四六級考試將成歷史？

Most college students in China have to take part in CET-4 and CET-6 tests. But in the near future, the tests will become history, since the Ministry of Education is now drafting a unified national English proficiency testing and *rating system and is preparing the corresponding exams.

在中國，大部分大學生都要參加四六級考試。但在不久的將來，這些考試將成為歷史。教育部現(xiàn)在正在制定統(tǒng)一的國家英語能力等級考試體系，并準備與之配套的試題。

This month, during a language testing conference held in Hangzhou, Lin Huiqing, vice-minister of education, announced that the draft of the rating system will be officially released next year, and the national tests will be carried out step by step before 2020.

本月，在一場在杭州召開的語言測試研討會上，教育部副部長林蕙青宣布，等級體系的草案將于明年正式對外公布，而國家考試將于2020年前逐步推出。

The conference also introduced the new system’s grading level, which will range from a low to a high, with nine grades in total. Each grade has its own requirements for language skills, including listening, speaking, reading, writing, translating and interpreting.

會上還介紹了新體系的等級量表，共包含了從低到高的九個等級。每一等級對聽、說、讀、寫、譯等語言技能都有不同的要求。

This new system, as well as the exam, will provide Chinese students with a much more clear vision throughout their process of learning English, as it provides a consistent standard for all English learners from primary school to university, according to Tang Jing, an English teacher from the domestic test preparation division of the New Oriental Education and Technology Group.

新東方教育科技集團國內考試部的英語老師唐靜認為，這一新體系及其配套測試為所有的英語學習者提供了一個從小學到大學的連貫標準，能讓中國學生對自身的英語學習進程有一個更為清晰的認知。

Tang explained that currently in China, there are numerous national English tests – including CET, TEM (Test for English Majors), PETS (Public English Test System), and NETEM (National Entrance Test of English for MA/MS Candidates). He added that without a *coherent and orderly standard, students sometimes have to take several different tests in order to meet various needs, whether for academic performance at school, a higher education application or for job hunting or promotion.

唐靜還進一步解釋道，中國現(xiàn)今有多個全國英語考試 —— 如大學四六級 (CET)、英語專業(yè)考試 (TEM)、全國英語等級考試 (PETS) 以及全國碩士研究生入學英語考試 (NETEM) 等。但由于沒有一個連貫有序的標準，有時，為了滿足證明學術水平、申請高等教育、求職晉升等各式各樣的要求，學生們不得不參加好幾種不同的考試。

The system also means more opportunities for non-English major students. Su Hengyao, 25, a graduate student majoring in law at Beijing Normal University, has passed the CET-6 and wants to take the TEM-8, but because of her non-English major, she hasn’t had the opportunity. “With this new system, I think I’ll be able to take the same level of tests as English major students,” she said.

對于非英語專業(yè)的學生來說，這一新體系也意味著更多的機會。25歲的北京師范大學法律研究生蘇恒瑤已經(jīng)通過了大學六級考試。她想要參加專八考試，卻由于其并非英語專業(yè)學生，而被這一考試拒之門外。“在新體系下，我想我也能和英語專業(yè)的學生們參加同一等級的考試了，”她說道。

In addition, the system will also make it easier for teachers, employers and other English learners in China to judge their English levels, He Lianzhen, director of Zhejiang University’s School of International Studies, told Qianjiang Evening News.

浙江大學外國語言文化與國際交流學院院長何蓮珍在接受《錢江晚報》采訪時表示，該體系也更便于國內的教師、雇主以及其他的英語學習者判斷自身的英語水平。

“Whenever people ask me about my English proficiency, I could only say ‘just so so’,” said Lin Jialun, 24, an engineer at a State-owned enterprise. “But I think after this national rating system is *implemented, I could take the test of a certain level and tell others that my English language ability is at a specific level.”

“每當人們問我英語水平時，我只能說‘一般般吧’，”現(xiàn)年24歲的國企工程師林嘉倫說道。“但我認為，在這一國家等級體系推行后，我可以去參加某一等級的考試，并告訴別人我的英文水平具體在哪個級別。”

However, Tang also noted that for those who already have CET certificates or are now *cramming for next month’s CET-4 and CET-6, there’s no need to worry about the effectiveness of the tests’ results. “I believe that the certificates gained before the *unified rating system will still be acknowledged by the country for a long time,” he said.

而唐靜也指出，已經(jīng)拿到四六級證書，或是正在為下個月的四六級考試臨陣磨槍的同學們也完全不必擔心考試結果的有效性。“我相信，統(tǒng)一等級體系推行前所獲得的四六級證書將在國內長期有效，”他說道。