FAQs for Asset Languages Chinese (Mandarin)

1. Do you have a list of the vocabulary which learners are expected to know for the tests?

2. Do you have past papers available for Mandarin?

3. How can I tell if my learners are ready to be entered for a test in Mandarin?

4. Do you produce a textbook or scheme of work for Asset Languages Mandarin?

5. Are candidates allowed to use pinyin in their Writing tests?

6. Should I enter my learners for Chinese Traditional or Simplified Reading/Writing?

7. How can I prepare my learners for their Mandarin Speaking tests?

8. I am a private tutor of Mandarin, how do I enter my learners for Asset tests?

1. Do you have a list of the vocabulary which learners are expected to know for the tests? Wordlists are included as part of the specifications for Breakthrough, Preliminary and Intermediate. The specifications can be found at: http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/type/asset/languages/mandarin/index.html The wordlists contain characters which learners are expected to recognise and produce in Reading and Writing tests at the relevant stage. Listening tests are not solely based on the wordlists, they will contain a wider selection of vocabulary. Tests for all four skills (Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing) will follow the language purposes and functions listed in the specifications.

2. Do you have past papers available for Mandarin? We do not publish past papers but there are sample tasks available on our website at: http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/type/asset/languages/mandarin/documents/index.html For Listening and Reading we have samples in Mandarin, and you will find samples in English for all four skills (including Speaking and Writing). These can be adapted into Mandarin for use with your learners.

3. How can I tell if my learners are ready to be entered for a test in Mandarin? Asset Languages assesses the skills of learners against the Languages Ladder. The Languages Ladder consists of Can Do statements, which describe what learners can do with languages at a certain stage. There are Can Do statements for each stage and skill. To check that your learners are working at the right level to be entered for a test, you may find it helpful to refer to the Can Do statements. You can download them from: http://www.assetlanguages.org.uk/about/can_do_statements.asp You may also find the Teacher Assessment Packs useful, as they contain adaptable tasks for use with your learners in the classroom. More information about Teacher Assessment can be found at: http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/type/asset/teach_assess/index.html Teacher Assessment Packs are available in Mandarin at Breakthrough and Preliminary stage.

Asset Languages is a flexible suite of qualifications designed to measure proficiency in modern foreign languages, using the DCSF Languages Ladder. Oxford Cambridge and RSA Examinations is a Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered in England. Registered office 1 Hills Road, Cambridge CB1 2EU. Registered company number 3484466. OCR is an exempt charity.

4. Do you produce a textbook or scheme of work for Asset Languages Mandarin? Asset Languages tests are designed to fit around whatever scheme of work you are following with your learners. Our assessments measure proficiency rather than a particular course of study. However, for Mandarin, we do endorse two products for use with the Asset Languages Chinese (Mandarin) Breakthrough specification. One is an online course published by Link Global, and the other is a set of textbooks and workbooks published by Dragons in Europe. Further information about these products can be found on the publishers’ websites: http://www.link-global.com http://www.dragonsineurope.com

5. Are candidates allowed to use pinyin in their Writing tests? Candidates will not be penalised for the occasional use of pinyin in Writing tests, particularly for words which are not listed in the Asset wordlists. However, candidates are expected to be able to produce Chinese characters and Chinese punctuation, including full stops. It may be helpful to carry out writing tasks in the classroom, so your learners can get accustomed to writing in Chinese and using the various sentence structures. See FAQ 2 for the link to the sample tasks, which include Writing tasks.

6. Should I enter my learners for Chinese Traditional or Simplified Reading/Writing? Generally, candidates who enter for Mandarin Listening and Speaking choose to enter for Simplified Reading and Writing, while those who enter for Cantonese Listening and Speaking choose to enter for Traditional Reading and Writing. It is important to make sure your learners are entered for the correct test for the style of Chinese they have been learning.

7. How can I prepare my learners for their Mandarin Speaking tests? We have samples of Speaking tests available in English on our website. These can be adapted into Mandarin and will give learners a clear idea of the format of the tests, style of graphics, and how long they will be expected to speak for. The samples can be found at: http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/type/asset/languages/mandarin/documents/index.html For Mandarin, getting learners used to describing pictures, using basic Chinese words, would help them greatly. Learners should be used to speaking in full sentences, rather than one word answers, as this will enable them to gain more marks. Learners need to able to ask questions during their Speaking tests, so it would be useful to practise this with them in the classroom.

8. I am a private tutor of Mandarin, how do I enter my learners for Asset tests? The learners can take their Asset Languages tests through their mainstream school, providing the school is registered as an OCR/Asset centre. This would need to be arranged between the tutor and the school. Alternatively, if there is a supplementary school locally which is registered as an Asset centre, they may be willing to enter your learners for the Asset Languages tests. For information on how a Centre can register with OCR/Asset, please follow this link: http://www.ocr.org.uk/administration/asset/

Asset Languages is a flexible suite of qualifications designed to measure proficiency in modern foreign languages, using the DCSF Languages Ladder. Oxford Cambridge and RSA Examinations is a Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered in England. Registered office 1 Hills Road, Cambridge CB1 2EU. Registered company number 3484466. OCR is an exempt charity.