Chinese Language Proficiency Tests (HSK) at UT Dallas in 2009
To meet the needs of those who want to be certified in Chinese language proficiency, the Confucius Institute at the University of Texas at Dallas has established a HSK (Chinese Language Proficiency Test) site for Dallas-Fort Worth and its surrounding areas. The Chinese Proficiency Test (HSK), often dubbed “Chinese TOEFL,” is a series of tests administered by the Office of Chinese Language Council International in Beijing through its various approved testing sites all over the world. At present there are 161 test centers in 38 countries. UT Dallas’s new testing site is one of the most recent in the international testing system.
The tests are designed to assess the non-native speakers’ capabilities of applying Chinese language in study, life and work. Currently there are three levels: HSK (Basic), HSK (elementary-intermediate) and HSK (advanced) tests. The following is a brief account of the three tests:
A. HSK(Basic): It aims for beginners who have studied Modern Chinese for 100-800 hours and have mastered 400 to 3000 characters (commonly used characters of Group A and B) and grammar items (Group A and B).
B. HSK (Elementary-intermediate): It aims for elementary and intermediate learners who have studied Modern Chinese for 400-2000 hours and have mastered 2000 to 5000 characters (commonly used characters of A, B and C) and grammar items (Group A, B and C).
C. HSK (Advanced): It aims for those who have studied Modern Chinese for over 3000 hours and have mastered 5000 to 8000 characters (commonly used characters of Group A, B, C and D ) and grammar items (Group A, B, C and D) .
The UT Dallas’s testing site conducted its first testing service on December 7, 2008 at the School of Arts and Humanities. In 2009, Chinese Language Proficiency Tests (HSK) will be held on the campus of UT Dallas on April 18 and Nov. 8.
In 2009, besides HSK tests, the Confucius Institute at UT Dallas will offer new testing services: Business Chinese Test (BCT) for businessmen and Youth Chinese Test (YCT) for pupils of elementary school and secondary school.
The BCT tests are designed to assess the non-native speakers’ capabilities of applying Chinese language in life and business. Currently there are five levels:
A. Level 1: For learners who have not yet had the capability of using Chinese language in business activities.
B. Level 2: For learners who can use Chinese language to do basic communication in business activities.
C. Level 3: For learners who can use Chinese language to communicate fairly effectively in business activities.
D. Level 4: For learners who can use Chinese language to communicate fairly competently in business activities.
E. Level 5: For learners who can use Chinese language to communicate with ease and propriety in business activities.
The BCT tests will be held on the campus of UT Dallas on May 23 and Nov. 14.
The YCT tests are designed to assess Chinese language abilities of non-native speakers in elementary, middle, and high school. Currently there are three levels:
A. Level 1: For learners who have taken Elementary Chinese I
B. Level 2: For learners who have taken Elementary Chinese II
C. Level 3: For learners who have taken Elementary Chinese III
The YCT tests will be held on the campus of UT Dallas on May 23 and Nov. 21.
For more information on the Chinese Proficiency Tests, please contact:
Sharon Yang, Assistant Director,
The Confucius Institute
Email: Xiaohong.yang@utdallas.edu
Ph: 972-883-4860