Youth Chinese Test (YCT), an international standardized test of Chinese language proficiency, assesses the primary and middle school students' abilities to use Chinese as a second language in their daily and academic lives. YCT is divided into writing and speaking tests, which are independent to each other. The writing testconsistsof four levels, namely, YCT (level I), YCT (level II), YCT (level III), and YCT (level IV). The speaking test consists of two levels, YCT Speaking (Primary Level) and YCT Speaking (Intermediate Level).
The YCT (Level I) assesses test takers’ ability in daily use of Chinese. Test takers who are able to pass the YCT (Level I) can understand and use some of the most common Chinese phrases and sentences and possess the ability to further their Chinese language studies.
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Test Target
The YCT (Level I) is intended for young students who have studied Chinese for three months, with 2-3 class hours per week. These students have mastered 80 commonly used words and related grammar patterns.
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Test Content
The YCT (Level I) test is made up of listening comprehension and reading comprehension sections and contains a total of 35 items. All the items on the test paper are displayed in pinyin.
Section
Number of Items
Duration
(Min)
I. Listening
Part I
5
20
About 10
Part II
5
Part III
5
Part IV
5
Filling out the answer sheet (Mark your answers for listening comprehension on Answer Sheet)
3
II. Reading
Part I
5
15
17
Part II
5
Part III
5
Total
/
35
About 30
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Test Duration
The duration of the test is 35 minutes (including 5 minutes in which the test takers fill in personal information).
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Results Certificate
The results of YCT are valid for a considerable period of time. Three results will be provided for the YCT (Level I), including listening, reading and the total. A score of 120 or more is considered a passing score.
Max Score
Your Score
Listening
100
Reading
100
Total
200
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Sample Test Paper
The YCT (Level II) assesses test takers’ ability in daily use of Chinese. It is the counterpart of the Level I of the Chinese Language Proficiency Scales for Speakers of Other Languages and the A1 Level of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEF). Test takers who are able to pass the YCT (Level II) can understand and use some simple Chinese phrases and sentences and cope with basic level communications.
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Test Target
The YCT (Level II) is intended for young students who have studied Chinese for a semester (half an academic year), with 2-3 class hours per week. These students have mastered 150 commonly used words and related grammar patterns.
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Test Content
The YCT (Level II) test is made up of listening comprehension and reading comprehension sections and contains a total of 40 items. All the items on the test paper are displayed in pinyin.
Section
Number of Items
Duration (Min)
I. Listening
Part I
5
20
About 15
Part II
5
Part III
5
Part IV
5
Filling out the answer sheet (Mark your answers for listening comprehension on Answer Sheet)
3
II. Reading
Part I
5
20
27
Part II
5
Part III
5
Part IV
5
Total
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40
About 45
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Test Duration
The test will last for a total of 50 minutes (including 5 minutes in which the test takers fill in personal information).
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Results Certificate
The results of YCT are valid for a considerable period of time. Three results will be provided for the YCT (Level II), including listening, reading and the total. A score of 120 or more is considered a passing score.
Max Score
Your Score
Listening
100
Reading
100
Total
200
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Sample Test Paper
The YCT (Level III) tests test takers’ ability in daily use of Chinese. It is the counterpart of the Level II of the Chinese Language Proficiency Scales for Speakers of Other Languages and the A2 Level of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). Test takers who are able to pass the YCT (Level III), having reached an excellent level in basic Chinese, can communicate on familiar daily topics in a simple manner.
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Test Target
The YCT (Level III) is intended for young students who have studied Chinese for two semesters (one academic year), with 2-3 class hours per week. These students have mastered 300 common words and related grammar patterns.
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Test Content
The YCT (Level III) test is made up of listening comprehension and reading comprehension sections and contains a total of 60 items. All the items on the test paper are provided displayed in pinyin.
Section
Number of Items
Duration (Min)
I. Listening
Part I
10
35
About 20
Part II
10
Part III
10
Part IV
5 Filling out the answer sheet (Mark your answers for listening comprehension on Answer Sheet)
5
II. Reading
Part I
5
25
30
Part II
5
Part III
5
Part IV
10
Total
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60
About 55
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Test Duration
The test will last for a total of 60 minutes (including 5 minutes in which the test takers fill in personal information).
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Results Certificate
The results of YCT are valid for a considerable period of time. Three results will be provided for the YCT (Level III), including listening, reading and the total. A score of 120 or more is considered a passing score.
Max Score
Your Score
Listening
100
Reading
100
Total
200
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Sample Test Paper
The YCT (Level IV) tests test takers’ ability in daily use of Chinese. It is the counterpart of the Level III of the Chinese Language Proficiency Scales for Speakers of Other Languages and the B1 Level of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). Test takers who are able to pass the YCT (Level IV) can communicate in Chinese at a basic level in their daily, academic and professional lives. When travelling in China, they can manage most forms of communication in Chinese.
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Test Target
The YCT (Level IV) is intended for young students who have studied Chinese for more than two semesters, with 2-3 class hours per week. These students have mastered 600 commonly used words and related grammar patterns.
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Test Content
The YCT (Level IV) test is made up of listening comprehension, reading comprehension and writing sections and contains a total of 80 items.
Section
Number of Items
Duration (Min)
I. Listening
Part I
10
40
About 30
Part II
10
Part III
10
Part IV
10
Filling out the answer sheet (Mark your answers for listening comprehension on Answer Sheet)
5
II. Reading
Part I
5
30
30
Part II
10
Part III
10
Part IV
5
III. Writing
Part I
5
10
15
Part II
5
Total
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80
About 80
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Test Duration
The test will last for a total of 85 minutes (including 5 minutes in which the test takers fill in personal information).
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Results Certificate
The results of YCT are valid for a considerable period of time. Four results will be provided for the YCT (Level IV), including listening, reading, writing and the total. A score of 180 or more is considered a passing score.
Max Score
Your Score
Listening
100
Reading
100
Writing
100
Total
300
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Sample Test Paper
The YCT Speaking Test (Primary Level) assesses test takers’ ability to expressing themselves orally in Chinese. It is the counterpart of the Level I and Level II of the Chinese Language Proficiency Scales for Speakers of Other Languages and the A Level of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). Test takers who are able to pass the YCT Speaking Test (Primary Level) can understand and use familiar everyday expressions that meet specific needs for communication.
- Test Target
The YCT (Primary Level) is intended for young students who have studied Chinese for 1-2 semesters, with 2-3 class hours per week. These students have mastered 200 commonly used words and related grammar patterns. -
Test Content
The YCT Speaking Test (Primary Level) is made up of three parts and contains a total of 25 items.
Section
Number of Items
Duration (Min)
Part I
Listen and Repeat
15
6
Part II
Listen and Reply
5
2
Part III
Describe Pictures
5
4
Total
25
12
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Test Duration
The test will last for a total of 19 minutes (including 7 minutes for preparation).
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Results Certificate
The maximum score of the YCT Speaking Test (Primary Level) is 100. A score of 60 or higher is considered a passing score.
Max Score
Passing Score
Your Score
100
60
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Sample Test Paper
Sample test paper and references for YCT Speaking Test Primary Level
The YCT Speaking Test (Intermediate Level) assesses test takers’ ability to expressing themselves orally in Chinese. It is the counterpart of the Level III of the Chinese Language Proficiency Scales for Speakers of Other Languages and the B1 Level of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). Test takers who are able to pass the YCT Speaking Test (Intermediate Level) can understand simple spoken Chinese and engage in basic communication with native Chinese speakers.
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Test Target
The YCT (Intermediate Level) is intended for young students who have studied Chinese for more than two semesters, with 2-3 class hours per week. These students have mastered 400 commonly used words and related grammar patterns.
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Test Content
The YCT Speaking Test (Intermediate Level) is made up of three parts and contains a total of 14 items.
Section
Number of Items
Duration (Min)
Part I
Listen and Repeat
10
5
Part II
Describe Pictures
2
3
Part III
Answer the Questions
2
3
Total
14
11
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Test Duration
The test will last a total of 21minutes (including 10 minutes for preparation).
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Results Certificate
The maximum score of the YCT Speaking Test (Intermediate Level) is 100. A score of 60 or higher is considered a passing score.
Max Score
Passing Score
Your Score
100
60
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Sample Test Paper
Sample test paper and references for YCT Speaking Test Intermediate Level