New-version Chinese Proficiency Test being accepted by universities
- Source: Global Times
- [10:19 July 19 2010]
- Comments
Ryan Baird is an American studying Chinese at East China Normal University who recently sat the old version HSK. He told the Global Times that he agrees the old-style HSK was more difficult for Westerners.
"In general, the Chinese literacy rate of my Korean and Japanese classmates is very high," Baird said. "Of course, some have excellent spoken skills, but the Westerners tend to get more involved in speaking in class.
"I think the old HSK test was based on passive skills," he continued. "It was terribly difficult to study for the old test, I had to memorize, memorize, memorize. I'd rather take the new test because it would be a batter gauge of my Chinese."
According to HSK.org.cn, the official website of the test, the period of validity for both old and new HSK certificates is permanent, while the accompanying test report is valid for two years after the test date as certification for entrance into a Chinese university.
The Ministry of Education said in its press release that there will be an overlap period where both the new HSK and old HSK test results are accepted, although it did not give further details.
