CHINESE COURSE LEVEL CHECK

Not sure what level you should start from? Use the level check description below as a guideline.

Beginner 1A

  • You have never studied Chinese before.

Beginner 1B

  • You have studied chapters 1 to 3 of New Practical Chinese Reader Book 1; or
  • You have studied Chinese for 20 hours (classroom-based) or 10 hours (1-on-1 lessons). You know about radicals, stroke order, pinyin, and the tones. You have learnt about greetings.

Beginner 2A

  • You have completed half of New Practical Chinese Reader Book 1; or
  • You have studied Chinese for 40 hours (classroom-based) or 20 hours (1-on-1 lessons). You know how to write basic Chinese characters up to 50 words.

Beginner 2B

  • You have studied chapters 7 to 9 of New Practical Chinese Reader Book 1; or
  • You have studied Chinese for 60 hours (classroom-based) or 30 hours (1-on-1 lessons). You have learnt about yes-no questions, possessive marker, and question marker.

Lower Intermediate 1A

  • You have completed New Practical Chinese Reader Book 1; or
  • You have studied Chinese for 80 hours (classroom-based) or 40 hours (1-on-1 lessons). You have mastered at least 100 Chinese characters. You can make simple conversation about family and shopping. You can comfortably read a simple paragraph written in Chinese without pinyin.

Lower Intermediate 1B

  • You have studied chapters 15 to 17 of New Practical Chinese Reader Book 2; or
  • You have studied Chinese for 100 hours (classroom-based) or 50 hours (1-on-1 lessons). You have learnt about reduplication of verbs, numerals, comparison, and the use of the word 把.

Lower Intermediate 2A

  • You have completed half of New Practical Chinese Reader Book 2; or
  • You have studied Chinese for 120 hours (classroom-based) or 60 hours (1-on-1 lessons). You have mastered about 150 Chinese characters.  You can talk about hobbies and daily activities, ask questions, and describe something. Test your reading skills for this level here.

Lower Intermediate 2B

  • You have studied chapters 21 to 23 of New Practical Chinese Reader Book 2; or
  • You have studied Chinese for 140 hours (classroom-based) or 70 hours (1-on-1 lessons). You have learnt about how to ask for reasons, locational words, action measure words, and contradictory statements.

Higher Intermediate

  • You have completed New Practical Chinese Reader Book 2; or
  • You have studied Chinese for 160 hours (classroom-based) or 80 hours (1-on-1 lessons). You know how to make suggestions, discuss plans, express your opinions, and give directions. Test your reading skills for this level here. Note: Higher Intermediate levels do not have to be taken in order as each level discusses different grammatical points and conversational topics that do not build from earlier lessons.

Advanced

  • You have completed New Practical Chinese Reader Book 3; or
  • You have studied Chinese for 200 hours (classroom-based) or 120 hours (1-on-1 lessons).
  • You are ready to build on your reading skills to read sector specific articles (employment, education, history, science, etc) and discuss your opinions verbally on various topics.
    Note: Advanced levels do not have to be taken in order as each level discusses different grammatical points and conversational topics that do not build from earlier lessons.