Converting Pipplet Scores

Having said that, and even though there is often no consensus between linguists, it is still possible to establish a system of conversion between the tests. However, it is important to keep in mind that a candidate’s performance can vary from test to test depending on their strengths and method of preparation. 

Other countries outside the EU, such as Turkey, Russia, and South Korea decided to adapt their national tests as well. 

For scores from these tests, the conversion of scores occurs directly through Pipplet. 

For a learner coming with the background of a Latin language, the first step is to learn the writing system. Consequently, their ability to perform depends on their proficiency and command over the writing system. This is especially true for Chinese and Japanese where knowledge of vocabulary becomes integral to measure the competency of the language. 

For Japanese, the existing language exam is the JLPT or the Japanese Language Proficiency Test which consists of five levels of proficiency. The creators of the CEFR have determined no correlation between their exam and the levels of JLPT, which is where the difficulty lays. 

According to independent linguists, the most precise estimate would be to place the lowest level, N5, between A1 and A2 of the CEFR, and the highest level, N1, in correspondence with level C1 of the CEFR (or C1+ according to some linguists). 

The Confucian Institute proposed a system based primarily on the quantity of vocabulary required for each level. According to the creators of the tests, the level HSK1 corresponds with A1, HSK2 to A2, and so on to HSK6 which corresponds with C2. 

However, this point of view is contested by experts in certain European countries. Therefore, in Germany, Italy, and France, HSK2 instead corresponds with A1 and HSK6 corresponds with B2 of the CEFR. 

There is no consensus among linguists of different countries regarding the correlation between the levels of the HSK and the CEFR. 

Nevertheless, Pipplet suggests referring to the conversion proposed by European experts. 

In any case, evaluating a language is not an exact science. It is always easier to compare levels within the same test as the criteria taken into account and the evaluation methods have a notable effect on the final score. It is also necessary to keep in mind the margin of error linked to the conditions in which the test was taken, as well as the fact that a language assessment is always an approximation.