TOCFL (Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language), Taiwan's HSK

[Elliott Jones]

The Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language (TOCFL) is Taiwan's standardized test of proficiency in Standard Chinese for non-native speakers.

It is administered by the Steering Committee for the Test Of Proficiency-Huayu (SC-TOP). The test was formerly known as the TOP or Test Of Proficiency-Huayu.

 

There are three TOCFL tests:

• Listening & Reading
• Speaking
• Writing

Each test has six levels that can be awarded, that correspond quite well with the CEFR framework.

 

Below is a comparrison I made to CEFR, HSK 3.0 and HSK 2.0, based on cumulative vocabulary size of each level.

 

 

I took the TOCFL CAT exam for the first time on April 13th. I posted my full experience on my blog.

 

[Elliott Jones]

I took the TOCFL Listening & Reading exam again today, and this time got a higher level on the listening part.

 

I posted my full experience on my blog.

[DCTZ]

 

I took the TOCFL CAT yesterday for the first time and was surprised that the reading section still hadn't finished at question 37. I only had one minute left for this question which was not enough time for me to confirm my answer and thus I left it blank for the test to time out.

 

I do know the max number of questions is 40 but wasnt sure whether guessing and answering wrong in the final few minutes/seconds would have any negative impact on my score as opposed to not answering at all as I did.

 

I have the suspicion now that wrong answers wont result in lower scores, just that the next questions would be easier and thus the potential final score lower - but this would be irrelevant when you only have one minute left!

 

Anyone have any insight on this? Would like to be more prepared for next time if this happens again.

[Elliott Jones]

On 7/21/2024 at 9:50 AM, DCTZ said:

Anyone have any insight on this? Would like to be more prepared for next time if this happens again.

 

The number of questions on the CAT exam is different for every test taker as it depends on your answers the previous questions.

I believe that the exam ends when the CAT algorithm is able to decide on a grade for you.

[Elliott Jones]

Last month I took the TOCFL Speaking Band B exam for the first time, and got the results a couple days ago.

 

 

I posted my full experience on my blog.