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The
Chinese Proficiency Test（HSK）
The HSK is the national standardized test of Chinese language
proficiency for speaker whose first language is not
Chinese. More than 100 HSK centers have been set up in 27
countries, and over 540,000 people have taken the test.
Chinese
proficiency certificates are issued by the State Committee for
the Chinese Proficiency Test of China in accordance with HSK
scores and are recognized as authentic Chinese proficiency
certificates in many countries all over the world. They are a
reference standard used by different types of enterprises,
organizations and educational institutions in recruiting
people for jobs for which Chinese language skills are
necessary.
Chinese
proficiency certificates are also evidence of the Chinese
language skills of foreign students applying for enrollment
into different types of school at various levels in China. The
National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language
offers scholarships for studying in China to foreign
candidates with excellent HSK scores.
1.
HSK
Levels and Whom They Are
The
HSK is divided into three levels: Beginners’ HSK, elementary
and intermediate HSK, and advanced HSK.
Beginners’
HSK
The
beginners’ HSK is appropriate for student of Chinese with a
basic knowledge of Chinese who have had 100-800 hours of
formal education in modern Chinese, have a basic vocabulary of
400-3,000 Chinese characters at the A and B levels, and
understand the corresponding Chinese grammar at the A and B
levels.
Elementary
and intermediate HSK
The
elementary and intermediate HSK is appropriate for student of
Chinese with a basic knowledge of Chinese who have had
400-2,000 hours of formal education in modern Chinese, have a
basic vocabulary of 2,000-5,000 Chinese characters at the A, B
and C levels, and understand the corresponding Chinese grammar
at the A, B and C levels.
The
Advanced HSK
The
advanced HSK is appropriate for student of Chinese with a
basic knowledge of Chinese who have had 3,000 hours of formal
education in modern Chinese, have a basic vocabulary of 5,000
Chinese characters at the A, B, C, and D levels, and
understand the corresponding Chinese grammar at the A, B and C
levels.
2.
Chinese proficiency certificates
Successful examinees
are issued a Chinese Proficiency Certificate for the
examination they took. There are three levels of certificates
for the beginners’ HSK, namely, the levels of C, B and A.
There are six levels of certificates for the elementary and
intermediate HSK, C, B and A for the elementary HSK and C, B
and A for the intermediate HSK. There are also six levels of
certificates for the advanced HSK, namely, the levels of C, B
and A. Within two months of the test, the HSK sponsor will
send by mail the Chinese proficiency certificates and score
reports to the HSK organizers. These organizers will forward
the certificates and score reports to the examinees. The
examinees may also collect their certificates and score
reports from the place where they registered.
3.
What Chinese proficiency certificates are good for
Chinese proficiency
certificates issued by the State Committee for the Chinese
proficiency Test of China are:
1)
Certificates certifying the possession of Chinese
language skills when applying for a job on the international
human resources market for which these skills are necessary;
2)
Certificates fulfilling admission requirements when
applying to different types of schools at various levels in
China;
3)
Certificates allowing their holders to be exempt from
Chinese courses at the corresponding level at educational
institutions;
4.
Terms of validity of Chinese proficiency certificates
Chinese
proficiency certificates are permanently valid. As a proof of
Chinese proficiency for foreign students applying for
enrollment into different types of schools at various levels
in China, HSK scores are valid for two years from the date of
examination;
5.
Content and duration of the HSK
1)
The content of the beginners’ HSK includes listening
comprehension, grammar, and reading comprehension. The test
lasts 135 minutes.
2)
The content of the elementary and intermediate HSK
includes listening comprehension, grammar, reading
comprehension, and filling in blanks. The test lasts 145
minutes.
3)
The content of advanced HSK includes listening
comprehension, reading comprehension, comprehension
expression, composition, and an oral examination. The test
lasts 155 minutes.
6.
HKS scholarships
In order to
encourage speakers whose first language are not Chinese to
take the HSK, the Ministry of Education of China and the
national Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language
offer HSK scholarships to foreigners with excellent HSK
scores. Foreigners who are awarded HKS scholarships are
invited to China for long- or short-term academic programs so
as to improve their understanding of the Chinese Languages and
China'’ glorious history and culture.
After the completion
of HSK every year, the State Committee for the Chinese
Proficiency Test of China will determine the number of
examinees to receive scholarships at each HSK center. The HSK
centers will recommend nominees for the scholarships on the
basis of their HSK scores. Examinees granted scholarships will
be invited to China for an academic program in the following
year. China will cover their tuition fees and accommodation
fees and five them stipends for living expenses during their
stay in China.
7.
How to apply the HSK
1)
The HSK is held on Nov. 2, 2003. You will find it
convenient to register for the HSK from Aug.18 to Nov.2;
2)
You can walk in HSK center to register in University of
Houston and before you stop by HSK center you need make an
appointment by phone. You will need two 2-inch bareheaded,
full-faced photos (40mm x 30mm) and show a valid
identification card with your photo on it, such as your
passport, driving license or residence permit. You will need
to fill out the registration form and pay the registration fee
and HSK fee by check or money order.
3)
You may register for the HSK by mail. You will need to
send to the center a copy of your passport, and you need fill
out the registration form and submit 2-inch bareheaded,
full-faced photos (40mm x 30mm). You will also need to remit
the necessary fees to the center by postal check or money
order.
4)
After the center processes your application for
registration, it will issue you the HSK Permit and the “HSK
Examinees’ Handbook”. The time and venue of the HSK will
be specified on the HSK Permit.
5)
Register fee is $10 and the Elementary HSK fee is $50,
the intermediate HSK fee is $60, and the advanced HSK fee is
$70. You will need to pay an HSK fee and registration fee,
both of which are nonrefundable. You can use check or money
order to pay the fees. The Check or the money order should be
made payable to University of Houston Asian American Studies
Center.
6)
You may pay $15 to buy “HSK outline”, the sample
HSK exam papers and relevant tapes for listening comprehension
are available from your HSK center.
Address: HSK Committee
Room
450/436, Farish Hall
Asian
American Studies Center
University
of Houston
Houston,
TX 77204
Jim B. Wu
Tel：
713-743-5041
Fax：
713-743-9836
Email: hsk20031101@yahoo.com
website：http://www.uh.edu/aasc
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