How does HSK compare with other proficiency tests

[Scoobyqueen]

Having just reviewed the Spanish proficiency test called DELE I was a bit taken a back at how easy that exam appears (at all the levels) when compared to the HSK one. I was struck by how much time candidates were given to read text and how much shorter the texts were.

Now I am wondering if other language proficiency tests are also easier. Does anyone have any experience or other examples?

It would be easier if proficiency test adhered to standards across languages so that terms like "fluency" "reading ability" could be labeled in a uniform fashion. But alas that would be a futuristic notion and by the time, we (or they) would probably all just speak Chinese and English - fluently.

[roddy]

It would be easier if proficiency test adhered to standards across languages so that terms like "fluency" "reading ability" could be labeled in a uniform fashion. But alas that would be a futuristic notion and by the time, we (or they) would probably all just speak Chinese and English - fluently.

I present to you the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment, from the Council of Europe. I'm not sure what exactly this aims to do, but I came across it in my language teaching days and sprung to mind when you mentioned standards across languages. Obviously it's not going to cover Chinese, but you could perhaps have a look through whatever is there and see how you can relate it to the HSK.