Comments on: How important is reading speed on tests like HSK and TOCFL?

By: Olle Linge

Olle Linge — Tue, 31 May 2022 14:12:37 +0000

In reply to Neko. You're not alone! Like I said in the article, this used to make me upset, but in hindsight, I think it does make sense. You just need to read more. This will also make your Chinese much better overall, not just help you prepare for the test! In a way, the speed requirement fosters a better way of studying, because it makes it much harder to study for the exam, which is generally a bad thing! That probably doesn't make you feel better, but from someone who's been in your situation, and come out on the other side, I hope it's still helpful in some way!

By: Neko

Neko — Sun, 29 May 2022 22:05:40 +0000

Im studying for hsk4, i can pass the hearing and writing test, but i can only fill a bit more than half of the questions in the reading test. Even in hsk3 which i pass, i cannot fill all the answers in reading test. I can pass hsk3, but not fill all of them.

By: Linus

Linus — Thu, 16 Jan 2020 21:49:16 +0000

Interesting!

I’m at 180 chars/min and hope to reach 350-400 chars/min, which is often needed to read the Chinese subs in sloppily subtitled Korean and Japanese TV-series. My native speaking wife benchmarked at above 1000 chars/min.

Speed was certainly my biggest issue with TOCFL Band C when I tried it a few years ago.

By: Ma Fen

Ma Fen — Thu, 16 Jan 2020 21:47:21 +0000

I couldn’t read all in my HSK3 and helped myself with shortcuts (find the part, you need for the answer and ignore the rest) and guessing. It is a little bit disappointing, because the test does not measure the reading ability, but the ability of guessing and working around. I am still fighting with my graded reader and think, the next level is faraway.