Taking Chinese as a non-native speaker

Test Preparation SAT Subject Test Preparation
1

<p>So it seems like the Chinese test has the harshest curve around, and I'm contemplating taking it. Now, I'm not a native speaker, and I don't have an Asian background, but I do get good grades and I'm fluent at least at a conversational level. I know I wouldn't get a perfect score, or even anything close to it - would it mean anything to an admissions committee if I were to attempt the test? Is it worth it?</p>

2

<p>It would mean something if you attempted it and did relatively well. Namely, it would mean you are proficient in Chinese.</p>

3

<p>Isn’t chinese very easy to get a perfect score in? I mean according to the average percentile chart, you could get an 800 and only be in the 54%… Just buy a practice book and you should be fine. Or have I misinterpreted the 54% percentile to mean an easy curve? I don’t tihnk I have, since the average for the chinese test is almost a mid-700’s score…</p>

4

<p>No, it means most of the test takers are native speakers.</p>

5

<p>^^^^^True.</p>

6

<p>Will be taking Chinese too (with listening). I’m an Asian but certainly not a native speaker.</p>

7

<p>I don’t see why native speakers should bother taking it. I mean, it’s just gonna seem like an easy alternative to an 800 for admissions officers when they look at your ethnicity.</p>

8

<p>@ R3d3mpti0n: It could end up saving time and money [in lieu of taking say, an AP exam or placement test] to fulfill a foreign language requirement.</p>

<p>Personally, my last name is Chinese, but of my own dialect. It looks like one of Mandarin origin, so I’m pretty much afraid to take the SAT II Chinese and look like an idiot.</p>

9

<p>This table might be of interest to you: <a href=“http://professionals.collegeboard.com/profdownload/sat_subject_tests_lang_performance_years_study.pdf[/url]”>http://professionals.collegeboard.com/profdownload/sat_subject_tests_lang_performance_years_study.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Aside from Korean, Chinese appears to have the best curve among all languages for non-native speakers. However, the data is a little sketchy, given that the sample size is rather small (which probably accounts for the fact that those with only 2 years of Chinese scored higher, on average, than those with 3 or even 4). </p>

<p>I don’t have any personal experience with the test, but I’d say go for it as long as you have some years of formal learning, making sure you try some kind of practice test first.</p>