The Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language (TOCFL) is a language test that has been developed in Taiwan over the past 20-plus years and has been conducted overseas over the past 18 years. Currently, there are more than 60 test centers across 38 countries offering the TOCFL.

The most recent TOCFL test that was offered at UHM took place on April 20 at Moore Hall, and was free of charge to the nearly 20 registrants. It was a trial test, meant to provide students with the opportunity to gain first-hand experience with the TOCFL. The TOCFL is divided into three levels based on difficulty in ascending order: Band A, B, and C. The A, B, and C levels saw 6, 8, and 4 test takers, respectively. The April 20 test at UHM lasted 2 hours and tested the reading and listening aptitudes of the test takers. Exam papers in both Traditional and Simplified Chinese characters were available. The website (tocfl.edu.tw/index.php/) also provides mock tests and a computer adaptive test for test takers to assess themselves before the exam and receive immediate results.

For those planning to study or work in the Sinophone world, or who already have a basic knowledge and wish to test themselves, consider taking the opportunity next April to give it a try!