On 5 June 2021, USTB-DMU Confucius Institute (CI) held the second Online Home Edition HSK Test, after the first one on 24 April. A total of 25 candidates took the exams.

Administering Online Home Edition HSK Tests is a much harder job than the usual on-site tests. The CI started promotion early this year and tried to boost Mandarin learners’ confidence to take the exams. To facilitate their registration, the CI created detailed written instructions to ensure everything is in place.

Before the actual tests, the CI conducted training and mock exams for the candidates, providing guidance on the use of the online exam platform and the online invigilating tools, besides offering individual assistance via online video meeting or video calls on telephone. The CI also conducted training sessions for the CI invigilators and gave them advice on dealing with technical problems, using the online exam management system, and handling accidental issues during the exam.

On the day of the exam, the invigilators carefully checked candidates’ ID documents and their admission tickets through Microsoft Teams, helped them to log on to the exam platform, and closely monitored the performance of the test-takers through the online exam management system.

Thanks to the efforts of all the CI staff members, the tests were completed with success. Madhvi, mother of one examinee named Millie, wrote to the CI, “I wanted to say thank you for all your help with the exam over the past week. It was complicated, no doubt, but you and your team were extremely patient. We really appreciate it.”

(Draft: LI Jinyu, WEI Zhiping; Revision: YANG Yingjun)