 G020000 N
026 H000000 N
027  000000 Y
034  00AA00 N
035  00AA00      0
<PAGE>      PAGE  4
036 B00AA00      0
037  00AA00 N
038  00AA00      0
039  00AA00 N
040  00AA00 Y
041  00AA00 Y
045  00AA00 Y
046  00AA00 N
047  00AA00 Y
048  00AA00  0.000
048 A01AA00   250000
048 A02AA00 0.500
048 B01AA00   250000
048 B02AA00 0.450
048 C01AA00   500000
048 C02AA00 0.425
048 D01AA00   250000
048 D02AA00 0.400
048 E01AA00        0
048 E02AA00 0.000
048 F01AA00        0
048 F02AA00 0.000
048 G01AA00        0
048 G02AA00 0.000
048 H01AA00        0
048 H02AA00 0.000
048 I01AA00        0
048 I02AA00 0.000
048 J01AA00        0
048 J02AA00 0.000
048 K01AA00  1250000
048 K02AA00 0.300
049  00AA00 N
050  00AA00 N
051  00AA00 N
052  00AA00 N
053 A00AA00 Y
053 B00AA00 Y
053 C00AA00 N
054 A00AA00 Y
054 B00AA00 Y
054 C00AA00 N
054 D00AA00 N
054 E00AA00 N
054 F00AA00 N
054 G00AA00 Y
054 H00AA00 Y
054 I00AA00 N
054 J00AA00 Y
054 K00AA00 N
054 L00AA00 N
<PAGE>      PAGE  5
054 M00AA00 Y
054 N00AA00 N
054 O00AA00 N
055 A00AA00 N
055 B00AA00 N
056  00AA00 Y
057  00AA00 N
058 A00AA00 N
059  00AA00 Y
060 A00AA00 N
060 B00AA00 N
061  00AA00     1000
066 A00AA00 N
067  00AA00 N
068 A00AA00 N
068 B00AA00 N
069  00AA00 N
077 A000000 N
078  000000 N
028 A010100       695
028 A020100       145
028 A030100         0
028 A040100       641
028 B010100       440
028 B020100       152
028 B030100         0
028 B040100       675
028 C010100       133
028 C020100       148
028 C030100         0
028 C040100       807
028 D010100       240
028 D020100       232
028 D030100         0
028 D040100      1266
028 E010100       711
028 E020100        56
028 E030100         0
028 E040100       348
028 F010100       194
028 F020100       146
028 F030100         0
028 F040100       806
028 G010100      2413
028 G020100       879
028 G030100         0
028 G040100      4543
028 H000100      2305
029  000100 Y
030 A000100     80
030 B000100  4.50
<PAGE>      PAGE  6
030 C000100  0.00
031 A000100     10
031 B000100      0
032  000100     10
033  000100     59
042 A000100   0
042 B000100   0
042 C000100 100
042 D000100   0
042 E000100   0
042 F000100   0
042 G000100   0
042 H000100   0
043  000100     70
044  000100      0
062 A000100 Y
062 B000100   0.0
062 C000100   0.0
062 D000100   0.0
062 E000100   0.0
062 F000100   0.0
062 G000100   0.0
062 H000100   0.0
062 I000100   0.0
062 J000100   0.0
062 K000100   0.0
062 L000100   0.0
062 M000100   0.0
062 N000100   0.0
062 O000100  97.3
062 P000100   0.0
062 Q000100   0.0
062 R000100   0.0
063 A000100   0
063 B000100 20.7
064 A000100 N
064 B000100 N
070 A010100 Y
070 A020100 Y
070 B010100 N
070 B020100 N
070 C010100 N
070 C020100 N
070 D010100 N
070 D020100 N
070 E010100 Y
070 E020100 Y
070 F010100 N
070 F020100 N
070 G010100 Y
070 G020100 N
<PAGE>      PAGE  7
070 H010100 N
070 H020100 N
070 I010100 N
070 I020100 N
070 J010100 Y
070 J020100 N
070 K010100 N
070 K020100 N
070 L010100 N
070 L020100 N
070 M010100 N
070 M020100 N
070 N010100 N
070 N020100 N
070 O010100 Y
070 O020100 N
070 P010100 Y
070 P020100 N
070 Q010100 N
070 Q020100 N
070 R010100 N
070 R020100 N
071 A000100      3626
071 B000100      4655
071 C000100     45493
071 D000100    8
072 A000100  6
072 B000100     1510
072 C000100        0
072 D000100        0
072 E000100        0
072 F000100      116
072 G000100        0
072 H000100        0
072 I000100       46
072 J000100       27
072 K000100        0
072 L000100        4
072 M000100        3
072 N000100        1
072 O000100        0
072 P000100        0
072 Q000100        0
072 R000100       10
072 S000100        1
072 T000100       70
072 U000100        0
072 V000100        0
072 W000100        0
072 X000100      278
072 Y000100      116
<PAGE>      PAGE  8
072 Z000100     1348
072AA000100       69
072BB000100        0
072CC010100        0
072CC020100      100
072DD010100     1348
072DD020100        0
072EE000100        0
073 A010100   0.3163
073 A020100   0.0000
073 B000100   0.0000
073 C000100   0.0000
074 A000100     1059
074 B000100        0
074 C000100        0
074 D000100    46474
074 E000100        0
074 F000100        0
074 G000100        0
074 H000100        0
074 I000100        0
074 J000100      526
074 K000100       17
074 L000100      768
074 M000100       38
074 N000100    48882
074 O000100      937
074 P000100       22
074 Q000100        0
074 R010100        0
074 R020100        0
074 R030100        0
074 R040100      164
074 S000100        0
074 T000100    47759
074 U010100     4194
074 U020100        0
074 V010100    11.39
074 V020100     0.00
074 W000100   0.0000
074 X000100     1619
074 Y000100        0
075 A000100        0
075 B000100    47157
076  000100     0.00
028 A010200       470
028 A020200       169
028 A030200         0
028 A040200       994
028 B010200       793
028 B020200       178
<PAGE>      PAGE  9
028 B030200         0
028 B040200       570
028 C010200       509
028 C020200       171
028 C030200         0
028 C040200       992
028 D010200       197
028 D020200       272
028 D030200         0
028 D040200       679
028 E010200       251
028 E020200        65
028 E030200         0
028 E040200       546
028 F010200       695
028 F020200       174
028 F030200         0
028 F040200       655
028 G010200      2915
028 G020200      1029
028 G030200         0
028 G040200      4436
028 H000200      2740
029  000200 Y
030 A000200     73
030 B000200  4.50
030 C000200  0.00
031 A000200      9
031 B000200      0
032  000200      4
033  000200     60
042 A000200   0
042 B000200   0
042 C000200 100
042 D000200   0
042 E000200   0
042 F000200   0
042 G000200   0
042 H000200   0
043  000200     77
044  000200      0
062 A000200 Y
062 B000200   0.0
062 C000200   0.0
062 D000200   0.0
062 E000200   0.0
062 F000200   0.0
062 G000200   0.0
062 H000200   0.0
062 I000200   0.0
062 J000200   0.0
<PAGE>      PAGE  10
062 K000200   0.0
062 L000200   0.0
062 M000200   0.0
062 N000200   0.0
062 O000200  96.4
062 P000200   0.0
062 Q000200   0.0
062 R000200   0.0
063 A000200   0
063 B000200 19.8
064 A000200 N
064 B000200 N
070 A010200 Y
070 A020200 Y
070 B010200 N
070 B020200 N
070 C010200 N
070 C020200 N
070 D010200 N
070 D020200 N
070 E010200 Y
070 E020200 Y
070 F010200 N
070 F020200 N
070 G010200 Y
070 G020200 N
070 H010200 N
070 H020200 N
070 I010200 N
070 I020200 N
070 J010200 Y
070 J020200 N
070 K010200 N
070 K020200 N
070 L010200 N
070 L020200 N
070 M010200 N
070 M020200 N
070 N010200 N
070 N020200 N
070 O010200 Y
070 O020200 N
070 P010200 Y
070 P020200 N
070 Q010200 N
070 Q020200 N
070 R010200 N
070 R020200 N
071 A000200      3846
071 B000200      4709
071 C000200     50598
<PAGE>      PAGE  11
071 D000200    8
072 A000200  6
072 B000200     1697
072 C000200        0
072 D000200        0
072 E000200        0
072 F000200      129
072 G000200        0
072 H000200        0
072 I000200       54
072 J000200       28
072 K000200        0
072 L000200        4
072 M000200        3
072 N000200        2
072 O000200        0
072 P000200        0
072 Q000200        0
072 R000200       10
072 S000200        1
072 T000200       77
072 U000200        0
072 V000200        0
072 W000200        1
072 X000200      309
072 Y000200      129
072 Z000200     1517
072AA000200        0
072BB000200      262
072CC010200      167
072CC020200        0
072DD010200     1517
072DD020200        0
072EE000200        0
073 A010200   0.3261
073 A020200   0.0000
073 B000200   0.0000
073 C000200   0.0000
074 A000200      713
074 B000200        0
074 C000200        0
074 D000200    51621
074 E000200        0
074 F000200        0
074 G000200        0
074 H000200        0
074 I000200        0
074 J000200      516
074 K000200       26
074 L000200      832
074 M000200       38
<PAGE>      PAGE  12
074 N000200    53746
074 O000200        0
074 P000200       26
074 Q000200        0
074 R010200        0
074 R020200        0
074 R030200        0
074 R040200      185
074 S000200        0
074 T000200    53535
074 U010200     4637
074 U020200        0
074 V010200    11.54
074 V020200     0.00
074 W000200   0.0000
074 X000200     2417
074 Y000200        0
075 A000200        0
075 B000200    52202
076  000200     0.00
028 A010300       603
028 A020300       189
028 A030300         0
028 A040300       734
028 B010300       771
028 B020300       198
028 B030300         0
028 B040300      1002
028 C010300       462
028 C020300       193
028 C030300         0
028 C040300      1362
028 D010300       742
028 D020300       181
028 D030300         0
028 D040300      1010
028 E010300       662
028 E020300       192
028 E030300         0
028 E040300       792
028 F010300       692
028 F020300       192
028 F030300         0
028 F040300       898
028 G010300      3932
028 G020300      1145
028 G030300         0
028 G040300      5798
028 H000300      3210
029  000300 Y
030 A000300     98
<PAGE>      PAGE  13
030 B000300  4.50
030 C000300  0.00
031 A000300     12
031 B000300      0
032  000300      7
033  000300     79
042 A000300   0
042 B000300   0
042 C000300 100
042 D000300   0
042 E000300   0
042 F000300   0
042 G000300   0
042 H000300   0
043  000300     79
044  000300      0
062 A000300 Y
062 B000300   0.0
062 C000300   0.0
062 D000300   0.0
062 E000300   0.0
062 F000300   0.0
062 G000300   0.0
062 H000300   0.0
062 I000300   0.0
062 J000300   0.0
062 K000300   0.0
062 L000300   0.0
062 M000300   0.0
062 N000300   0.0
062 O000300  97.3
062 P000300   0.0
062 Q000300   0.0
062 R000300   0.0
063 A000300   0
063 B000300 21.5
064 A000300 N
064 B000300 N
070 A010300 Y
070 A020300 Y
070 B010300 N
070 B020300 N
070 C010300 N
070 C020300 N
070 D010300 N
070 D020300 N
070 E010300 Y
070 E020300 Y
070 F010300 N
070 F020300 N
070 G010300 Y
<PAGE>      PAGE  14
070 G020300 N
070 H010300 N
070 H020300 N
070 I010300 N
070 I020300 N
070 J010300 Y
070 J020300 N
070 K010300 N
070 K020300 N
070 L010300 N
070 L020300 N
070 M010300 N
070 M020300 N
070 N010300 N
070 N020300 N
070 O010300 Y
070 O020300 N
070 P010300 Y
070 P020300 N
070 Q010300 N
070 Q020300 N
070 R010300 N
070 R020300 N
071 A000300      8129
071 B000300      8918
071 C000300     51686
071 D000300   16
072 A000300  6
072 B000300     1730
072 C000300        0
072 D000300        0
072 E000300        0
072 F000300      131
072 G000300        0
072 H000300        0
072 I000300       53
072 J000300       27
072 K000300        0
072 L000300        4
072 M000300        3
072 N000300        1
072 O000300        0
072 P000300        0
072 Q000300        0
072 R000300       10
072 S000300        1
072 T000300       79
072 U000300        0
072 V000300        0
072 W000300        2
072 X000300      311
<PAGE>      PAGE  15
072 Y000300      127
072 Z000300     1546
072AA000300      215
072BB000300        0
072CC010300        0
072CC020300      742
072DD010300     1546
072DD020300        0
072EE000300        0
073 A010300   0.3284
073 A020300   0.0000
073 B000300   0.0000
073 C000300   0.0000
074 A000300      920
074 B000300        0
074 C000300        0
074 D000300    52963
074 E000300        0
074 F000300        0
074 G000300        0
074 H000300        0
074 I000300        0
074 J000300        0
074 K000300       17
074 L000300      714
074 M000300       37
074 N000300    54651
074 O000300        0
074 P000300       23
074 Q000300        0
074 R010300        0
074 R020300        0
074 R030300        0
074 R040300      186
074 S000300        0
074 T000300    54442
074 U010300     4682
074 U020300        0
074 V010300    11.63
074 V020300     0.00
074 W000300   0.0000
074 X000300     2675
074 Y000300        0
075 A000300        0
075 B000300    53373
076  000300     0.00
SIGNATURE   THOMAS H. DROHAN                             
TITLE       SR.VICE PRESIDENT   
 


<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000811921
<NAME> JOHN HANCOCK TAX-EXEMPT SERIES FUND
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 1
   <NAME> CALIFORNIA PORTFOLIO
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             SEP-01-1994
<PERIOD-END>                               FEB-28-1995
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                       45,705,074
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                      46,474,451
<RECEIVABLES>                                1,311,031
<ASSETS-OTHER>                               1,142,584
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                           723,283
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              48,881,972
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                       937,196
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                      185,844
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                          1,123,040
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                    47,043,205
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                        4,193,576
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                        4,310,180
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                        (7,556)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                       723,283
<NET-ASSETS>                                47,758,932
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                            1,510,441
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                 162,458
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                      1,347,983
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                        69,093
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                    (100,471)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                        1,316,605
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                    1,347,983
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                        218,713
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                  (415,681)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                             80,346
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                     (1,282,698)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                     (76,649)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                          116,042
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                278,722
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                        46,801,330
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            11.38
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.32
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           0.01
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.32)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              11.39
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   0.70
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000811921
<NAME> JOHN HANCOCK TAX-EXEMPT SERIES FUND
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 2
   <NAME> MASSACHUSETTS PORTFOLIO
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             SEP-01-1994
<PERIOD-END>                               FEB-28-1995
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                       50,749,129
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                      51,620,637
<RECEIVABLES>                                1,374,282
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                 796,896
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                           825,414
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              53,745,721
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                      210,669
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                            210,669
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                    53,230,115
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                        4,637,089
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                        4,683,213
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                      (520,477)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                       825,414
<NET-ASSETS>                                53,535,052
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                            1,697,448
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                 180,057
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                      1,517,391
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                     (262,358)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                      166,923
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                        1,421,956
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                    1,517,391
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                        260,848
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                  (399,507)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                             92,535
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                       (587,385)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                    (258,119)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                          128,612
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                309,623
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                        51,871,305
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            11.56
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.33
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                         (0.02)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.33)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              11.54
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   0.70
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000811921
<NAME> JOHN HANCOCK TAX-EXEMPT SERIES FUND
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 3
   <NAME> NEW YORK PORTFOLIO
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             SEP-01-1994
<PERIOD-END>                               FEB-28-1995
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                       52,480,830
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                      52,962,554
<RECEIVABLES>                                  731,078
<ASSETS-OTHER>                               1,003,692
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                           435,630
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              54,651,230
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                      208,946
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                            208,946
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                    53,909,837
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                        4,681,988
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                        4,749,271
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                         96,817
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                       435,630
<NET-ASSETS>                                54,442,284
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                            1,730,031
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                 183,856
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                      1,546,175
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                       215,076
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                    (742,057)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                        1,019,194
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                  (1,546,175)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                        349,064
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                  (518,346)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                            101,999
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                     (1,248,014)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                    (118,259)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                          131,326
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                310,589
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                        52,965,743
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            11.73
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.33
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                         (0.10)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.33)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              11.63
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   0.70
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>


© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission