Today's HSK

Hi xiaophil

I always wonder why some Chinese universities are called "xxxx NORMAL university" in English. Are there also "ABNORMAL universities" in the PRC?

哈哈! My Nana went to normal university in the US, but I think they just call it a teaching program now....

师范大学 shifan daxue (normal university) - as orangina 'normal' indicates a university training teachers. The term 'normal' started with the French but as orangina indicates the US used it (possibly no more). If good enough for the US it is good enough for China. As far as I know the term was never used in the British tradition; never used in Australia. In China you can do a range of courses as well as teaching. (My university must be abnormal.)

Didn't really answer your question: the 'normal' refers to modelling, a useful teaching method.

Exactly, in Nanjing for instance you have Nanjing University and Nanjing Normal University, the latter is "better" for students who want to become a teacher.

Not this one, but they have developed a new test that does include some sort of oral aspect.

Not this one, but they have developed a new test that does include some sort of oral aspect.

Yes, I have done it twice. The first time I had such an awful feeling I didn't even check my score. The second time was about a year and a half later. I got a level 6. I wouldn't be surprised if I got a lower score this time. I felt that I wasn't at my best, but really... I didn't feel good last time either, so who knows.

Wow that is a decent score! I hope you did well! What is the highest score you can have for the intermediate? I thought it was 6, but from your answer I guess that is not right :-).

When the exam started, I had difficulties filling out the form and forgot to write down the numbers. I thought OMG I cannot even fill out the answer sheet :-)

Out of curiosity, were there people in your group openly discussing results / cheating? I sat in the front row and there was a group (of maybe Chinese minorities) who did not even need the full time for the exam *sigh*, and they were passing on C's and D's etc. in a language that I do not understand. The teacher came up many times, started chatting with the guy, and this was very disturbing for me....After 1 or 2 times, in Europe they would have been gone....Must be China I guess, on the one hand they appear VERY strict, on the other, they do not bother....

The highest theoretical score is a 9 if I remember correctly. I just went to the official website, and it appears they have changed the website entirely. I can't find relevant information, so can't confirm that 9 is the highest, but I'm pretty sure that, 3 - 5 is elementary, and 6 - 9 being intermediate.

There wasn't major cheating in my class. Some guy was working ahead, and the monitor told him to stop. The head monitor did tell everyone to be quiet at the beginning and end of the exam. Almost nobody listened to her. After we all exited, I hung around outside to clear my head, and then when I saw the monitors come out, I heard them grumbling about all the talking. I think they need to learn to raise their voices. They are far too polite to people who are impolite. And as you said, they don't punish cheaters, so why should the examinees listen.

Chanelle, Xiaophil, I think the last time Xiaophil took it the system was still the old one. That is, they used to have many more levels, from 1 to 11. I see now the highest possible (indicating Mastery) is 6. The highest level in Intermediate used to be 8, then 高级 used to be 9 to 11 I think.

I think I'll take the HSK (for the second time) in October. Wasn't going to until I felt sure I had progressed significantly since the last time, but it's time I put the pressure on myself to focus a bit more on my studies.

You guys are really diligent. To be honest, even a bit of pressure discourages me from learning foreign languages, hehe.

I don't think I could take the test. I get too nervous.

Changye, yes, I understand your point of view! Difference is, I choose to have the pressure, if someone would force it upon me, would not work either :-).

Hkboy, true, the first time it might be a bit scary, but the more you do it...

I thought, just see what it is and then when you do it seriously, you are used to it already!

In summary, the old HSK format contained 11 levels total and the new format only contains 6 levels. They did away with the basic levels and speaking is introduced earlier in the test (at lower levels). I have not heard of anyone who has taken the new test even though it was supposed to take the place of the old one in 2006. I have attached links to the official HSK site and a wikipedia article that explains the two tests fairly clearly. Today, a test score is rather confusing and/or meaningless, without knowing which test was taken. Go for it and good luck to all.

RJ.