Youth Chinese Test (YCT) | 中小学生汉语水平考试

The Youth Chinese Test (YCT) is an international standardised Chinese language test, which is directed at examining non-native primary and secondary school students' ability to apply Chinese language in their studies and daily lives.

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On

Next Round YCT Test, internet-based, in-person attendance at our Centre, May 2026

Registration will open at the near time! 

Test Time will be:

YCT Level 1, 09:00 (entry / login at 8:30)

YCT Level 2, 09:00 (entry / login at 8:30)

YCT Level 3: 09:00 (entry / login at 8:30)

YCT Level 4: 09:00 (entry / login at 8:30)

YCT speaking, Basic: 11:00 (entry / login 10:30)

YCT speaking, Intermediate: 11:00 (entry / login 10:30)

Test Venue: TBC at the University of Sheffield


In 2025, YCT Internet-based Test was held on 24th May 2025.


In 2024, YCT Internet-based Test was held on 12th May 2024. 


In 2023, YCT Paper-base Test and YCT internet-based Test was held on 13th May 2023. 


In 2022, YCT Paper-based Test was held on Thursday 24th March and Saturday 26th March 2022. YCT1-4 all started at 9:00am.


In June 2021, we held a home-edition test. Throughout the time of taking the home-edition YCT test, the school students were able to operate a window-based computer. A second device, such as a smart mobile phone/iPad/Tablet, was set up by an adult at home before the test started. 


Fees

Examination fee for written test:

  • YCT1: £5
  • YCT2: £10
  • YCT3: £20
  • YCT4: £25

Examination fee for speaking test:

  • YCT Speaking (Basic): £10
  • YCT Speaking (Intermediate): £10

Youth Chinese Test (YCT) | 中小学生汉语考试

YCT consists of two independent parts: written test and oral test.

The written test is made up of four levels from YCT Level 1 to Level 4.

YCT Level 1: for children who have mastered a vocabulary of about 80. Passed examinees can understand and use very basic Chinese words and sentences, and able to study further Chinese.

YCT Level 2: for children who have mastered a vocabulary of about 150. Passed examinees can understand and use very basic Chinese words and sentences, capable of very basic communication needs.

YCT Level 3: for children who have mastered a vocabulary of about 300. Passed examinees can produce simple and direct communication of their familiar day to day topic, reach the primary merit level of Chinese.

YCT Level 4: for children who have mastered a vocabulary of about 600 and above. Passed examinees can carry out basic communication tasks of life, study and work. They can answer most communication tasks during a travel in China.

The oral test includes YCT-Speaking (Basic) and YCT-Speaking (Intermediate).

An Introduction to the New YCT (in English)

The following table shows vocabulary needed, test duration and passing score:

 Equivalent to HSKVocabulary (Words)Test Duration, MinTotal ScorePassing Score
YCT Level 1-8035200120
YCT Level 2HSK Level 115050200120
YCT Level 3HSK Level 230060200120
YCT Level 4HSK Level 360085300180
YCT Speaking (Basic)- 1910060
YCT Speaking (Intermediate)- 2110060

Resources

Syllabus, sample papers and online practice | 网上资源

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