| | Beginning Level of HSK (HSK Basic)
Updated: 2006-04-29 14:54
An Introduction to HSK
Beginning Level of HSK (HSK Basic)
About HSK Elementary-Intermediate
About HSK Advanced
Issuing of the HSK certificate and period of validity of the
certificate
Taking HSK
HSK Basic is a standardized test designed for
beginners. It is most appropriate for those who have acquired 400 - 3000 basic
Chinese words (referring to level A and B in the Outline of HSK Vocabulary ) and
the corresponding rules of grammar ( referring to level A and B In the Outline
of ASK Grammar).
1. Function of the Certificate of HSK
Basic:
The Certificate of HSK Basic includes three levels, i. e.
level A, B and C. ( Level A is the highest, equivalent to level C of the
Certificate of HSK Elementary- Intermediate. ) The certificates will be awarded
to those who have secured the required scores. The certificate of HSK Basic
serves.
(1) as a requirement to enter a college or university in China as
an undergraduate student in the field of science, engineering, agriculture and
Western medicine (Level A only).
(2) to exempt students from taking certain
language courses in China.
(3) as a reference for hiring decisions for
positions requiring basic competence in Chinese.
2. HSK Basic
scoring system:
(1) A subscore of HSK Basic is a scale score
ranging from 0 to 100 with 50 as the mean and 20 as the standard deviation. The
total score, which is the Sum of scale scores for subscotes, is a scale score
ranging from 0 to 300. The scale subscores show the relative position of a
candidate in a standard HSK Basic sample group. Table l, 1 gives the percentile
of scale subscores. The second row indicates the percentage occupied by those
whose scores are lower than the corresponding scores in the standard HSK Basic
reference group.
| Subscore |
100 |
76 |
67 |
60 |
55 |
50 |
45 |
40 |
33 |
24 |
| Percentage |
100 |
90 |
80 |
70 |
60 |
50 |
40 |
30 |
20 |
10 |
Table 1.1 Percentile of subscores of HSK Basic
(2) The type and grade
of HSK Basic is based on the total score. Table 1. 2 explains the type and grade
of the certificate.
| Types and Grade |
|
Grade
Level |
Score
Range |
|
C |
Level1 |
100-154 |
| Basic Level |
B |
Level2 |
155-209 |
|
A |
Level3 |
210-300 |
Table 1.2
HSK Types and Grades of the Basic Certificate
3. Description of
the level scoring system of HSK Basic:
HSK Basic has three score
levels ranging from 1 to 3:
Level 1 -- Has basic competence (Low) In
Chinese. Able to handle simple, elementary needs in very familiar situations.
Any person having mastery of 600 Chinese words and certain rules of grammar can
reach this standard which is also the standard for obtaining the certificate of
HSK Basic Grade C.
Level 2 -- Has basic ( Mid ) in Chinese. Able to satisfy
Partially the requirements of basic communicative exchanges. Level 2 is the
standard for obtaining the certificate of HSK Basic Grade B.
Level 3
-- The minimum level in Chinese proficiency for a candidate to Level 3 has
basic competence (High) in Chinese. Level be admitted to a college or university
in China as an undergraduate student in the field of science, engineering,
agriculture and Western medicine as well as the standard for obtaining the
certificate of HSK Basic Grade A, which is equivalent to Grade C of HSK
Elementary.
4. Components and test length of HSK Basic:
HSK Basic is a 140-item, 135-minute test. HSK Basic is divided into
three subtests: listening, sentence structure and reading. All items are
multiple choice. During the time allowed for each section, examinees must work
on that section only and are not permitted to work beyond the time limit for the
section. Examinees are also not permitted go back to an earlier section. The
test is taken in this order:
| First Section |
Listening |
50 items |
35 minutes |
| Second Section |
Sentence Structure |
40 items |
40 minutes |
| Third Section |
Reading |
50 items |
60 minutes
| | |
