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[Xiao Kui]

I´m hoping to start a Master´s Program in Chinese in abt a year, after I kick pigu on the HSK. Ok, I´ve never even taken the HSK before, but I think I can get it by my 2nd try (why I´m giving myself a year.) cause I have abt 8 years of on and off Chinese study.

I got the following from the Yunnan Normal University website and I need some help understanding it:

"for those who want to work for a M. A., a B. A. is required. International students whose Chinese level reaches Band 3 of HSK can apply to be M.A. candidates in sciences and engineering, Band 4 can apply to be M. A. candidates in social sciences or liberal arts and Band 6 can apply to be M. A. candidates in Chinese language. Those who have no HSK certificate can register first and take the HSK Exam later. "

So I need to reach a level of Band 6 on the HSK to get into their Master´s program. Can someone elaborate? I thought the HSK was divided into Elementary/Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced. So what´s Band 6? Does that mean a score of 6 on the intermediate test or does that mean passing the advanced test?

And does it even matter since according to the last line "those who have no HSK certificate can register first and take the HSK Exam later". In that case maybe I´ll take it after I finish my Masters, at my leisure. haha. Anyway, if you can elaborate, please do. Thanks!

[roddy]

It is a little confusing. The Elementary / Intermediate exam will give you a band - 8,7,6,5,4 or you guessed it - 3. These correspond to an Intermediate A, B, C (this is your 6) and then an Elementary A, B, C.

I thought the HSK was divided into Elementary/Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced

Not last time I looked. Foundation (基础), Elem / Int (初中, the one you want to take) and Advanced (高)

[Xiao Kui]

Thanks, what a relief, that I have to take the Intermediate Test and not the scary Advanced. Might not need a year to study after all.

Do you use "band" to describe grades and levels in tests in the UK? I´m wondering why the Chinese use this word, is it legit, or one more reason the English majors in "Band" 6,8 etc. in the Chinese Universities shouldn´t trust their teachers?

[roddy]

I can't remember to be honest. What is a bit daft is that they have both the numerical bands and the letterical grades, plus having the elementary and intermediate exams is still daft. Did hear that they were going to be seperating them a while back, don't know if it's happening or not.

[gato]

The Brits apparently do bandy around the term "band." See this on their version of the TOEFL.

http://www.ielts.org/candidates/results/default.aspx

The IELTS (International English language Testing System) TRF includes:

* the candidate's scores, on a Band Scale from 1 to 9, for each module of the test

* the candidate's overall Band Score, on a scale from 1 to 9

Each Band corresponds to a descriptive statement giving a summary of the English competence of a candidate classified at that level. Overall Band Scores can be reported in either whole or half Bands.

The nine bands and their descriptive statements are as follows:

9 Expert User

Has fully operational command of the language: appropriate, accurate and fluent with complete understanding.

8 Very Good User

Has fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriacies. Misunderstandings may occur in unfamiliar situations. Handles complex detailed argumentation well....

[Xiao Kui]

Thanks gato. Since the Chinese and Brits are not aBANDoning the term anytime soon, I guess we Americans should jump on the BANDwagon and adopt it as well. Well I´ll quit before I´m BAND from the forum for excessive punning.