Chinese Language Program Placement Test

Please register here

Chinese Language Placement Test for Fall 2019 (registration required)

Date: Thursday, August 29, 2019
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Place: TBD

Placement Results: Placement test results will be posted on the website and on the wall outside of 508 Kent Hall after 5:00 p.m. on the day of the exam.

Classical Chinese Placement Test

Placement tests for Classical Chinese classes are held on the Friday of the first week of classes, at 10 a.m. At the office of Director of the Chinese Language Program, Professor Lening Liu (626 Kent).

FAQ

For questions related to Chinese Program, please click here.

Who should take the placement test?

You should take the test if any one of the following applies to you:

  • You are required to meet the language requirement (two-year, three-year, or more)specified by your own department or school.
  • You know some Chinese (e.g. you studied Chinese elsewhere before, or you are from a Chinese family background) and wish to take a Columbia Chinese course other than the elementary level.
  • You haven’t taken any Chinese classes at Columbia University for over a year and wish to pick it up again.
  • You had taken a Chinese placement test one year ago and now you wish to take a Chinese course at Columbia.
  • You took a Chinese course at Columbia and received a C or lower for your final grade in the first semester of that course; or C+ or lower for your second semester of that course. In other words, you have to get a C+ or better for the first semester in a Chinese course at Columbia in order to continue the course in the second semester. In order to enter the next level, you must get a B- or better. If your grade is lower than required, you need to pass the placement test to be able to continue your study.
Who should NOT take the placement test?

Do not take the test if any one of the following applies to you:

  • You wish to take the elementary Chinese courses.
  • You cannot read Chinese.
  • You are a PhD student from Teachers College who would like to take a proficiency exam to fulfill their degree requirement.
  • If you have a public (not international) high school or college diploma from mainland China or Taiwan where Mandarin Chinese is the official language, you do not need to take the test. Please contact Jiang Laoshi (tj2342@columbia.edu) with your diploma to receive the language certificate, which will exempt you from the 2-year foreign language requirement.

Note: Students from Teachers College please contact Hu Laoshi at lh2318@columbia.edu.

How can I make up the test if I have missed it?

If you wish to take a Chinese course for the current semester but have missed the placement test during the registration week, you can take the make-up test that will be held on the Friday of the first week of classes from 10am to 1pm. (Before taking the make-up test, you should tentatively sit in on a class that approximates your current level. In so doing, you can try to avoid falling behind the curriculum once you begin attending the class you are formally assigned to.) For those who wish to get a certificate for language proficiency, please see the FAQ-Certification. If you have any questions regarding certificate, please contact Hu Laoshi (lh2318@columbia.edu, Room 508 Kent).

When and where is the test held?

A. Usually it is scheduled for 10:00 am-1:00 pm on the Thursday of the registration week for the Fall semester, and on the Friday for the Spring semester. The place for the test is usually at Room 413 Kent Hall but please check our website for updates. Please be sure to arrive in the room 10 minutes early. If you are late, you will miss part of the test!

Date

Fall semester

  1. Thursday prior to the first day of the fall semester
  2. Make-up test: on the Friday of the first week

Spring semester

  1. Friday prior to the first day of the spring semester
  2. Make-up test: on the Friday of the first week
Do I need to sign up for taking the test?

Yes, you need to register for the test. Please click here to do so.

Which character form is used in the test?

Both traditional and simplified forms are available in the same packet. You may choose the one you prefer, but be consistent throughout the test.

Is there a way that I can prepare for the test?

The test is not based on any currently used textbook or course materials. The best way to prepare, perhaps, is to review the textbooks you have used before.

What is the format of the test?

The test consists of the following:

1. Directions for the Test. This is conducted in the beginning at 10:00 am. The information sheet and the test papers will be distributed to each student. Directions will be given.

2. Timed Writing (30 minutes). You are expected to write a narrative story in Chinese characters based on the pictures provided. When the time is up your writing will be collected even if it is unfinished. Try to write as much as you can and use as many expressions and vocabulary as appropriate in order for us to better asses your vocabulary range and proficiency level. For words that you cannot write in Chinese characters, you can use Pinyin.

3. Listening Comprehension (approx. 20 minutes). Multiple-choice type questions. You are expected to choose the appropriate answer, after you hear a sentence, a short dialog or a short passage, and mark the corresponding number on the answer sheet. During this test, you should skip the items that are beyond your level, rather than randomly guess the answers.

4. Written Test (grammar, vocabulary and reading comprehension). Multiple-choice type questions. You are expected to mark your choice of answer on the answer sheet. During this test, you should also skip the items that are beyond your level, rather than randomly guess the answers.

5. Oral Test: It will take about five minutes and will be held after you finish the written parts.

When will the test results be available?

Results will be posted outside 508 Kent after 4 p.m. on the same day. Students who take the test for certification purposes should pick up their certificates within TWO weeks from the date of the exam. See the contact info. above for the office location and phone number.

Please read the FAQ carefully, if you have any additional questions, please contact Lingjun Hu: lh2318@columbia.edu.