China tests people’s proficiency in Mandarin
December 26th, 2011 - 7:32 pm ICT by IANSBeijing, Dec 26 (IANS) A new Chinese proficiency test was launched in China last weekend to improve overall Mandarin proficiency among people in the country.
The nationwide language proficiency test is applicable to all who use Mandarin in daily life, for academic purposes or at work, including foreigners, the China Daily reported.
The test, called Hanyu Nengli Ceshi (HNC) in Chinese, was held at selected 13 venues in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Jiangsu, Hunan, Yunnan and Inner Mongolia.
Examinees were tested for their listening comprehension, speaking, reading and writing skills. Except for the writing part, the exam was carried out online.
The test has been designed to test a person’s language skills on scale of one to six with Level 1 being the most basic and Level 6 the most advanced. Examinees will get certificates at corresponding levels and an assessment report about their strengths and weaknesses in proficiency in the Mandarin.
Organisers of the test contacted the examinees comprising mostly college students, a few faculty members, civil servants and middle school students.
Supported by China’s education ministry and the State Language Commission, the National Education Examinations Authority (NEEA) oversaw this non-compulsory and non-profit test.
The test is likely to be held twice a year in future at more venues, said a NEEA official.
According to a 2010 report on language’s condition in China, issued by the education ministry in May, Chinese students were found to have poor writing and other practical skills in Mandarin.
The report cited a survey among college students in Beijing, which showed 30 percent had failed in a mock HNC test.
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Tags: academic purposes, assessment report, china daily, chinese proficiency test, chinese students, civil servants, education examinations, education ministry, hnc, inner mongolia, jiangsu, language proficiency test, level 6, listening comprehension, middle school students, national education, neea, s education, state language, tianjin