Call for reform of English language assessments(2)

Chen Liqun, a 22-year-old graduate of Nanchang University in Jiangxi province, majoring in Chinese literature, took a national entrance examination for postgraduate students in January and scored 388 out of a possible 500 in the exam.

She thought it was a high score that would ensure her a place at the Communication University of China, where she hopes to go to graduate school. Unfortunately, she only scored 51 points on the English test. Students are usually required to get at least 55 points in that test.

"I don't know why every major should take the English exam," said Chen, "I think because I am applying for Chinese and am pursuing it as my future research orientation it is more worthwhile and valuable for me to spend time studying Chinese. It really let me down that I failed the exam because of the English test."

Yang, from Beijing Foreign Studies University, suggested giving some of the important tests, such as the gaokao English test and the College English Tests, more than once a year.

"That way, students would have more opportunities and choices, instead of their fate being decided by one test," said Yang.

Under the current system, most students take a two-day examination, which is the only assessment of their academic performance from 12 years of study. English, or another foreign language, is one of the test subjects.

The result will determine the students' future path. In 2012, about 9.15 million Chinese students took the gaokao.

Most Chinese senior high school students study hard for their once-in-a-lifetime test, but their counterparts in the United States can take the SAT, a crucial test for college admission in the US, as many times as they wish.

Song Demin, director of the Comprehensive Reform Department of the Ministry of Education, said China has been improving the testing system and the ministry is considering offering students the opportunity to take English tests more than once a year.

Although the central government has not enacted specific regulations, some regions and districts have implemented reforms. According to a recent report on Chinanews.com, Jiangsu province will introduce reforms in the National English Test this year.

In addition to taking the normal gaokao English test on June 8, students in the province will have an opportunity to take another English test. The higher score of the two tests will be the final scores for the students' gaokao English test.

Yu Minhong, a CPPCC National Committee member and president of New Oriental Group, said the national English testing system reform is bringing improvements.

"The reform should be conducted step by step. Everyone says the test puts too much pressure on students, but it also offers great opportunities for students from poor family backgrounds to change their fate. Recent years have seen the improvement of the testing standards, and I believe the standards will become increasingly objective and scientific as students are taught English skills, instead of simply being testing machines," said Yu.