Purpose: 

  • The Chinese Proficiency Exam is administered to students seeking to have their foreign language requirement waived. It is not a placement test. 

Administration: 

  • The exam is offered once every semester with no make-up tests available. 
  • Only admitted UC Berkeley students are eligible to take the test. It is not available to UCB applicants or non-UCB students. 

Spring 2024 Exam Details: 

  • Date: Friday, August 23, 2024 
  • Time: 3-5pm 
  • Pre-registration: Required. Please complete this Registration Form. 

Exam Day Instructions: 

  • Arrive on time. 
  • Bring or show your student ID. 

Contact Information: 

Exam Format: 

  • The exam includes two forms: one using traditional characters and one using simplified characters. Select your preferred form at the start. 
  • It consists of four sections: vocabulary, grammar, reading, and writing. 
  • The vocabulary, grammar, and reading sections contain multiple-choice questions. 
  • The writing section requires you to type characters in either simplified or traditional form. 

Evaluation and Results: 

  • Results indicate the number of semesters of university-level study, ranging from zero to more than ten semesters. 
  • Test results are available approximately one month after the exam date and are sent to your college/major advisor. Contact your advisor for the results. 

Additional Notes: 

  • The test can only be taken once. 
  • If the test result does not meet the foreign language requirement and you have not had formal education in a Chinese-speaking country up to the sixth grade, you may need to take an appropriate Chinese language course. 
  • This test is not comparable to other Chinese tests like the AP, HSK, or IB.