<p>dodgersmom, </p>
<p>I usually don’t post on CC, but your utter stubbornness has compelled me to post.</p>
<p>First of all,you argue that “the objective of testing is to show a student’s ability to perform well in college”, and that native speakers taking the subject test in Chinese shows no ability whatsoever. <strong><em>Do you seriously think that SAT shows a student’s ability to perform well in college?</em></strong> The SAT measures how well a student is at taking the SAT. Period.</p>
<p>Beyond that, I would like to shed light on why certain native speakers might take the test. As mentioned before, there are two groups of people who take this exam: Chinese applicants from China, and loosely defined ‘American-Born-Chinese’ applicants from within the US. For the latter group, ANYONE could say on their application that they are a ‘native speaker’ of the language, without any proof. The truth is, while some ABCs retain their Chinese, the mass majority certainly do not, and surely not at a ‘native-level’. Thus, it might be to the comfort of someone who actually speaks both languages to prove their efficiency.</p>
<p>For me personally, I took the SAT Chinese Subject Test as a native speaker back in sophomore year, not as a means of fulfilling requirements, but to experience what taking the SAT is like in preparation for future exams. And that was it.</p>
<p>For you information, certain colleges will accept a native speaker’s language subject test to fulfill requirements. In fact, an Ivy League institution I visited mentioned that it, and I quote, “doesn’t care which subject tests you take as long as you take two”.</p>
<p>JostVanDyke - </p>
<p>Regarding American-born Chinese taking the Chinese language subject test, see my post #51 above.</p>
<p>As for a certain Ivy League institution not caring “which subject tests you take as long as you take two” . . . well, I can make a pretty good guess which school you spoke with, and I can assure you that the majority of the Ivies don’t feel that way. Yes, the schools will accept the test result, but, as biilcsho stated above (post #60), taking a subject test in your native language “is simply not a way to impress anyone.”</p>
<p>I don’t know how old this thread is, but I feel like the discussion has missed a vital point- speaking Chinese does not mean one can read. I’m a second generation Chinese American, and it took me many years of Chinese school to learn how to read and write. Of course I had an advantage from hearing the language at home, but I still wanted to take the test to certify the years of Sunday school that many opt out of, becoming illiterate. Although everyone assumes Chinese children can all just read/ write Chinese, this is a studied skill that takes just as much schooling as American students.</p>
<p>Thank you, websurfin!</p>
<p>websurfin and JostVanDyke - </p>
<p>I’ve managed to differentiate between native speakers of Chinese living in China and American-born Chinese . . . why are you so stubbornly unwilling to do the same? Try reading post #51 again . . . slowly.</p>
<p>May I ask for your thoughts on the AP Chinese exam?</p>
<p>wumpified - You’ll find several threads [url=<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/world-languages/]here[/url”>AP World Languages - College Confidential Forums]here[/url</a>] that focus on the AP Chinese test. Just do a search for “Chinese” if you can’t find what you need.</p>
<p>Do your opinions on who should take the SAT Chinese test apply for those attempting the AP exam?</p>
<p>Subject tests are often required for college admissions. AP exams aren’t . . . so do whatever you want. If taking the Chinese AP test allows you to skip taking a foreign language in college (or even gives you college credit!), then good for you. No reason not to do it!</p>
<p>Lmao this was funny. I screenshotted your first post because it was gold. You had me at “WHY?” Gotta show this to my friend later. </p>
<p>Btw are you a mom?</p>
<p>I don’t post a lot on here either but I just wanted to add
</p>
<p>I know I’m not in the exact situation but I am in AP French and took the French SAT II today.
I lived overseas in a francophone country for a few years (this included elementary school, etc.) when I was a kid (around 8 years old), but I still spoke English at home. However, on the Background Info today I had to fill out the special box that I lived overseas 6+ months, speak it in the house
(Basically the same box that a native speaker would have checked).</p>
<p>I say that I’m fluent sometimes because of my fundamentals and ability to think in French from living overseas but I really relate myself more as an American 100% English as a first language, etc. </p>
<p>So they will put me in the category of “fluency” if I get an 800, however I did study and so I don’t think it’s fair either. All I’m saying is that while it’s unfair for those who are fluent in the language to take it, it’s also unfair for people like me who have studied 4+ years in the US school system who are continuing learning the language to check boxes that make them seem like they’re 100% fluent. </p>
<p>So I guess my answer to your question is: because they can, simple enough.
Many take it for reassurance, another “credential,” who knows.</p>
<p>Well, you are Native speakers for English right? Why dont you get 800 on the Reading of SAT Reasoning test then?</p>
<p>Apples and oranges.</p>
<p>The material covered on a foreign language subject test is not the same as what’s covered on the SAT reading (or writing) test.</p>
<p>Hey guys I was born and raised in the US, but I lived in China for a month or two every year starting at age 7, and as a result I can now speak and read fluently.</p>
<p>So my question is, should I take the test? Would people think it’s a stupid idea? I’m not sure if I count as a native speaker or not, though I do sound like one.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Lucky you!!! Sure, go ahead and take the test. Why not? You’re a native speaker of English who had to learn Chinese - there’s no reason not to take credit for that!</p>
<p>I would suggest, though, that if you’re applying to any colleges that require two SAT subject tests, you make this your 3rd test, if possible, rather than one of the required two. Just to err on the side of caution. But if you really need this to be one of the two, then go ahead and don’t worry about it.</p>
<p>Well just to clarify my parents are both native speakers of Chinese. I will definitely not be using it as one of my two required tests. Thank you for the advice!</p>
<p>Oops.</p>
<p>I’m native Chinese and I haven’t been to US ever.</p>
<p>I think the “Chinese” you mentioned are mostly the Chinese in USA since it’s very rare for native Chinese, especially who never went to USA and not mention American high school, to take Chinese subject.
Because, as you may already know, most Chinese students take Math, physics, and chemistry.
I plan to take math, Japanese and USH.</p>
<p>I think the weird phenomenon native speakers take native language test is just because they want to take a score.
That’s it.</p>
<p>If you want to speak with native Chinese speaker or any further question, please contact me!</p>
<p>I like to know how admission officer think about a student who came from China at age of 12 but still take Chinese as her foreign language. Because she is Chinese therefore she can easily get A on Chinese Honor and 5 on AP Chinese test. that significantly boost her GPA. How admission think about her GPA?</p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry about it - the “A” in Chinese Honors is just one grade on the student’s transcript. I’d honestly doubt that anyone would ever give it a second thought!</p>
<p>And the AP score of “5” is rightly earned . . . there’s no reason the student shouldn’t get credit for that.</p>
<p>My only concern would be that the student isn’t taking the most rigorous courses available to her if she’s sliding by with taking a foreign language she already knows. So, she might lose a few points on the “rigorous curriculum” scale at colleges that consider that kind of thing.</p>
<p>Hello everyone.</p>
<p>Regarding this wholeeeeeee discussion, I too had the same perspective as dodgersmom. I chose to take Math and Lit because I am bilingual by culture (Singaporean) and felt that it would not ‘prove anything’. </p>
<p>However, I recently went to an Ivy Prep SAT course, whose teachers (all from Ivies) rebuked me for thinking in such a manner. Instead, I came to the understanding that we take it because we can. As mundane as that sounds, we take it ‘to prove’ that our Chinese standards are similar or higher than that of the US. In otherwords, if I get a B in Singapore on a national exam and an A in Chinese on the SATs, it somewhat validates my local results.</p>
<p>I do understand your unhappiness (bordering on indignation) over native Chinese speakers taking Chinese, it really does seem unfair. (I’m not Chinese-Chinese, I’m an American PR)To add oil to the fire, most of them don’t even end up sending Chinese in. They just take the test to be a ‘back-up’ (my PRC friend told me this). </p>
<p>Ultimately, what are they/we trying to prove? Nothing to the universities but something to ourselves. It’s a form of validation in a way and in another, just a back up/add on to boost my application.</p>