If your child is learning Mandarin, the Youth Chinese Test (YCT) is probably on your radar. Designed for non-native kids, the YCT comes in 4 levels that gradually build up their vocabulary, listening, and reading confidence. But here’s the thing many parents don’t realise: each level actually requires a different learning approach. Using the same study method for every stage can slow your child’s progress or even lead to a learning plateau.  In this article, we will discuss how parents can help their children to pass each YCT level effectively. 

As the first stage of YCT, this level is undoubtedly beginner friendly. During this level, children will be focusing on how to master foundation skills needed for Mandarin. To pass this level, children need to score at least 120 from a total score of 200 points. Upon passing this level, children should be able to understand basic Chinese words and pronunciation as a foundation to further their studies. As parents, here are a few effective strategies to help your children pass YCT level 1. 

Build Basic Skills

Before jumping into vocabulary and Chinese characters, children are usually encouraged to learn foundation skills such as learning intonation and pronunciation. For example, many beginner lessons for children start with the introduction of Pinyin to help them enunciate words properly. This foundation is great to help them distinguish common Chinese words. Moreover, beginning with Pinyin and listening skills are recommended since YCT level 1 focuses more on listening and reading, with Pinyin available during the reading section to help younger children on their tests.

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Use Flashcards for Vocabulary

Understanding vocabulary is a prominent part of language learning, including to young children who wish to learn Mandarin through taking YCT exams. Although there are many ways to understand Chinese vocabulary for YCT level 1, using flashcards has been mentioned to be highly effective since it stimulates children to learn through active recall. Aside from its effectiveness in helping children learn Chinese vocabulary, this method remains highly preferred due to how easy parents can make it at home. 

Repetition

Repeating children’s learning material is another recommended technique to try. This method is known to help children boost confidence in language learning and can promote long-term memory retention. To achieve this method, parents can encourage their children to recall 5 Chinese vocabulary words each day and provide feedback based on their ability. 

As the second level of YCT, children are expected to have the same ability with those around HSK 1 level. This means, children will be able to master 150 Chinese words. The passing score for this level remains the same as the previous one, which is a minimum 120 points out of 200 points. At this level, children should already be able to understand the foundations of Mandarin such as Pinyin and pronunciation, making it easier for them to understand Chinese characters and participate in conversations. If you’re trying to help your children pass YCT level 2, here are several study tips that you can implement. 

Read Simple Picture Books

Picture books are one of the most effective ways to help children learn about new Chinese characters and Chinese vocabulary. This tool is perfect since Chinese picture books often come in shorter forms that mainly focus on repetition of simple vocabulary. Aside from helping children get familiar with Chinese characters, you can also help your children improve their oral skills by asking them to read the Chinese stories out loud. 

Learn from Songs and Videos

Given how advanced technology has played a role in our society, it is to no one’s surprise that songs and videos are getting more popular in helping children learn Mandarin. These videos and songs are often available online, such as on different YouTube channels. This way, the learning resources can be used anytime to help children. This particular method has gained its popularity due to how children are often more receptive to learning resources with engaging visual and audio. 

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Listen to Easy Conversations

At this level, children should be able to listen more actively as they are able to understand more Chinese vocabulary. As parents, you can encourage better fluency to your children by speaking in simple Chinese sentences. For example, you can start greeting them and ask short questions in Mandarin. If possible, you can also try to teach them how to reply in this language, such as answering a yes or no question in Mandarin. 

YCT level 3 aims to help children master at least 300 Chinese words upon completion. Children who pass this level should be able to use simple sentences to communicate with others in Mandarin. They should also be able to read primary level text dedicated to young students. With a passing score of 120 points out of 200 points, parents can help their kids pass YCT level 3 by using the following methods. 

Read Longer Storybooks

Children with reading ability similar to primary students should be able to read longer forms of storybooks. Instead of relying on picture books that only consist of 1 or 2 sentences per page, proper Chinese storybooks have longer text, such as a whole paragraph with deeper plots. These Chinese stories can also help children understand Chinese cultures and morals better, allowing them to immerse themselves in the language. 

Engage in Simple Conversations

During this level, you can encourage children to start speaking in Mandarin. Try to find the most welcoming environment for them, such as immediate family or close peers. These conversations should cover day to day topics such as family members, food, and introduction. Building this small habit is utterly essential to help children have more confidence in the future. 

Switch to Simple Workbook

Aside from learning through Chinese folktales and stories, children around YCT level 3 can also learn from different Chinese workbooks. Young children around this level should have better focus than before, allowing them to finish a workbook that has similar features with the YCT mock up test. Completing these tasks will not only help them gain new knowledge, but also help them recall past materials to have a better understanding in Mandarin. 

As the last level of YCT, children who wish to pass this exam should score at least 180 points out of 300 points. Upon completion, children are expected to master at least 600 Chinese vocabulary and can communicate in school or while traveling in China. If you’re trying to help your children pass YCT level 4, here are a few practical tips that you can implement to enhance their learning journey. 

Intensive Reading with Longer Formats

With a lot more Chinese vocabulary to be learned, children who are studying for YCT level 4 should be able to read longer text passages. Aside from reading storybooks, you can try giving your children non-fiction works as well. Although non-fiction texts might be harder to read, these passages can provide the right challenge for children to constantly learn something new and stimulate their curiosity. 

Use Chinese Daily

Using Chinese daily is the best way to learn a language, especially for non-native children. At YCT level 4, children should be able to communicate actively with other people. During this level, it is highly recommended to connect your children with similar level peers or experienced trainers. Therefore, your children can dedicate their time more to communicate with Chinese speaking people. Communicating daily in Mandarin has long been proven to help boost confidence and help with vocabulary acquisition, making it one of the best ways to learn Mandarin without constantly relying on Chinese textbooks. 

Watch Chinese TV Programs 

Many TV programs are now available to be watched through streaming platforms or local channels. If you’re not familiar with Mandarin yourself, utilizing these programs might be a better way to help surround your children with the Chinese environment. However, it is important to note that you need to filter out TV programs that suit your children’s age. For example, you can try finding programs for younger children with engaging activities to avoid them from boredom. Moreover, you can also try finding Chinese TV programs with subtitles to ensure that your children can understand their learning resources.

The Youth Chinese Test has long been used to measure children’s ability in using Mandarin. As one of the most popular measurements, YCT scores are commonly used for academic purposes at school or similar educational institutions. Given how essential this exam is, helping children to understand Mandarin has become increasingly important to ensure their ability in communicating with peers. Although YCT test formats are often similar from one another, it is important to understand the right method that can help your children increase significantly. Aside from the methods mentioned above, another alternative that you might want to consider is enrolling your children in YCT preparation classes to boost their confidence. Learn more on how YCT classes can help your children achieve better results by visiting our side.