PHOTO: TOCFL test-takers at the University of Houston–Downtown testing center

The Education Division of Taipei Economic and Culture Office in Houston held the 2017 Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language (TOCFL) tests in Houston on March 21 and 25. This year 93 people studying Chinese at universities, high schools, and Chinese language schools in the Greater Houston area took the tests. Their backgrounds are quite diverse: Caucasian, Chinese, Hispanic, and Vietnamese.
The TOCFL tests took place at the computerized testing center of the University of Houston–Downtown under the administration of the professional testing staff, using an internet-based testing system instead of the former exam-paper style testing.
This allowed the test takers to see their test results shown on the computer screen right after they finished the test, instead of waiting for the transcript to be mailed from Taiwan, taking more than a month. And the individual audio system allows the test takers to not get disturbed by the other test-takers during the listening comprehension test.
The Education Division has conducted the TOCFL tests in the Greater Houston area for nine years now. This Chinese proficiency test is intended for people who want to study, work, or do business in Chinese-speaking countries or with Chinese-speaking people. TOCFL is also a requirement to be eligible to apply for some scholarships.