Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) - Mandarin "TOEFL"

[currymee]

This is FYI only.

Something for parents whose children are not taking the UPSR/PT3/SPM Mandarin route. This may be an alternative.

MCA Ministers in MOE and DZ equate SPM Mandarin to be equivalent to HSK Level 6.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanyu_Shuiping_Kaoshi

Extract description from Wikipedia:

The Hànyǔ Shuǐpíng Kǎoshì (HSK) (Chinese: 汉语水平考试), translated as the Chinese Proficiency Test[1] or the Chinese Standard Exam, is China's only standardized test of Standard Chinese language proficiency for non-native speakers such as foreign students and overseas Chinese. It is not uncommon to refer to a standard or level of proficiency by the HSK level number, or score. For example, a job description might ask for foreign applicants with "HSK5 or better." The test is administered by Hanban, an agency of the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China.


Good resource website: http://www.hsk.academy/

[opulant]

Something for parents whose children are not taking the UPSR/PT3/SPM Mandarin route. This may be an alternative...

Maybe the reading and listening part, the writting part is tough to learn after primary school..

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanyu_Shuiping_Kaoshi

MCA Ministers in MOE and DZ equate SPM Mandarin to be equivalent to HSK Level 6.

Based on the level descriptions of test , I thnk SPM Mandarin is beyond level 6.

[currymee]

Have a look at the sample exam paper for HSK 6. I was informed that it is equivalent or higher in terms of depth of command but different exam format. HSK6 is the requirement to enter Beijing University (BeiTa) and Tsinghua.

http://www.hsk.academy/static/pdfs/HSK6.pdf

The exam audio file is available in the same website under Practice Test: http://www.hsk.academy/en/hsk_6

[opulant]

Have a look at the sample exam paper for HSK 6. I was informed that it is equivalent or higher in terms of depth of command but different exam format. HSK6 is the requirement to enter Beijing University (BeiTa) and Tsinghua.

http://www.hsk.academy/static/pdfs/HSK6.pdf

Part 1 (listening)
Can't comment unless I listen to the questions

Part 2 (reading)
Easy

Part 3 (writing)
Question 71-75 (fill in the blank with own words) and question 101 (essay summary) are tough and answers can be very subjective especially for question 71-75. Other questions are average, not difficult. Those who can score A in SPM can ace this level 6 writing test.

I didn't come from Chinese independent school, not sure about the standard of their Mandarin exam but I believe is tougher than SPM Mandarin.

[currymee]

The Chinese Education associations in Malaysia is lobbying the PRC MOE (Hanban) for SPM Mandarin to be ranked equivalent to HSK6. I think PRC has agreed recently. Thus, by logical inferences, HSK4 will then be equivalent to HSK4 and PT3 is be equivalent to HSK5 as the two intermediate major steps.

[currymee]

The Chinese Education associations in Malaysia is lobbying the PRC MOE (Hanban) for SPM Mandarin to be ranked equivalent to HSK6. I think PRC has agreed recently. Thus, by logical inferences, HSK4 will then be equivalent to HSK4 and PT3 is be equivalent to HSK5 as the two intermediate major steps.

Hahahah ... typo ... UPSR Mandarin will then be equivalent to HSK4

[opulant]

Have a look at the sample exam paper for HSK 6. I was informed that it is equivalent or higher in terms of depth of command but different exam format.

http://www.hsk.academy/static/pdfs/HSK6.pdf

The exam audio file is available in the same website under Practice Test: http://www.hsk.academy/en/hsk_6

We spent some time on the sample exams from Level 4 to Level 6. If I can compare the HSK exam standard with Lick Hung ...

- Standard 4 students who have good results in BC exams can ace the HSK Level 4. They can get above average scores in Level 5.

- Those who get A in UPSR Chinese exam can get above average scores in Level 6.

[currymee]

These are my opinions.

HSK is interesting for me as I am considering this route for my children in learning and mastering Mandarin.

It is well designed and systematically structured with global recognition. The children can take the exams as and when they are ready with options to retake if they did not do well enough, just like TOEFL. These are the advantages that I can see compared to the current school-based and time-limiting (cramming) SJKC/SMJK/UEC Mandarin curriculum.

It is just another of the multiple options and routes which the rest of the world is taking in learning Mandarin.

[opulant]

Part 1 (listening)
Can't comment unless I listen to the questions.

..The exam audio file is available in the same website under Practice Test: http://www.hsk.academy/en/hsk_6

Ok.. I listend to the exam questions.

The questions are easy to me .... but I am not sure whether the listening test is easy to a 17/18 years old student.

We (malaysian chinese) actually are very weak in listening and talking due to the "rojak language" environment ...

[currymee]

Here is the article ... http://www.thestar.com.my/news/natio...ults-says-wee/

[opulant]

Sad to see they are a big bunch of fuxx-up fellas on the subject of Chinese school education.

Some of these assshxxx implement dual-track system in Chinese independent schools, i.e. UEC syllabus and SPM syllabus concurrently and it is NOT optional. The poor students have to study everything in mandarin in UEC syllabus and then everything in bm in SPM syllabus and sit for two exams !! What kind of fxxking idiots think this is a good idea to pave the so-called “foundation” for the poor students..??

It is not surprised to see students ended up neither here nor there – average in mandarin, weak in bm and screw-up in english !! Sure, they are rare exceptions who can master two syllabi and at the same time also proficient in English but how many of them ?? I doubt is more than 5% of the overall students ??

Of course, these neither-here-nor there students can still further their tertiary education in private universities (local and abroad) and some can still apply for local universities with their SPM results but with such hps qualifications, what choices of degree course that they are eligible to apply ?? Most ended up pursuing a general degree or boutique course with low entry requirements.

[opulant]

....It is not surprised to see students ended up neither here nor there – average in mandarin, weak in bm and screw-up in english !! Sure, they are rare exceptions who can master two syllabi and at the same time also proficient in English but how many of them ?? I doubt is more than 5% of the overall students ??

Of course, these neither-here-nor there students can still further their tertiary education in private universities (local and abroad) and some can still apply for local universities with their SPM results but with such hps qualifications, what choices of degree course that they are eligible to apply ?? Most ended up pursuing a general degree or boutique course with low entry requirements.

These students actually are hard-working and have all the right attributes to become capable students if they have the opportunity to focus only on one UEC syllabus.

With good results from UEC exam and if they are able to fulfill the requirements of English language proficiency by renowned universities like NUS in Singapore or other good universities, they don’t need to waste their time in low-ranking university just to get a general degree.. !!

[currymee]

Sad to see they are a big bunch of fuxx-up fellas on the subject of Chinese school education.

Some of these assshxxx implement dual-track system in Chinese independent schools, i.e. UEC syllabus and SPM syllabus concurrently and it is NOT optional. The poor students have to study everything in mandarin in UEC syllabus and then everything in bm in SPM syllabus and sit for two exams !! What kind of fxxking idiots think this is a good idea to pave the so-called “foundation” for the poor students..??

It is not surprised to see students ended up neither here nor there – average in mandarin, weak in bm and screw-up in english !! Sure, they are rare exceptions who can master two syllabi and at the same time also proficient in English but how many of them ?? I doubt is more than 5% of the overall students ??

Of course, these neither-here-nor there students can still further their tertiary education in private universities (local and abroad) and some can still apply for local universities with their SPM results but with such hps qualifications, what choices of degree course that they are eligible to apply ?? Most ended up pursuing a general degree or boutique course with low entry requirements.

Too greedy and too kiasu ... everything they want ... I heard some Du Zhong already started offering IGCSE Sciences and Maths .... on top of UEC and SPM.

My nephew in Du Zhong, I told him to just focus on UEC and IGCSE, forget SPM since his future path in his family business will be non-Malaysian Government related.

[opulant]

These are my opinions.
It is well designed and systematically structured with global recognition. The children can take the exams as and when they are ready with options to retake if they did not do well enough, just like TOEFL. These are the advantages that I can see compared to the current school-based and time-limiting (cramming) SJKC/SMJK/UEC Mandarin curriculum.
.

I can't see the logic.

Learning language is a continuous process. That's why the SJKC/SMJK/UEC cramp the curruculum content at different age groups to build the level foundation before advancing to next level. Once the students are in Form 5 or other equivalent final year of secondary school, they are ready for the exam.

For a student (full time student), you can't learn Mandarin and sit for Mandarin exam as and when you are ready. The level achievement can't be satisfactory..

[currymee]

When I refer to "as and when you are ready" ... in this case it means the child is "out of the normal schooling pace" for learning and mastering Mandarin, for example, if a child whose Mandarin is average and make need to add an extra one or two years to brush up in terms of more reading or practice, they can afford to do so under HSK as it is not "time-based" . Of course, it is given that you are continuously learning Mandarin. The key point here is that HSK certifies your proficiency for the global market workplace and university entrance. It is not as an academic language subject.