If you wish to obtain a certificate of proficiency without enrolling in any of the
Chinese courses, we recommend that you take the placement exam at the
beginning of the Spring semester.
For the 2024-2025 academic year, the Chinese Language Program will offer
the Chinese Placement Test in two formats:
Registration Link: https://courseworks2.columbia.edu/enroll/J4KB34
Important Reminders:
Students who wish to receive a certificate must take the digital exam in person, otherwise they will not receive a certificate.
If you have a public (not international) high school or college diploma from Mainland China or Taiwan where Mandarin Chinese is the medium of instruction, you are exempt from taking the test. Please contact Dr. Wu Yanwen (yw4033@columbia.edu) with your diploma to obtain a language certificate that will exempt you from the 2-year foreign language requirement.
The placement test consists of three components: a multiple-choice section, a timed composition section (handwriting required), and a speaking section.
Please see the table below for the breakdown of the components of the Fall 2024 PLACEMENT EXAM:
The Placement test will consist of three components: a multiple-choice section, a timed composition portion, and a speaking portion.
Please see the table below for the breakdown of the components of the Fall 2024 PLACEMENT EXAM:
Here is what you need to do:
- After the online test is open for registration (Aug.20th-27th), register for the course using the link : https://courseworks2.columbia.edu/enroll/J4KB34
- Read the announcement on Courseworks and fill out the google form before August 29th.
- Look for “Modules” and click on it, then you will see the test.
- If you can’t see the test, please email Dr. Jiang (tj2342@columbia.edu).
If you are a graduate student from the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures, you will have to take the written test as everyone else online, but your oral and translation test will be with Dr. Lening Liu on August 30th (2p.m.) Please Email Lening Liu at ll172@columbia.edu for the zoom link.
Note: You don’t need to sign up for the oral testing sheet when you take the online test.
For those who wish to skip the Introduction to Classical Chinese and take the Readings in Classical Chinese directly please take the placement test with Prof. Liu. The test will be held at his office(Kent 626) at 3:00pm, August 29th, If this time is not convenient for you, please contact Prof. Lening Liu at ll172@columbia.edu and make an appointment with him.
For all the placement/proficiency test fees, please visit our Language Testing Fee Policies page.
Proficiency Test: Please visit the Placement/Proficiency Frequently Asked Questions below for a list of contacts.
Placement Test Results for Fall 2024
Placement results can be found at this link. They will be published before the first day of class at our earliest convenience. We will update the Test Result on Coursworks as well.
Update on Certifications of Language Proficiency (for fulfillment of language requirements):
Our program director, Dr. Wang, will send a list of test results to the deans or coordinators of each school, who will then share it internally with the appropriate administrators. No paper certificates will be issued.
SIPA: Tsuya Yee, ty2466@sipa.columbia.edu
CC and SEAS: Sarah Oldham, smo2127@columbia.edu
GS: The language test scores will be sent to the Dean of Students office. Please follow up with your regular academic advisor regarding your score.
Barnard : Wendy Garay, wgaray@barnard.edu
MARSEA: Lin King lin.king@columbia.edu
As we process over 400 test results annually, we regret that we are unable to provide results on an individual basis. If you are taking the test for language certification purposes, please contact the designated individual listed above for information regarding your test results.
If you have any other questions regarding your certificate, please contact Dr. Jiang at tj2342@columbia.edu.