Chinese Examinations for Credit: Registration Itinerary
The Chinese Exams for Credit for Winter Semester 2012 will be given in Smith 326 on
the following dates and times:
Chinese 101 -- Tuesday, February 21, 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Chinese 102 -- Wednesday, February 22, 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Chinese 201 -- Thursday, February 23, 7:00-9:00 p.m.
There is no need to pre-register, just show up on test dates.
Tests this semester will not be given at any other time. No exceptions.
PLEASE READ THIS COMPLETELY BEFORE TAKING THE EXAMS
BYU-Idaho offers Mandarin Chinese exams for credit to returned Mandarin-speaking
missionaries and others who have had significant non-academic experience with the language.
Only current or former Ricks/BYU-I students can take the exams. Native Chinese speakers
(including speakers of other dialects) are not permitted to take them. Your student account will
be charged $30 when the grades are put on your transcript. The exams are not easy. They are
final exams we have given for these courses. There are no unfair questions. If a question seems
unfair, there is some grammatical point you have not considered. The vocabulary comes from
nationally recognized Mandarin textbooks. It would behoove you to review vocabulary and
grammar in the textbooks Integrated Chinese (level 1 part 1, level 1 part 2, and level 2). These
texts are available in the library and the bookstore. Although a few returned missionaries
receive "A's" on all the exams, it is more common to receive an "A" in 101, a "B" in 102 and a
"C" in 201. Many do not receive passing grades on one or more exam.
Preparation: As mentioned above, it is a good idea to review the material in Integrated
Chinese, level 1 part 1, level 1 part 2, and the first half of level 2. It is not necessary to take a
Chinese class in order to take the exams (although the majority do), but to better prepare
yourself, consider enrolling in Chinese 202. Many missionaries opt to only take the exam for 101
and 102, taking 201 for credit.
Classes: If you are not able to read texts composed with a base of roughly 500 characters, then
you should take 201, and plan to spend a lot of time catching up. While your aural/oral skills
may be adequate, it will take time to bring your reading and writing skills up to a commensurate
level.
The exams: There are three written exams, for a possible 12 credits: Chinese 101 (4), Chinese
102 (4), and Chinese 201 (4). Each exam is tested and graded separately. You will be given a
letter grade for each course you pass with a grade of "C" (73%) or above. If you prefer, you may
choose to receive a pass ("P") rather than a letter grade for any or all of the exams you pass.
You will be tested on grammar, vocabulary, reading and writing. Exam letter grades can be
used to replace grades earned before your mission. However, you may not use exam grades to
replace a grade received in a class taken after your mission. Also, “P” grades may not be used
as retakes.