Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language
| Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Logo of the TOCFL | |||||||||||||||||||
A TOCFL Certificate | |||||||||||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 華語文能力測驗 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 华语文能力测验 | ||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||
The Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language (TOCFL; Chinese: 華語文能力測驗; pinyin: Huáyǔwén Nénglì Cèyàn) is the standardized proficiency test of Taiwanese Mandarin for non-native speakers in Taiwan. The test was formerly known as the TOP or Test Of Proficiency-Huayu.
It is the result of a joint project of the Mandarin Training Center, the Graduate Institute of Teaching Chinese as a Second Language, and the Psychological Testing Center of National Taiwan Normal University. The research project started in August 2001, and tests were first held in 2003. So far, it has served test takers from over 60 countries. The new version of TOCFL, which was in development since 2008, became available in 2013.
The new version of the TOCFL has four proficiency bands: Novice, Band A, Band B, and Band C. Each of the bands has two levels. Therefore, there are a total of eight levels: Novice 1 and 2, followed by Levels 1 to 6. The items on the test of each level are 50 multiple choice items, to be answered in 60 minutes. Test takers can choose the test levels best suited to them based on their Chinese language proficiency and learning background. The former version (until 2013) had only five levels.
For children aged 7–12, an age-specific test exists called the Children's Chinese Competency Certification (or CCCC, 兒童華語文能力測驗; Értóng Huáyǔwén Nénglì Cèyàn).
The test cannot be taken in mainland China, Hong Kong or Macao, where only the PRC's HSK exam can be taken. Conversely, the HSK exam is not available in Taiwan.