Major University English Tests in China: Their Importance, Nature, and Development

Abstract

English language teaching and testing play a huge role in the People’s Republic of China, and much instruction is geared to help Chinese students score well on various national examinations. Though many articles have been written about teaching English in China, there are relatively few on testing. This is somewhat surprising given the high stakes, exam-based nature of instruction in Chinese culture. This article summarizes the nature and purposes of the main four national English examinations of China and describes each in turn.