Chinese with Listening

SAT Subject Test in Chinese with Listening Practice

Register Next Tests:
3/13 , 5/1

Introduction

Offered only in November at designated test centers. This test evaluates your ability to understand spoken and written Mandarin Chinese in the context of contemporary Chinese culture.

Practice Questions

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Test Basics

Points		Minutes	Questions
200-800	Reading, listening, and usage subscores on the 20-to-80 scale.	60	85	Some test materials are taken from real-life sources.

Topics on the Test

Skills Measured
≈33%	Listening comprehension Based on short spoken dialogues and narratives, primarily about everyday topics.
≈33%	Usage Requires correct completion of sentences, printed in two writing systems (traditional Chinese characters and simplified Chinese characters), and two phonetic transcriptions (Pinyin romanization and the Chinese phonetic alphabet Bopomofo). You choose the one that you are most familiar with.
≈33%	Reading comprehension Tests understanding of main and supporting ideas, themes, and the setting of passages. All passages are printed in both traditional and simplified Chinese characters.

Skills Measured

≈33%

Listening comprehension

Based on short spoken dialogues and narratives, primarily about everyday topics.

≈33%

Usage

Requires correct completion of sentences, printed in two writing systems (traditional Chinese characters and simplified Chinese characters), and two phonetic transcriptions (Pinyin romanization and the Chinese phonetic alphabet Bopomofo). You choose the one that you are most familiar with.

≈33%

Reading comprehension

Tests understanding of main and supporting ideas, themes, and the setting of passages. All passages are printed in both traditional and simplified Chinese characters.

Anticipated Skills

Knowledge of spoken and written Mandarin Chinese in the context of contemporary Chinese culture.

Recommended Prep

Study of Chinese as a second or foreign language for two to four years in high school, or the equivalent
Gradual development of competence in the language over a period of years

When should you take the Chinese test?

There are a few factors to consider while you're deciding when to take the test. You should have at least two years of strong preparation in the language, but the more the better. So, if you're continuing in high school Chinese next semester/year, then wait to take the test. You should be in a Chinese class when you take the test. You're likely not to do as well if you take the test after you haven't been in a Chinese class for several months. For seniors studying Chinese: if Chinese is a strong subject for you, be sure it's one of the SAT Subject Tests you take in time for your colleges to see your score. If you're only taking it for placement purposes, and not as part of your application for admission, wait until you're as far along in your course as possible. If you want to take the Chinese with Listening test, remember that it's only given in November (don't forget to bring an acceptable CD player with earphones).