The BCT (B) is an international, standardized exam in Chinese language proficiency that focuses on testing non-native Chinese speakers’ abilities to use the Chinese language in real business or common working environments, and that evaluates the language tasks they are able to complete. Following the principle of practicality, oriented towards speaking and listening, and emphasizing abilities in the workplace, this test aims to recreate actual situations in the workplace and takes practical content for communications as the method of examining test takers’ abilities to use Chinese to meet their needs in the working environment.

I. Test Structure

The BCT (B) written test contains 92 question sand consists of three parts: listening, reading and writing.

The duration of the whole test is about 150 minutes (including 5 minutes for writing down personal information).

1. Listening

Section One contains twenty questions. A two-sentence dialogue between two people and a question based on the dialogue will be read once for each question. Choose the best answer from the four choices on the test paper according to what you hear.

Section Two contains fifteen questions. A four-sentence dialogue between two people and a question based on the dialogue will be read once for each question. Choose the best answer from the four choices on the test paper according to what you hear.

Section Three contains fifteen questions. Five passages followed bya few questions will be read to you once. Choose the best answer from the choices on the test paper according to what you hear.

2. Reading

Section One contains twenty questions. A series of reading materials will be provided, including pictures, tables, paragraphs, passages, etc. Each piece of reading material will be followed by a few questions, each with four choices. Choose the best answer to the question.

Section Two contains ten questions. There are two passages with five blanks each. Choose five best answers from seven choices to complete each passage according to the context.

Section Three contains ten questions. This section is divided into two groups, each with five questions. Four passages and several questions or sentences will be provided on the test paper. Match each question or sentence with its related passage.

3. Writing

Section One contains one question. A written text or table will be provided. Write at least 80 Chinese characters according to the directions.

Section Two contains one question. A written text or table will be provided. Write at least 150 Chinese characters according to the directions.

II. Reference Vocabulary

The BCT (B) has set up a reference vocabulary of 4000 words according to language competence, can-do statements, word frequencies of various authoritative Chinese corpora, and the state of international Chinese language teaching.

III. Score System

The BCT (B) score report records a test taker’s sub-test scores and total score, without setting any passing score. The report will also provide competence descriptions for all levels of test takers.

The BCT (B) written test consists of three sub-tests: listening, reading and writing, with a total score of 300 points. Its score system is shown in the table below:

IV. Test Principles

Promote learning through examination: encourage Chinese language learners’ interest and confidence, and further broaden the scope of the test in accordance with the actual demands of overseas Business Chinese learners and Chinese speakers in a general working environment.

Promote teaching through examination: provide teachers and self-learners with graded, task-based teaching resource sand suggestions related to business Chinese, and help teaching and training institutions systematically and effectively improve business Chinese learners and speakers’ Chinese language communicative competence in a realistic business environment.

Provide positive feedback: evaluate test takers’ ability to complete various language tasks in a business environment by asking them to carry out a series of typical business language tasks and provide positive feedback for Chinese language learners to plan their future studies.