Free Practice Questions for YCT 1
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Key Facts: YCT 1 Exam
YCT Level 1 has 35 questions total: Listening 20 questions and Reading 15 questions (chinesetest.cn).
The YCT Level 1 maximum score is 200 points, and 120 or higher is a passing score (chinesetest.cn).
YCT Level 1 lasts about 35 minutes, including roughly 5 minutes to fill in personal information.
YCT Level 1 is built around approximately 80 core Chinese vocabulary words and phrases.
The YCT Listening section has 20 questions in 4 parts, and the Reading section has 15 questions in 3 parts.
All Chinese text on YCT Level 1 is shown with pinyin and uses simplified characters.
YCT Level 1 is designed for young beginner learners around ages 4–7 and sits below HSK Level 1 in difficulty.
YCT is administered by Chinese Testing International (CTI) under the Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC, formerly Hanban).
YCT Level 1 question types are picture-based, including picture–word True/False (对/错), picture selection, and fill-in-the-blank.
YCT Level 1 is the entry level of a four-level Youth Chinese Test series (YCT 1 through YCT 4).
YCT Level 1 is China's entry-level Youth Chinese Test for young beginners, with 35 questions across Listening (20) and Reading (15); it covers about 80 words, shows all text with pinyin, and 120/200 passes.
Sample YCT 1 Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to review concepts for the YCT 1 exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1听力 第一部分：看图听词，判断对错。 (Listening Part 1: Look at the picture, listen to the word, and decide if they match.) (Picture: a small cat sitting down.) 录音 (Audio): māo (猫 — cat). 图片和录音一样吗？(Does the picture match the audio?)
2听力 第一部分：看图听词，判断对错。 (Listening Part 1: Look at the picture, listen to the word, decide if they match.) (Picture: a red apple.) 录音 (Audio): shuǐ (水 — water). 图片和录音一样吗？(Does the picture match the audio?)
3听力 第一部分：看图听词，判断对错。 (Listening Part 1: Look at the picture, listen, decide if they match.) (Picture: a hand showing three fingers.) 录音 (Audio): sān (三 — three). 图片和录音一样吗？(Does the picture match the audio?)
4听力 第一部分：看图听词，判断对错。 (Listening Part 1: Look at the picture, listen, decide if they match.) (Picture: a glass of water.) 录音 (Audio): shū (书 — book). 图片和录音一样吗？(Does the picture match the audio?)
5听力 第一部分：看图听词，判断对错。 (Listening Part 1: Look at the picture, listen, decide if they match.) (Picture: a woman who is a mother holding a child.) 录音 (Audio): māma (妈妈 — mom). 图片和录音一样吗？(Does the picture match the audio?)
6听力 第二部分：听句子，选择正确的图片。 (Listening Part 2: Listen to the sentence and choose the correct picture — described in words below.) 录音 (Audio): Wǒ xǐhuan chī mǐfàn. (我喜欢吃米饭。— I like to eat rice.) 哪个图片对？(Which picture is correct?)
7听力 第二部分：听句子，选择正确的图片。 (Listening Part 2: Listen and choose the correct picture.) 录音 (Audio): Zhè shì yì zhī gǒu. (这是一只狗。— This is a dog.) 哪个图片对？(Which picture is correct?)
8听力 第二部分：听句子，选择正确的图片。 (Listening Part 2: Listen and choose the correct picture.) 录音 (Audio): Tā zài kàn shū. (他在看书。— He is reading a book.) 哪个图片对？(Which picture is correct?)
9听力 第二部分：听句子，选择正确的图片。 (Listening Part 2: Listen and choose the correct picture.) 录音 (Audio): Wǒ yǒu sān běn shū. (我有三本书。— I have three books.) 哪个图片对？(Which picture is correct?)
10听力 第二部分：听句子，选择正确的图片。 (Listening Part 2: Listen and choose the correct picture.) 录音 (Audio): Māma hē chá. (妈妈喝茶。— Mom drinks tea.) 哪个图片对？(Which picture is correct?)
About the YCT 1 Exam
YCT Level 1 (Youth Chinese Test, 中小学生汉语考试 一级) is the first level of China's official standardized Chinese test for young foreign learners, administered by Chinese Testing International (CTI) under the Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC, formerly Hanban). It is designed for primary-school-age children just beginning Chinese — typically beginners around ages 4–7 — and sits below HSK Level 1 in difficulty. The exam has 35 questions split into two sections: Listening (20 questions in 4 parts) and Reading (15 questions in 3 parts), completed in about 35 minutes including time to fill in personal information. Content is heavily image-based and child-friendly, covering greetings, numbers 1–10, family members, animals, colors, school items, food, and simple actions, and every Chinese word is shown with pinyin in simplified characters. Test takers are expected to know roughly 80 core vocabulary words. The maximum score is 200 points, and 120 or higher is a pass, with Listening and Reading scored separately. YCT Level 1 confirms that a young learner can understand and use the most common Chinese words and short sentences and is ready to continue studying Chinese.
Exam sponsor: Chinese Testing International (CTI), Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC), Ministry of Education, China. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.
Questions
35 questions
Time Limit
Approximately 35 minutes total: Listening ~10 minutes, Reading ~15 minutes, plus about 5 minutes for personal information.
Passing Score
120 out of 200 (60%); maximum score is 200 with separate Listening and Reading scores shown on the report.
Exam / Certification Fees
Roughly USD 15–25 (about €10–20) at international centers; YCT Level 1 is the lowest and cheapest YCT level. Fees vary by country — verify current fees at ChineseTest.cn or your local test center.
Exam sponsor websiteFees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.
Our practice resources: topics covered
We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.
Listening Comprehension
20 questions across 4 parts of 5: picture–word True/False, picture selection by sentence, picture–sentence True/False, and short-dialogue comprehension. Recordings play twice and pair with pictures.
Reading Comprehension
15 questions across 3 parts of 5: judge whether a picture and word match (对/错), match a sentence to a picture, and fill in the blank with the correct word. All text appears with pinyin.
Preparing for the YCT 1 Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: 120 out of 200 (60%); maximum score is 200 with separate Listening and Reading scores shown on the report.
- Exam length: 35 questions
- Time limit: Approximately 35 minutes total: Listening ~10 minutes, Reading ~15 minutes, plus about 5 minutes for personal information.
- Exam / certification fees: Roughly USD 15–25 (about €10–20) at international centers; YCT Level 1 is the lowest and cheapest YCT level. Fees vary by country — verify current fees at ChineseTest.cn or your local test center. Official sources
Using Our Practice Resources
- Work through all 100 available questions
- Review every answer and explanation
- Track weak areas and revisit them
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
YCT 1: Suggested Study Strategy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the YCT Level 1 exam and who is it for?
YCT Level 1 (Youth Chinese Test, 中小学生汉语考试 一级) is the entry level of China's official standardized Chinese test for young foreign learners. It is designed for primary-school-age children who are absolute beginners — typically around ages 4–7 — and sits below HSK Level 1. It confirms a child can understand and use the most common Chinese words and short sentences.
How is the YCT Level 1 exam structured?
YCT Level 1 has 35 questions across two sections: Listening (20 questions in 4 parts of 5) and Reading (15 questions in 3 parts of 5). The total time is about 35 minutes, including roughly 5 minutes to fill in personal information. The test is heavily image-based, and all Chinese text is shown with pinyin in simplified characters.
What score do I need to pass YCT Level 1?
The maximum score is 200 points, and 120 or higher (60%) is a pass. The score report shows separate scores for Listening and Reading along with the total. YCT is administered by Chinese Testing International (CTI) under the Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC).
How many words do I need to know for YCT Level 1?
YCT Level 1 is built around approximately 80 core vocabulary words and phrases. These cover everyday beginner topics such as greetings, numbers 1–10, family members, animals, colors, school items, food, and simple actions.
What kinds of questions appear on the YCT Level 1 test?
Because YCT Level 1 is for young children, most items are picture-based. Listening includes picture–word True/False (对/错), picture selection, picture–sentence True/False, and short-dialogue questions. Reading includes judging whether a picture and word match, matching sentences to pictures, and choosing the right word for a blank.
Is YCT Level 1 easier than HSK 1?
Yes. YCT Level 1 is the easiest standardized Chinese test in this family and sits below HSK Level 1. It uses about 80 words, shows all text with pinyin, relies heavily on pictures, and tests very simple, child-friendly language rather than the wider vocabulary and grammar of HSK 1.