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China's HSK Language Test to be changed globally from July 1

China PlusPublished: 2021-04-07 16:45:46
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HSK refers to the Hànyǔ Shuǐpíng Kǎoshì(汉语水平考试), an official Chinese proficiency test used in international Chinese language education. Starting July 1, a new HSK standard will replace (替代 tìdài) the previous six-level model.

Issued by the Ministry of Education and the State Language Commission, a nine-level proficiency standard will be implemented (实施 shíshī) globally for international learners.

Students learn Chinese on Confucius Day in Finland, in 2018. [File Photo: China Plus]

It will evaluate (评估 pínggū) their Chinese language skills and levels in an all-around way to meet the expanding demand for Chinese language learning.

The standard classifies the Chinese proficiency of international learners into three stages and nine levels, using four basic elements of the Chinese language: syllables (音节 yīnjié), characters (汉字 hànzì), vocabulary (词汇 cíhuì), and grammar (语法 yǔfǎ). These can be used to assess the learners' abilities, including their skills in listening (听 tīng), speaking (说 shuō), reading (读 dú), writing (写 xiě), translating (翻译 fānyì), and interpreting (口译 kǒuyì).

Each grade has specific requirements for the number (数量 shùliàng) of syllables, characters, vocabulary, and grammar the learner should grasp, as well as requirements for their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.

For the lowest grade one, learners should master 269 syllables,300 characters, a 500-word vocabulary, and 48 grammar points. They should also be able to understand (理解 lǐjiě) an 80-character conversation, know basic oral expressions, read 100-character material, and write 100 characters.

For the highest grade nine, learners should know (掌握 zhǎngwò)1,110 syllables,3,000 characters, have a 11,092-word vocabulary, and 572 grammar points. They should also understand 800-character materials at a normal or relatively fast speed, have accurate pronunciation, read 240 characters per minute, write all kinds of essays, including dissertations, and be capable of professional translating and interpreting.

The standard applies to learning, teaching, testing, and evaluation in international Chinese language education and provides a normative reference for all kinds of schools, institutions, and enterprises, the ministry said.

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