Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language

Introduction

The Steering Committee for the Test Of Proficiency-Huayu (SC-TOP) was established in November 2005 under the direction of the Ministry of Education of R.O.C. Originally called the Chinese Language Testing Center and renamed in January, 2007, the Committee aims to develop and promote an effective Chinese assessment system, mainly the Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language (TOCFL), for Chinese learners worldwide to assess their Chinese proficiency.

The SC-TOP has the following major missions:

To design and plan the test contents of TOCFL & CCCC

To build test item pools for TOCFL & CCCC

To develop computer-based Chinese proficiency test systems

To promote Taiwan’s Chinese proficiency tests for nonnative speakers of Chinese

To increase exchange among Chinese proficiency test organizations worldwide

TOCFL

The Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language (TOCFL) is a standardized language proficiency test developed for non-native speakers of Chinese. It is the result of a joint project of the Mandarin Training Center, the Graduate Institute of Teaching Chinese as a Second Language, and the Psychological Testing Center of National Taiwan Normal University. The research project started in August 2001, and the tests started to be conducted in 2003. So far, it has served test takers from over 60 countries. The new version of TOCFL is developed since 2008, to become available in 2013.

The new version of the TOCFL has three proficiency bands: Band A, Band B, and Band C. Each of the bands has two levels. Therefore, there are a total of six levels: Levels 1 to 6. The items on the test of each level are 50 multiple choice items, to be answered in 60 minutes. Test takers can choose the test levels best suited to them based on their Chinese language proficiency and learning background. The former version (until 2013) had five levels only.

Why TOCFL

TOCFL test takers who reach the level requirements will receive a certificate. The certificate can serve as a Chinese proficiency credential for:

Applying for the “Taiwan Scholarship.”

Applying for academic programs at colleges or universities in Taiwan.

Serving as a reference of Chinese subject for University Entrance Committee for Overseas Chinese Students.

Serving as a job-required proof of Chinese language proficiency.

Currently a lot of undergraduate and graduate programs in Taiwan adopt the certificate of TOCFL as the requirement for admission or as the evaluation of applicant’s Chinese proficiency. In addition, many international businesses in Taiwan, such as LG, adopt TOCFL as reference for their employee dispatch programs. Several overseas companies also refer to candidates’ TOCFL certificates when recruiting.

TOCFL Test-takers

TOCFL is a foreign language proficiency test for non-native speakers of Mandarin Chinese. Those who wish to know their level of Chinese proficiency, and those who want to study, work, or do business in Chinese-speaking countries or contexts are welcome to register for the test. The following table sets out the suggested learning hours of Mandarin Chinese, and suggested vocabulary base at each test level.

Please note: 1. The suggested number of course hours learning Mandarin Chinese required by overseas test-takers may need to be doubled. For example, the table indicates that Level 2 test-takers who take Mandarin Chinese courses in a Chinese-speaking country need to have completed 240–360 course hours. People taking courses in countries where other languages are spoken generally require 480–720 hours. 2. The suggested vocabulary list for each level can be found online at http://www.sc-top.org.tw/english/download.php

Comparison with HSK

Both HSK and TOCFL exist out of six levels, and claim that these levels are equivalent to the six CEFR levels. Nevertheless, the number of words or characters required differs.

Test Format

TOCFL tests four language skills: Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing.

TOCFL: Listening

The TOCFL Listening-Band A has four sections: Picture Description, Single-round Dialogue (questions with picture options), Multiple-round Dialogue (questions with picture options), and Dialogue (questions with text options). There are 50 multiple-choice questions in total. The entire test takes approximately 60 minutes. The TOCFL Listening-Band B and Band C: Each has two sections: Dialogue and Monologue. There are 50 multiple-choice questions with text options. The entire test takes approximately 60 minutes.

TOCFL: Reading

The TOCFL Reading - Band A has five sections: Sentence Comprehension, Picture Description, Gap Filling, Paragraph Completion, and Reading Comprehension. There are 45 multiple-choice questions, and 5 matching questions. The entire test takes 60 minutes. The TOCFL Reading - Bands B and C: Each has two sections: Gap Filling and Reading Comprehension. Each entire test consists of 50 multiple-choice questions, and takes 60 minutes.

TOCFL: Speaking

The TOCFL Speaking test adopts a holistic scoring approach, taking into account the content, fluency, and language skills of the test taker. The results are presented in the form of scale scores. The objective is mainly to assess the competence of the test takers to effectively accomplish the communication tasks verbally in different language contexts.

TOCFL: Writing

The TOCFL Writing test is an evaluation of the test-taker's ability to use written materials to effectively transmit information in particular contexts. The level-based grading system is based on the appropriateness and substance of the test-taker's responses to situational tasks, compositional structure and completeness, correct syntax, and the use of a suitably wide range of appropriate vocabulary.

Test Overseas

SC-TOP has been providing overseas test services since 2006. The test areas distribute as follows:

Africa — Burkina Faso

Asian Pacific — Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam

Central and South America — Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay

Europe — Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland

North America — Canada, United States

Out of these states, four recognize the Republic of China as the sole legitimate government of China: Burkina Faso in Africa, and Nicaragua, Panama and Paraguay in Central and South America.