Chinese Testing Center

The Chinese Proficiency Test (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. Germantown Academy offers the HSK several times a year.

Hanban launched the new Chinese Proficiency Test in 2004 in an effort to better serve Chinese language learners. The test is the result of coordinated efforts by 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.

Structure

The HSK consists of a writing test and a speaking test, which are independent of each other. There are six levels of writing tests and three levels of speaking tests.

Principles

The Chinese Proficiency Test (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 HSK emphasizes the objectivity and accuracy of the evaluation and stresses the learners' actual Chinese language abilities. The 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.

Purposes

The HSK is intended as a general (or universal) Chinese language abilities test for adult learners. The results of the test can serve several purposes:

• A reference for an educational institution's decision-making concerning recruiting students, assigning students to different classes, allowing students to skip certain courses and giving students academic credits
• A reference for employers' decision-making concerning the recruitment, training and promotion of test takers
• A method for Chinese language learners to assess and improve their proficiency in Chinese
• A method for Chinese language training institutions to evaluate training results

Levels of Competency

• Test takers who are able to pass the HSK Level I can understand and use very simple Chinese 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.

Results Certificate

Test takers will receive the results for the HSK issued by Hanban approximately 45 days after the test.

The Youth Chinese Test (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. Germantown Academy offers the YCT several times a year.

Hanban launched the new Youth Chinese Test in 2004 as part of an effort to encourage young foreign students to learn Chinese and improve their Chinese language proficiency. As part of this effort, 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.

Who should take the Youth Chinese Test?

• Students in Mandarin bilingual programs or in Chinese as a second language courses

Why get a Youth Chinese Test Credential?

• Set goals for Chinese language proficiency
• Obtain recognition of Chinese language competency
• Be assessed on the same international language standards as candidates in other countries
• Certify Chinese language achievements
• Enrich your résumé

Structure

The YCT consists of a writing test and a speaking test, which are independent of each other. The writing test is divided into four levels and the speaking test into two levels.

Principles

The 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."

Purposes

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

• A method for Chinese language learners to assess and improve their proficiency in Chinese
• A reference for Chinese language training in schools
• A benchmark for students who want to participate in the HSK test

Levels of Competency

• 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.

Results Certificate

Test takers will receive their test results for the YCT issued by Hanban approximately 45 days after the test.

Germantown Academy is proud to announce the 2019 Confucius Institute Scholarship. This is a great opportunity to travel to China to pursue your Chinese language studies.

Learn more about the Hanban Scholarship