The Confucius Institute at the University of Kentucky (UKCI) has in recent months been speeding up its preparation for its HSK (Chinese Proficiency Test) and YCT (Youth Chinese Test) Testing Center.

In this preparation stage, UKCI has invited and received support from local schools' Chinese programs for carrying out the New YCT practice test, either partial or in full, in order to encourage the students to evaluate their Chinese language competence and further stimulate their enthusiasm in studying Chinese.

Some sort of New YCT practice test has already been done at a number of Kentucky schools that have Chinese programs, including all the public schools in Woodford County, the Dixie Magnet Elementary School as well as the Lexington Chinese School in Fayette County, and the Atherton High School in Louisville, KY, thanks to the support and cooperation of the teachers of these schools' Chinese programs.

At the Dixie Magnet Elementary School, its Chinese instructor Ms. Yan Wang conducted a partial New YCT practice test focused on the listening section, with over 200 students participating. At the Atherton High School, its Chinese instructor Ms. Jie Zhang invited UKCI's China Partner Deputy Director, Dr. Yonghua Zhang, to help conduct a New YCT practice test for the Chinese I, II, and III classes in the school, on May 22.

At the university level, UKCI will be working with the Chinese language program, in the Department of Modern & Classical Languages, Literatures & Cultures, to offer information on New HSK and New HSK practice tests, so that UK students will be more prepared to take the tests and thus to qualify for scholarships.