The following shows writing examples at various proficiency levels. These were produced by real language learners and may contain errors. See Writing Section Tips at the bottom of this page.

Mandarin (Simplified) Proficiency Tests and Resources

Writing Examples

Level 1: | Novice-Low

At this level, I am able to create individual words that have no extended meaning.

I can share some simple vocabulary, which deals with the prompt/task/situation, but I tend to struggle to connect those words to create meaning.

三口人, 爸爸,妈妈, 我

Level 2: | Novice-Mid

At this level, I am beginning to develop the ability to create meaning by grammatically connecting words.

Specifically, I can connect some basic subjects and verbs or verbs and objects, but I may be inconsistent at doing this.

I am often limited in my vocabulary to Novice level topics that I experience in my every-day life or that I have recently learned.

今天是很热,买水和喝水。

Level 3: | Novice-High

At this level, I can create simple sentences with very basic grammatical control and accuracy.

There are often errors in my responses, while at the same time I might have good control with some very simple structures and functions of the language that I have just learned or studied.

At the Novice levels, errors are expected as I try to create simple sentences. Generally, the sentences that I am able to create are very basic and simple with few, if any, added details.

我爸爸是中国人。他是高。他出生在三番市,美国。他作菜很好吃。

Level 4: | Intermediate-Low

At this level, I can create simple sentences with some added detail; such sentences help create VARIETY.

At the Intermediate Low level, simple sentences are enhanced by use of prepositional phrases, helping verb usage, as well as some adverbs and a variety of adjectives.

I generally create independent sentences (ideas) that can be moved around without affecting the overall meaning of the response. There are still a number of errors in my response, but I have fairly good control of more basic sentences. I am feeling more confident in using different structures and expanding vocabulary and taking more risks with my responses.

明尼苏达州有很不一样的季节。我们的夏天很热,在夏天,你会要带一些短裤。也要带有用的衣服,我们会去有用很多。明尼苏达的冬天非常冷。你会要带很多很厚的衣服,和也要带温暖的鞋子和外套,我们可能去滑雪。这里的春天和秋天是很舒服也很美丽。

Level 5: | Intermediate-Mid

At this level, I can now create enough language to show groupings of ideas.

My thoughts are loosely connected and cannot be moved around without affecting meaning.

I can also create a few sentences with complexity and am able to use some transition words.  I am also able to use more than just simple present tense, but often make mistakes when I try to use other tenses.

My vocabulary use is expanding and I am able to use more than the usual, high frequency or most common vocabulary. I feel that I am able to create new language on my own and communicate my everyday needs without too much difficulty.

大王: 你好!你上次问过明尼苏达这里的天气这么样,也问了不同季节和天气要传什么不同的衣服。我现在回给你那些问题的答案。 你一定需要知道明尼苏达的冬天非常冷。因为这个,你一定需要带来你最暖的衣服和夹克。我们可以在冬天在外面玩儿。明尼苏达的春天非常温暖,但常常会有大雨。所以你来美国的时候一定需要带雨伞。我们可以在春天去公园看新长出来一连六色漂亮的花朵,也可以在春天去城市提脚踏车。 然后,美国常常会有非常热的夏天,我们这里也有很多大海,可以游泳。明尼苏达的夏天阳光非常打,我们会在树下吃饭,但你还可能要带眼镜保护你的眼睛。因为这些原因,如果你来,你要带泳泳衣,短裤,提速和眼镜。 明尼苏达的秋天很冷,可能要穿夹克。秋天也可能下雪

Level 6: | Intermediate-High

At this level, I have good control of the language and feel quite confident about an increasing range of topics.

There are still some occasional errors in my language production, but that does not hinder my ability to communicate what I need to share.

I can use circumlocution to explain or describe things for which I do not know specific vocabulary or structures. I can understand and use different time frames and am just beginning to develop the ability to switch most time frames with accuracy. I can use transition words and concepts with some ease. My language has a more natural flow, but I still may have some unnatural pauses or hesitations.

我觉得看电视和玩电脑游戏很好玩的,但孩子最好不要每天做这个,每个星期一到两天够了。现在我会写看电视和玩电脑游戏的一些好处。看电视和完电脑游戏非常好玩,如果你有一个很不好的天,看电视或玩电脑游戏可以让你感到开心。第二,看电视也可以让你知道世界上在发生什么事情。第三,玩电脑游戏也可以让你感到快乐和高兴,跟朋友或家人一起玩更好。最后,孩子看电视也可以帮助他们学更多的东西。 我现在会写看电视和玩电脑游戏的不好处。如果你用了一个很长的时间来看电视或玩电脑游戏,你的眼睛会痛。而且孩子们不会很容易的停,他们一直在看,一直在玩。这是为什么他们没有够的时间来休息。如果他们总是在家里看电视或玩电脑游戏,他们不会有很多的朋友。最后,如果你总是在家里面,那你怎么运动呢?你需要运动,你的身体会健康。

Level 7: | Advanced-Low

At this level my response contains a number of complexities with higher degree of accuracy.

Such language allows me to address each aspect of the prompt more completely and with more depth of meaning.

I am able to use Advanced vocabulary or Advanced terms, conjugations etc. with confidence. I feel that I can create natural flow using as much detail and descriptive language as possible to create a clear picture. Errors with more complex structures may still occur. My ability to switch time frames begins to increase in accuracy.

首先,我认为看电视,玩游戏确实能给孩子们带来正面与负面的影响。看电视能帮助孩子们学到新的知识,让他们懂得更多道理,比如说什么习惯或者事情是好的,是可以做的,又有哪些是不能做的。看电视能让孩子们对这个世界有更多的简识,在这当中他们或许会发现他们的兴趣爱好。我认为有些在电视上可以学习到的知识或许在学校里都学不到的。打游戏可以帮助孩子们集中注意力,这样在学校上课的时候就不会容易被其他同学影响而分神。有好处就会有坏处。看电视,打游戏对视力的伤害非常的大,现在很多小孩小小年纪就开始戴眼镜,就是因为他们花太多的时间在电视和游戏上。另外,看电视和打游戏也会影响学习方面。在我周围,不管是在读幼儿园的小朋友,初中生甚至高中生因为迷恋玩游戏或者看电视耽误了学业。他们每天回家的第一件事情就是跑到电脑前开始打游戏。所以我认为,不管是看电视,玩游戏,或者任何兴趣爱好,都要适量,不能耽误那些真正重要的事情.

Level 8: | Advanced-Mid

At this level my response demonstrates my ease with the language.

I am able to create a response which not only addresses each aspect of the prompt, but delves into each point with clarity and concise language.

I am able to incorporate a number of more complex structures as well as Advanced vocabulary and Advanced phrases with a higher degree of accuracy throughout the majority of the response.

The language I create has a natural flow due to the way I incorporate a variety of patterns and complexities into my response. My response shows my ability to create language that has sophistication of language skills and syntactical density. My ability to switch time frames accurately is evident, if called for in the prompt.

随着科技的发展,电视和游戏已经覆盖性地进入了人们的生活,包括孩子们的世界。由于电子产品对他们自己生活的影响,现在的父母对孩子的管教越发疏松,所以电视和电子游戏成为孩子们必不可少的玩伴,可是让家长担心的是电视与电脑辐射对孩子的眼睛与皮肤有负面的影响,有些孩子早早就带上了眼睛。并且沉迷于游戏中不可自拔,这也极大地打击了孩子们学习的积极性,使他们的学习成绩一路红灯,这些副作用让家长感到烦恼。可是当家长试图教育孩子不要沉迷于游戏与电视时孩子多会进入一种疯狂的状态来反驳家长,这令很多家长苦恼不堪,甚至对自己的孩子大打出手。 可是,家长往往只是看到了游戏与电视对孩子的伤害,家长并没有意识到游戏与电视对孩子的益处, 没有意识到这对一个小孩子的发展也有着重要的好处。 第一,很多游戏都是多人的公平竞技,在竞技的过程中孩子需要与队友协商并共同完成任务,这对孩子的社交能力有很大的帮助。第二,在操作游戏时对孩子的手脑协作能力也是很大的考验,这可以锻炼他们的手脑协作能力从而让他们更加聪明。第三,电视可以让孩子非常轻松地得到外界的消息,可以让他们更早的学会信息管理并且获得一些有用的知识,让他们更早地对外界有一定的认识。 沉迷无论如何都是不应该的,父母们要以身作则, 首先自己不能沉迷于电子产品。 同时,父母也不应该强烈地禁止孩子参与适当的游戏与观看电视,应该心平气和的引导孩子走向正确的道路,把它们变成正确的工具,通过监督,让孩子们适当的娱乐,并在娱乐的同时获得有用的知识。

Writing Section Tips

Additional resources can be found in the Power-Up Guide and on our Video Tutorials page.

  • Be a ‘show-off’ – this is the time to show what you can do!
  • Be organized in your writing.
  • Challenge yourself to go above and beyond what you normally write.
  • Be creative and don’t stress out over possible errors. Perfection is not the goal!

Simply do your best and enjoy creating and communicating in the language that you are learning.

Good Luck!

How do I type in this language?

Read our Writing Input Guide to learn how to type in this language.