Planned for the end of the year, the first CATTI International test will allow translators and interpreters to test in a remote, online setting, or at appropriate test centers.

The CATTI Project Management Center of China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration recently announced that CATTI International would be launched on Dec. 20, 2020. As an extension of CATTI Level 3, CATTI International will be open to candidates worldwide. The test is mainly focused on testing the translation and interpretation abilities of general translators and interpreters, those doing business related to China as well as personnel engaged in the practice of using foreign languages. The test will be managed using an international model and operated in a market-oriented way.

The CATTI aims to measure competence in translation and interpreting — including simultaneous and consecutive interpreting — between Chinese and seven foreign languages: English, Japanese, French, Arabic, Russian, German, or Spanish. The test is intended to cover a wide range of domains including business, government, academia, and media, though it is not designed to assess literary translation.

According to reports, CATTI International will have both overseas and domestic versions. At the end of 2020, the overseas version will be first launched for foreigners and Chinese studying or working overseas, while the domestic version of the test is expected to be launched in the first half of 2021. Mock tests held over recent days, with the participation of more than 2,000 people from over 50 universities and international schools, have achieved satisfactory results, laying a solid foundation for further improvements of the examination.

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in mind, organizers have taken several measures to ensure the health of candidates. First, Chinese citizens who study, work, or live abroad but must stay in China temporarily due to the pandemic can apply for the test by providing necessary certificates. Second, the test at the end of this year will be held online and taken at home. For those who have difficulties taking the online test remotely, the exam can be taken at test centers subject to the local pandemic prevention and control policies.

Authoritative experts, professors, and scholars have been engaged in test designing, outline reviewing, test question setting and assessing, and textbook compiling to ensure the validity and authority of the test.

Those involve include Chen Mingming, associate director of CATTI English Expert Committee; Qiu Ming, associate director of CATTI Japanese Expert Committee; Wang Weimin, professor of translation, member of CATTI English Expert Committee, and member of National Senior Professional Titles (T&I) Evaluation Committee; Jin Yan, professor from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and director of CET Committee; Yan Ming, professor from Heilongjiang University; Li Chunji, professor from Dalian University of Foreign Languages; Li Ming, professor from Guangdong University of Foreign Studies; Ouyang Qian, professor from Guangdong University of Foreign Studies; and other well-known experts in translation, interpretation, and language assessment.

Moreover, several professional language teams from universities of foreign studies will join, including NATTI from Australia, Sydney Institute of Interpreting and Translating, Macquarie University, Han Culture Centre of Malaysia, Canada Education Group, European Research and Development Fund for Chinese Language, Xi’an Research Institute of Blockchain.

The CATTI test battery is divided into four levels of Senior, I, II, and III, from highest to lowest. The total test time for translation proficiency is 120 minutes; for interpreting proficiency, 60 minutes; for translation practice, 180 minutes; for interpreting practice at Levels I and II, 60 minutes; and for interpreting practice at Level III, 30 minutes.

Test registration will open to candidates all over the world on Oct. 20, 2020. Users can register at the official website (www.catticenter.com). The test will be held on Dec. 20, 2020, including two sessions in the Eastern Hemisphere and Western Hemisphere.