Covering the business of education and training

There is a new Chinese test for non-native speakers of Mandarin who are studying Mandarin.

The test will be for foreigners and ethnic minority groups in China.

Beijing Language and Culture University devised the test with an emphasis on listening comprehension as opposed to grammar and reading.

Trial runs have already been done in China and July.

This is a toughy. I've had the experience where Chinese have scored amazing scores on tests like the TOEFL and TOEIC, tests for English proficiency but the students still cannot put sentences together in conversation.

I saw the same in Japan. Japanese students aced English proficiency tests but could only manage an "ee?" in conversation.

I wonder if the Chinese proficiency test will prove any more effective.

What do you think?

I'd love to hear from anyone/s who have taken the test.