#tocfl

[helenstudies]

Born to fuck around, forced to learn scientific terminology in foreign languages.

[xiangqiankua]

holy shit guys, I surpassed my wildest dreams and passed TOCFL 5 (C1) 🎉🎉 I was not expecting it, I almost cried. Shortly beforehand I had run into my Japanese acquaintance who'd taken the morning session of the exam- she told me it was super hard and she ran out of time at the end, so I went into it feeling resigned to my fate and wondering if I'd even manage to score a 3. She was not wrong, there were some insanely difficult passages (the pros and cons of transistors vs vacuum tube technology? wtf?) and I also ran out of time and clicked a bunch of random answers for the last 4 reading passage questions (which I tried to speed read, but it was about how methods of protein absorption in the human body affect the effectiveness of certain beauty products (or at least that's what I gathered) so it didn't help much). However, apparently my listening score made up for it.

I took two CAT practice tests in the two days before and scored lower on the listening both times (and only got a 4/B2 overall), so I was fairly surprised that it was the opposite on the actual test (although I had managed to finish both the practice CATs with time to spare, so maybe that last reading passage really did me in, idk). I guess I shouldn't have been too surprised though, because I tended to score higher in listening on the old Band B tests too- I think seeing the timer count down on the reading part made me extra nervous, but with the listening one can only go as fast as the questions are read, so I didn't feel the same sense of pressure.

This was my first time ever taking a Chinese proficiency test- I took it mainly so I can apply for university programs taught in Mandarin, but it also feels really good to have some kind of solid evidence of the fruit of years of struggle. Not that I think it should be a requirement for anyone's self confidence, and to be sure it's also a test of how well someone can take tests (which was something I specifically practiced for a month in advance), but I had written repeatedly on student visa applications that my end goal of intensive classes was to pass Band C (or at least I thought that sounded convincing to immigration), so I feel extremely gratified that it's finally happened. (Also I really thought I was not going to pass it, and would have to torment myself with god knows how much more studying and exam-taking!)

[nonsansavoir]

For anyone studying for TOCFL band A, B or C.

I found some very useful vocabulary courses on Memrise language app. I like this app way better than anki tbh, as it actually focuses on prononciation.

TOCFL - Band A - Level 1 & 2

TOCFL Band B - level 3

TOCFL Band B - Level 4

TOCFL Band C Level 5

[linghxr]

Taking an HSK Level Estimate Test

Yesterday for fun, I took an HSK level test from hsklevel.com--I hope it is accurate because I am quite pleased with the results haha!

I will say that this test felt REALLY HARD. It shows you words/characters and you indicate whether you know the word or not. I felt like I was saying no to over half! But I guess it learned from my answers and was showing me more and more difficult words to find my “breaking point,” which is what my teachers have said a language assessment is supposed to do.

I actually took it twice. I got very similar results the second time, so I’m just going to show the scores from the first time.

I don’t really know how to assess if the 11,030 words is accurate, but it sounds like a lot so I am fine taking their word for it :) 

I wouldn’t say I’m at 90% comprehension for movies, social media, blogs, and literature...I’m guessing maybe the HSK words are sorted into categories, so it’s supposed to mean something like “you can understand 90% of literature written at an HSK 6 level.” Which isn’t quite as impressive. As it’s been said, HSK 6 only gets you halfway there. 

I will say it is definitely true in my experience that my news comprehension is lower. But I have some resources I’ve gathered that focus on news articles, so I know I can strengthen that skill later on.

This above is the HSK which is going to be phased out. I’ve estimated previously that I am in the HSK 6 zone because a fair number of new words I encounter are HSK 6 words (I think most are not in the HSK vocab list at all). So this feels pretty accurate to me!

I have been curious about how my ability maps onto the new/incoming HSK, so this is quite interesting to see. I know people reacted to the new levels with some disappointment that they might be bumped down in terms of the “number,” so I will admit I am pleased to see these results.

When I took the test a second time, it estimated my HSK 3.0 level as 6 instead, but the number of HSK 6 and 7-9 words it estimated I knew was not that much lower, so I guess I am somewhere around the cutoff. I’m happy either way.

I don’t know that much about TOCFL so I don’t really have anything to say. Does it correspond to CEFR levels?? It kinda looks like it might.

Now I am thinking I should look over the CEFR guides again...whenever I do look at them, I’m never sure if I’m under or overestimating myself, you know? I feel like it’s better to underestimate your ability and then surprise people, but also you wouldn’t want to miss out on opportunities due to this. And overestimating might push you to grow more.

Obviously this is just an estimate test, and even the real HSK test isn’t a perfect assessment of language abilities. But since the HSK is so commonly talked about as a metric, it can be useful in some contexts. I’ve never used HSK-oriented materials or done specific HSK prep, so I’ve never been sure where I would fall on the HSK scale.

[pai-seh]

Mandarin update #3

TOCFL is over and I didn’t pass the level I wanted (Level 5).

It’s fine though. I’m a bit disappointed but I did kind of expect it to go that way. I did study every day, but I still think I didn’t really prepare enough. I almost made Level 5 in the Reading part, but I missed it by two points, that does annoy me a bit. As for Listening, I honestly never expected to reach Level 5, haha. So Level 4 it is then. Also, we got a cute washi tape as a gift afterwards, that was sweet.

Oh well. My friend said to do the HSK instead because it’s easier. I will consider that if I need to impress future employers, but for now I don’t feel like doing more tests any time soon.

That being said, I did learn some things:

First of all, I’m proud of myself that I even signed up for it. I don’t really need the test result for anything, I just wanted to do the test before leaving Taiwan. Usually I bail out of uncomfortable or scary situations if they’re not mandatory, but this time I did it anyway, so yay me!

Before important tests, I usually stay up very late studying and study more in the morning and then rush to the test without eating, and usually I’m super stressed and on edge. This time my friend reminded me to stop studying, go to bed early, have breakfast, drink water. I did that and I arrived at the test rested and relaxed, a really good feeling! It really helped my concentration as well.

I used Quizlet for reviewing vocabulary and I think it’s awesome? I’ve never been a fan of flashcards, but this time they worked remarkably well for me. I think I’ll make more sets there now and use it for Japanese vocab as well.

I realized that if I just reviewed all the stuff I learned before but forgot again, my level would be much higher. I did focus more on certain topics and completely ignored others (I guess most people do), and that really bit me in the ass today.

I still don’t know how to improve my concentration during listening tests though. I drift off soooo easily and miss half the recording by spontaneously daydreaming.

Anyway! I’m happy it’s over and I have some free time again! I enjoy studying so much more without the pressure of a test looming over me. On to new (and old) vocab!

[helenstudies]

I love how people on education forums are like "these certifications mean nothing!!!1!!" about tests but like as a brown person from a 'third world country' you guys just simply do not understand that we're deemed quite worthless anywhere if we don't have the money and the certification. this isn't something we're able to avoid. at all. and to even get this worthless certification, I had to use 50% of my monthly salary. So while I'm glad that you think these things are worthless, maybe learn to just not say that to people who are not asking. I don't want to know if this test killed your real life friend by throwing questions at it or whatever. I just want to know how to pass this exam so that people who review my application will have one less reason to reject me. sit down if you cannot offer any help. seriously.

[helenstudies]

HSKLevel Test and Stuff

I checked my chinese vocabulary at hsklevel since I'm going to start preparing for TOCFL and I'm extremely pleased with the results! First of all, to make sure I can get a more accurate result but I took the test until I finished 150 words. I actually took it twice because my internet died the first time and I had to take it all over again!

I am so relieved to see the results becaue I do not want to fail the TOCFL exam since the next time it is avaiable, I might need to take my TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) and I need to get level 6 again so I cannot divide my attention between them.

Let's talk levels. Do I feel this is accurate for me? The answer is yes. I was preparing to take HSK 6 in december 8 before the scheduling mishap happened so I signed up for TOCFL Band C. I'm glad that I'm in the general vicinity of Band C because I barely have a month before the test.

I could guesstimate a lot of the words but I made sure when in doubt I choose "no" instead of "so-so" to not skew my results. The only words I didn't really know in the test are the military stuff and the scientific stuff. Also, republic of congo and the name of a chinese-japanese war threw me for a loop but other than that, I'm doing okay. I should read a lot more things, though. I'm working through Project Hail Mary and it's been tremendously helpful.

Other than that, I really like how the website breaks everything down.

Well, now that I know where I'm at, I will be going through vocabulary and grammar lists as well as practice tests. Wish me luck, y'all!

[helenstudies]

I signed up for TOCFL band c! (but only with simplified characters because I don't have a death wish!) the exam is on december 15th so wish me luck y'all! eeeeeeeeeeee