About Chinese Tests | Confucius Classroom at Fuqing Language and Computer School

04/30/2020 - 10:33

Introduction

Thank you for choosing our Chinese tests.

To help evaluate the Chinese levels of non-native Chinese speakers across the world, Hanban has developed three exams, HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi), YCT (youth learner test) and BCT (business Chinese test). We will provide outstanding examinees with scholarships and all of you with opportunity of summer/winter camps, intending to attract learners to apply to our Chinese evaluation system.

Up to now, the Chinese testing centers have spread all over domestic and foreign lands. Internationally, there are 180 testing centers in 60 countries. And in 2009, more than 600,000 Chinese learners registered and attended our tests, among which, 436 received scholarships and 333 winter camps.

Our aim and purpose include –

• initiating/perfecting a Chinese evaluation system that is practical, motivational and effective, so as to enhance the qualities of Chinese teaching and learning internationally;

• providing Chinese evaluation services that are the most influential and reliable.

Chinese Proficiency Test (HSK)

The new HSK test was launched by Hanban in an effort to better serve Chinese language learners. The test is the result of coordinated efforts by domestic and foreign experts from different disciplines including Chinese language teaching, linguistics, psychology and educational measurement. The new exam combines the advantages of the original HSK while taking into consideration recent trends in Chinese language training by conducting surveys and making use of the latest findings in international language testing.

The new HSK is an international standardized exam that tests and rates Chinese language proficiency. It assesses non-native Chinese speakers’ abilities in using the Chinese language in their daily, academic and professional lives. HSK consists of six levels, namely the HSK (level I), HSK (level II), HSK (level III), HSK (level IV), HSK (level V), and HSK (level VI).

Details are as follows

I. Test Structure

II. Test Levels

The levels of the new HSK correspond to the levels of the Chinese Language Proficiency Scales for Speakers of Other Languages (CLPS) and the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEF) as follows:

New HSK	Vocabulary	CLPS	CEF
HSK (Level VI)	Over 5,000	Level V	C2
HSK (Level V)	2500	Level V	C1
HSK (Level IV)	1200	Level IV	B2
HSK (Level III)	600	Level III	B1
HSK (Level II)	300	Level II	A2
HSK (Level I)	150	Level I	A1

Test takers who are able to pass the HSK (Level I) can understand and use very simple Chinese words and phrases, meet basic needs for communication and possess the ability to further their Chinese language studies.

Test takers who are able to pass the HSK (Level II) have an excellent grasp of basic Chinese and can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters.

Test takers who are able to pass the HSK (Level III) can communicate in Chinese at a basic level in their daily, academic and professional lives. They can manage most communication in Chinese when travelling in China.

Test takers who are able to pass the HSK (Level IV) can converse in Chinese on a wide range of topics and are able to communicate fluently with native Chinese speakers.

Test takers who are able to pass the HSK (Level V) can read Chinese newspapers and magazines, enjoy Chinese films and plays, and give a full-length speech in Chinese.

Test takers who are able to pass the HSK (Level VI) can easily comprehend written and spoken information in Chinese and can effectively express themselves in Chinese, both orally and on paper.

III. Test Principles

The new HSK follows the principle of “test-teaching correlation”, bases the design of the test on the current trends in international Chinese language training, and is closely related to textbooks. The purpose of the test is to “promote training through testing” and “promote learning through testing”.

The new HSK emphasizes the objectivity and accuracy of the evaluation and stresses the learners’ actual Chinese language abilities.

The new HSK sets clear test objectives to allow the test takers to be able to improve their Chinese language abilities in a systematic and efficient way.

IV. Testing Purposes

The new HSK retains the former HSK’s orientation as a general (or universal) Chinese language abilities test for adult learners. The results of the test can serve several purposes:

1. A reference for an educational institution’s decision-making concerning recruiting students, assigning students to different classes, allowing students to skip certain courses and granting students academic credits.

2. A reference for employers’ decision-making concerning the recruitment, training and promotion of test takers.

3. A method for Chinese language learners to assess and improve their proficiency in Chinese.

4. A method for Chinese language training institutions to evaluate training results.

V. Results Certificate

Test takers will receive the results for the new HSK issued by Hanban within one month after the test.

Youth Chinese Test(YCT)

The new YCT test was launched by Hanban in an effort to encourage foreign young students to learn Chinese and improve their Chinese language proficiency. As part of this effort, since 2004 Hanban has organized experts from different disciplines such as Chinese language teaching, linguistics, psychology and educational measurement to work on the program, conducting surveys in order to understand the latest trends in overseas Chinese language teaching and learning.

I. Test Structure

The new YCT is an international standardized test of Chinese language proficiency. It assesses young foreign students' abilities to use Chinese in their daily and academic lives. The new YCT consists of a writing test and a speaking test, which are independent of each other. The writing test is divided into four levels, namely, the YCT (level I), YCT (level II), YCT (level III), and YCT (level IV). The speaking test is divided into the YCT (Beginner Level) and YCT (Intermediate Level).

Writing Test		Speaking Test
YCT (Level IV)		YCT (Intermediate Level)
YCT (Level III)		YCT (Beginner Level)
YCT (Level II)
YCT (Level I)

II. Test Levels

The different levels of the new YCT are similar to some of the levels in the Chinese Language Proficiency Scales for Speakers of Other Languages (CLPS) and the Common European Framework of Reference (CEF); details are as follows:

New HSK	Vocabulary	CLPS	CEF
HSK (Level VI)	Over 5,000	Level V	C2
HSK (Level V)	2500	Level V	C1
HSK (Level IV)	1200	Level IV	B2
HSK (Level III)	600	Level III	B1
HSK (Level II)	300	Level II	A2
HSK (Level I)	150	Level I	A1

Test takers who are able to pass the YCT (Level I) can understand and use some of the most common Chinese phrases and sentences and possess the ability to further their Chinese language studies.

Test takers who are able to pass the YCT (Level II) can understand and use some simple Chinese phrases and sentences and cope with basic level communications.

Test takers who are able to pass the YCT (Level III), having reached an excellent level in basic Chinese, can communicate on familiar daily topics in a simple manner.

Test takers who are able to pass the YCT (Level IV) can communicate in Chinese at a basic level in their daily, academic and professional lives. When travelling in China, they can manage most forms of communication in Chinese.

III. Test Principles

The new YCT aims to improve Chinese language learners’ self-confidence and follows the principle of “test-teaching correlation”. It bases the design of the test on current trends in international Chinese language training and is closely related to textbook learning procedures. The purpose of the test is to “promote training through testing” and “promote learning through testing”.

IV. Test Purposes

The YCT is intended for students whose mother tongue is not Chinese. The results of the test can serve various purposes:

1. A method for Chinese language learners to assess and improve their proficiency in Chinese.

2. A reference for Chinese language training in schools.

3. A method for Chinese language training institutions to evaluate training results.

4. A benchmark for students who want to participate in the HSK test.

V. Results Certificate

Test takers will receive their test results for the new YCT issued by Hanban within three weeks after the test.

Business Chinese Test(BCT)

To meet Chinese language learners’ need for a business Chinese test,the Confucius Institute Headquarters (Hanban) commissioned the International Business Chinese Language Teaching and Resource Development Base, University of International Business and Economics to organize Chinese and overseas experts on business Chinese language teaching, linguistics, psychology and educational measurement to revise the Business Chinese Test (BCT) which has existed since 2006 on the basis of the latest research results on international language testing and business Chinese from recent years.

The new BCT, as an international,standardized test of Chinese language proficiency, focuses on assessing non-native Chinese speakers’ abilities to use the Chinese language in real business or common working environments and evaluating the language tasks they are able to complete. It aims to provide references for companies to recruit and select employees, for schools and training institutions to organize teaching activities, and for learners to evaluate themselves.

The BCT, as a test series, consists of three independent tests: BCT (A), BCT (B) and the BCT Speaking Test. The BCT (A), which is oriented towards beginners, is designed to examine test takers’ ability to communicate in Chinese in daily life and during basic business activities. The BCT (B),which is oriented towards intermediate and advanced learners, is designed to examine test takers’ ability to communicate in Chinese during complex business activities. The BCT Speaking Test, which is oriented towards learners of all levels, adopts the form of a computer-based test as well as personalized and targeted questions to examine test takers’ ability to complete various communicative tasks by using spoken Chinese.

The BCT has the following characteristics: first, it focuses on the practical use of Chinese when conducting business activities. The test, following the principle of practicality, oriented towards speaking and listening, and emphasizing abilities in the workplace, aims to recreate actual situations in the workplace. Second, it has set the Standards for Business Chinese Language Competence and advocates a combination of teaching and examination as a method of improving Chinese language skills. The Standards for Business Chinese Language Competence, which is based on large-scale surveys and data analyses and aligned with the BCT Outlines, provides a basis for a refined assessment of competence and systematic teaching activities. Third, it includes business culture as a part of the test so as to improve learners’ intercultural communicative competence.

Test Takers

The BCT is held for non-native Chinese speakers. Anyone who is a non-native speaker, whether capable of basic communication or fairly skillful communication in Chinese, may take the BCT. There are no restrictions on test takers’ age, education or length of time spent learning Chinese.

Test Time and Location

The BCT is held regularly in mainland China and other countries each year. In addition, BCT can provide special testing services as required by relevant enterprises or organizations.

For information about the test dates and test centers for the BCT, please log on to the Chinese test service website www.chinesetest.cn.

Test Purposes

1.Provide a basis for employers to assess non-native Chinese speakers’ (candidates) Chinese competence in daily work. Test scores can be used as a reference for employee recruitment, selection, placement and promotion.

2.Help relevant teaching and training institutions to assess students’ business Chinese proficiency in recruitment, class divisions, and granting credits.

3.Help learners to improve and evaluate their business Chinese competence.

BCT (A)

The BCT (A) is an international, standardized exam in Chinese language proficiency that focuses on testing non-native Chinese speakers’ abilities to use the Chinese language in real business or common working environments, and that evaluates the language tasks they are able to complete. Following the principle of practicality, oriented towards speaking and listening, and emphasizing abilities in the workplace, this test aims to recreate actual situations in the workplace and takes practical content for communications as the method of examining test takers’ abilities to use Chinese to meet their needs in a working environment.

I. Test Structure

BCT (A) contains 70 question sand consists of three parts: listening, reading and writing.

Table 1 Test Structure of BCT (A)

Test Item		Number of Questions		Duration of Test (minutes)
1. Listening	Section One	10	30	About 20
	Section Two	10
	Section Three	10
2. Reading	Section One	10	30	30
	Section Two	20
3. Writing		10		10
Mark your answers on the Answer Sheet (after the listening section)				5
Total	/	30	70	About 65

1. Listening

Section One contains ten questions. You will hear a word or phrase for each question twice. On the test paper, there is a picture for each question. Answer whether the content of the picture is true or false according to what you hear.

Section Two contains ten questions. You will hear a sentence for each question twice. On the test paper, there are three pictures for each question. Choose the right one according to what you hear.

Section Three contains ten questions. For each question, you will hear a dialogue between two people and a question based on the dialogue twice. Choose the best answer from the three choices on the test paper according to what you hear.

2. Reading

Section One contains ten questions. One or two sentences with a blank will be provided for each of the first five questions. Choose the best answer from the choices to complete the sentence. The other five questions are five blanks in a table or a short passage of practical writing. Choose the best answers to complete the table or the passage.

Section Two contains twenty questions. A series of reading materials will be provided, including pictures, tables, paragraphs, passages, etc. Each piece of reading material will be followed by one to three questions, with three choices. Choose the best answer to the question.

3. Writing

This part contains ten questions. For each question, there is a sentence with a blank. Use the correct Chinese character or phrase (Pinyin of the word or phrase will be provided) to fill in the blank.

II. Reference Vocabulary

The BCT (A) has set up a reference vocabulary of 600 words according to language competence, can-do statements, word frequencies of various authoritative Chinese corpora, and the actual state of international Chinese language teaching.

III. Score System

The BCT (A) score report records a test taker’s sub-test scores and total score, without setting a passing score. The report will also provide competence descriptions for all levels of test takers.

The BCT (A) test paper consists of three sub-tests: listening, reading and writing, with a total score of 300 points. Its score system is shown in the table below:

Table 3 Score System of BCT (A)

	Listening	Reading	Writing	Total
Number of questions	30	30	10	70
Maximum score of sub-test	100	100	100	300

IV. Test Principles

Promote learning through examination: encourage Chinese language learners’ interest and confidence, and further broaden the scope of the test in accordance with the actual demands of overseas Business Chinese learners and Chinese speakers in a general working environment.

Promote teaching through examination: provide teachers and self-learners with graded, task-based teaching resource sand suggestions related to business Chinese, and help teaching and training institutions systematically and effectively improve business Chinese learners and speakers’ abilities to use the Chinese language in real business or common working environments.

Provide positive feedback for test takers: evaluate test takers’ ability to complete various language tasks by asking them to carry out a series of typical business language tasks and provide positive feedback for Chinese language learners to plan their future studies.

BCT (B)

The BCT (B) is an international, standardized exam in Chinese language proficiency that focuses on testing non-native Chinese speakers’ abilities to use the Chinese language in real business or common working environments, and that evaluates the language tasks they are able to complete. Following the principle of practicality, oriented towards speaking and listening, and emphasizing abilities in the workplace, this test aims to recreate actual situations in the workplace and takes practical content for communications as the method of examining test takers’ abilities to use Chinese to meet their needs in the working environment.

I. Test Structure

The BCT (B) written test contains 92 question sand consists of three parts: listening, reading and writing.

Table 1 Structure of BCT (B) Written Test

Test Item		Number of Questions		Duration of Test (minutes)
Write down personal information (before the listening section starts)				5
1. Listening	Section One	20	50	About 40
	Section Two	15
	Section Three	15
2. Reading	Section One	20	40	60
	Section Two	10
	Section Three	10
3. Writing		2		10
Mark your answers on the Answer Sheet (after the listening section)				5
Total	/	92		About 150

The duration of the whole test is about 150 minutes (including 5 minutes for writing down personal information).

1. Listening

Section One contains twenty questions. A two-sentence dialogue between two people and a question based on the dialogue will be read once for each question. Choose the best answer from the four choices on the test paper according to what you hear.

Section Two contains fifteen questions. A four-sentence dialogue between two people and a question based on the dialogue will be read once for each question. Choose the best answer from the four choices on the test paper according to what you hear.

Section Three contains fifteen questions. Five passages followed bya few questions will be read to you once. Choose the best answer from the choices on the test paper according to what you hear.

2. Reading

Section One contains twenty questions. A series of reading materials will be provided, including pictures, tables, paragraphs, passages, etc. Each piece of reading material will be followed by a few questions, each with four choices. Choose the best answer to the question.

Section Two contains ten questions. There are two passages with five blanks each. Choose five best answers from seven choices to complete each passage according to the context.

Section Three contains ten questions. This section is divided into two groups, each with five questions. Four passages and several questions or sentences will be provided on the test paper. Match each question or sentence with its related passage.

3. Writing

Section One contains one question. A written text or table will be provided. Write at least 80 Chinese characters according to the directions.

Section Two contains one question. A written text or table will be provided. Write at least 150 Chinese characters according to the directions.

II. Reference Vocabulary

The BCT (B) has set up a reference vocabulary of 4000 words according to language competence, can-do statements, word frequencies of various authoritative Chinese corpora, and the state of international Chinese language teaching.

III. Score System

The BCT (B) score report records a test taker’s sub-test scores and total score, without setting any passing score. The report will also provide competence descriptions for all levels of test takers.

The BCT (B) written test consists of three sub-tests: listening, reading and writing, with a total score of 300 points. Its score system is shown in the table below:

Table 3 Score System of BCT (B)

	Listening	Reading	Writing	Total
Number of questions	50	40	2	92
Maximum score of sub-test	100	100	100	300

IV. Test Principles

Promote teaching through examination: provide teachers and self-learners with graded, task-based teaching resource sand suggestions related to business Chinese, and help teaching and training institutions systematically and effectively improve business Chinese learners and speakers’ Chinese language communicative competence in a realistic business environment.

Provide positive feedback: evaluate test takers’ ability to complete various language tasks in a business environment by asking them to carry out a series of typical business language tasks and provide positive feedback for Chinese language learners to plan their future studies.

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