China has updated its students' foreign language proficiency evaluation system to meet international standards, reports thepaper.cn.
Zheng Fuzhi, assistant Chinese Minister of Education, released the news at an international seminar on language testing and evaluation in Shanghai.
The new system will reportedly be divided into 9 levels, covering elementary school to university.
"It is expected to help unify the various kinds of English tests in China," said Liu Jianda, an expert in English testing with Guangdong University of Foreign Studies.
"The new scale will not replace current exams such as the College English Tests, but will offer guidance for future English exam reform and help promote mutual recognition among English tests in China and those globally known," said Liu.
The National Education Examinations Authority with the Chinese Ministry of Education is in cooperation with the British Council to match English tests in the UK with China's new English proficiency rating system.
IELTS and Aptis will be the first international English tests that have equivalent levels in the new scale.
