How are CET-4 and CET-6 scores calculated? What does scoring 425, 500, or 550 mean?

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This article was converted by SimpRead; original source: China Education Examination Network

The National College English Test (CET) consists of two levels: CET-4 (Band 4) and CET-6 (Band 6). The CET is designed in accordance with the Teaching Requirements for College English Courses (hereinafter referred to as “the Teaching Requirements”). CET-4 aligns with the “General Requirements” stipulated in the Teaching Requirements, while CET-6 aligns with the “Higher Requirements.”

CET scores are reported using a norm-referenced method; there is no passing score threshold. The CET-4 norm group comprises approximately 30,000 non-English-major candidates from 16 universities nationwide. The CET-6 norm group comprises approximately 5,000 non-English-major candidates from five key universities nationwide.

For each test administration, raw paper-based scores—after equating—are converted into reported scores based on the norm group. The maximum reported score for both CET-4 and CET-6 is 710, calculated using the following formula:

\mathrm{TotSco} = \frac{X-\mathrm{Mean}}{\mathrm{SD}} \times 70 + 500

In this formula:

  • TotSco denotes the total reported score;
  • X denotes the candidate’s raw total score before norm-based conversion;
  • Mean denotes the mean of the norm group;
  • SD denotes the standard deviation of the norm group.

Raw scores from each CET-4 and CET-6 administration—after equating—are converted into reported scores using this norm-based formula.

Composition of Subscores

Each CET exam has four subscores, distributed as follows:

  • Listening: 35%
  • Reading: 35%
  • Translation and Writing: 30%

The maximum reported score for each subscore is as follows:

Section Maximum Score
Listening 249 points
Reading 249 points
Translation and Writing 212 points
Total Score 710 points

The sum of the four reported subscores equals the total reported score.

Norm-Based Percentile Ranks

Each candidate’s reported score corresponds to a specific percentile rank within the norm group. Tables 1 and 2 below show the norm-based percentile ranks corresponding to reported scores for CET-4 and CET-6, respectively.

Below is an illustration of how to use Table 1 (Table 2 is used identically).

Example 1

A CET-4 candidate receives a total reported score of 450. According to Table 1, this corresponds to a percentile rank of 25%, meaning the candidate’s English proficiency exceeds that of 25% of the norm group but falls below that of 75%.

Example 2

A CET-4 candidate receives a total reported score of 500. According to Table 1, this corresponds to a percentile rank between 44% and 55%, meaning the candidate’s English proficiency exceeds that of at least 44% of the norm group but does not exceed that of more than 55%.

Example 3

A CET-4 candidate receives a listening subscore of 140. According to Table 1, this corresponds to a percentile rank of 12%, meaning the candidate’s listening proficiency exceeds that of 12% of the norm group.

Example 4

A CET-4 candidate receives a reading subscore of 140. According to Table 1, this corresponds to a percentile rank of 17%, meaning the candidate’s reading proficiency exceeds that of 17% of the norm group.

Table 1: CET-4 Reported Score Percentile Rank Reference Table

Listening Reported Score Percentile (%) Reading Reported Score Percentile (%) Translation & Writing Reported Score Percentile (%) Total Score Percentile (%)
100 1 100 1 95 1 330 1
110 2 110 2 103 2 350 2
120 3 120 4 111 4 370 4
130 7 130 9 119 8 390 7
140 12 140 17 127 16 410 11
150 18 150 26 135 27 430 17
160 26 160 37 143 42 450 25
170 37 170 48 151 58 470 34
180 48 180 62 159 72 490 44
190 59 190 72 167 86 510 55
200 70 200 82 175 94 530 65
210 82 210 90 183 98 550 74
220 91 220 96 191 99 570 83
230 97 230 98 — — 590 90
240 99 240 99 — — 610 95
— — — — — — 630 98
— — — — — — 650 99

Maximum subscores: Listening: 249 (35%); Reading: 249 (35%); Translation & Writing: 212 (30%); Total: 710.

Table 2: CET-6 Reported Score Percentile Rank Reference Table

Listening Reported Score Percentile (%) Reading Reported Score Percentile (%) Translation & Writing Reported Score Percentile (%) Total Score Percentile (%)
100 2 100 — 85 1 330 1
110 5 110 1 93 3 350 2
120 9 120 2 101 6 370 4
130 13 130 3 109 14 390 6
140 19 140 5 117 24 410 10
150 26 150 9 125 38 430 16
160 37 160 14 133 51 450 23
170 47 170 22 141 66 470 33
180 59 180 28 149 79 490 42
190 69 190 40 157 88 510 53
200 78 200 54 165 93 530 66
210 86 210 69 173 97 550 76
220 92 220 83 181 99 570 84
230 97 230 93 — — 590 90
240 99 240 98 — — 610 95
— — — — — — 630 98
— — — — — — 650 99

Maximum subscores: Listening: 249 (35%); Reading: 249 (35%); Translation & Writing: 212 (30%); Total: 710.