Top Chinese university drops English requirement

Xi'an Jiaotong University, a top 5% university in China, has scrapped English entrance and exit exams for students, amid controversy over the practical benefits of the subject.

Xi'an Jiaotong University, located in Shaanxi Province, is one of the oldest universities in China. It is one of the 140 elite universities funded by the Chinese government to become world-class by 2050.

According to the school representative, the removal of the CET English test is "a normal measure to suit the current developments".

CET (College English Test) is an English proficiency test for undergraduate and graduate students in China, consisting of 6 levels. Students must achieve level 4 when entering and level 6 when graduating. Despite the cancellation of the test, Xi'an Jiaotong University said that CET courses will continue to be taught.

Yu Xiaoyu, a PhD student in languages at the University of Hong Kong, said that eliminating the CET would not diminish the importance of English in the Chinese education system as a whole, as it remains one of the three compulsory subjects in the Gaokao. In addition, English is an advantage in the labor market.

“Most of the job market for university graduates still considers English as an advantage. Therefore, students with higher English proficiency and who can prove it have more opportunities,” Yu said.

He also found that most Chinese universities and companies value English proficiency because of the positive benefits of “second language experience,” such as better memory and the ability to learn new concepts. Therefore, Yu believes that Xi’an Jiaotong University’s removal of the CET should not be taken as a sign that they value English less.

“Instead, the change may imply that the Chinese higher education system is reforming English exams to suit students' study and work needs,” Yu said.

Xi'an Jiaotong University. Photo: Xian Jiaotong University — Xi'an Jiaotong University. Photo: *Xian Jiaotong University*

English now accounts for 150 of the 750 points in China's college entrance exam, equal to math and Chinese.

The role of English has been a controversial topic in China in recent years. Proposals have been made to reduce the weight given to the subject in curricula and exams, and to increase the teaching of traditional Chinese culture. Some universities have been encouraged to lower English standards to ease the pressure on students, especially in rural areas where English is rarely spoken.

On the sidelines of a parliamentary meeting in March in Beijing, parliamentarian Tuo Qingming stressed this, arguing that the English test has limited value.

"For many people, learning a foreign language is just to get into university. What they learn is actually just for exams... They rarely or even never use foreign languages in their work or daily life," Mr. Tuo explained.

PhD student Yu also expressed a similar opinion, saying that the impracticality of CET courses lies in the fact that students with high scores may still struggle to communicate in English. However, instead of eliminating them, the courses need to be changed by diversifying the training content, from expressions to general communication skills.

Phuong Anh (According to SCMP )

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