Four types of TOCFL test have been developed, including TOCFL Listening, TOCFL Reading, TOCFL Speaking and TOCFL Writing. However, only TOCFL Listening & Reading test services have been launched overseas since 2006, and only in the Los Angeles area to meet the increasing demand of Mandarin Chinese learners. Since 2009, in order to serve the growing population of young Mandarin Chinese learners, the Children’s Chinese Competency Certification (CCCC) was introduced overseas for non-native Mandarin Chinese learners, ages 7-12. The system assesses the Mandarin Chinese proficiency of young learners and will hopefully enhance their interest and motivation to further study Mandarin Chinese.

Currently, the TOCFL Listening & Reading overseas test is divided into four levels: Level 2, consists of 80 multiple-choice questions divided into listening and reading sections, Level 3/ Level 4/ Level 5, consist of 100 multiple-choice questions divided into listening and reading sections too. Levels 2, 3, 4 and 5 correspond to A2, B1, B2, and C1 in Common European Framework of Reference for Languages developed by the Council of Europe.

TOCFL Listening & Reading is an excellent way to challenge learners of Mandarin Chinese, and to assess reading, listening, grammar, and vocabulary abilities. It is a powerful recognition of one’s language capability especially for individuals who wish to study, work, or do business in Chinese-speaking countries. CCCC can also serve as an assessment tool for Mandarin Chinese immersion programs at mainstream schools and Chinese heritage schools, and to evaluate the students’ learning outcomes.

More than 480 Mandarin Chinese learners in the Los Angeles area are expected to take these two tests later this year. More are expected to sign up for the TOCFL and CCCC tests which will be held at the Buckley School, the San Marino Chinese School, at PCC, and UCSB and the Broadway Elementary School, in collaboration with the Education Division of TECO in Los Angeles. (Note: the Cultural Division is now the Education Division and continues to be an overseas representative office of the Ministry of Education.

The Education Division of TECO in Los Angeles welcomes opportunities to work with mainstream schools, Chinese heritage schools or colleges and universities in Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico and Hawaii. To set up TOCFL or CCCC test site at your school, please contact info@tw.org for more information.