No certificates will be issued for the College English Test (CET) from June this year, the Ministry of Education said Friday.
   
The move was one of the reform measures implemented by the ministry to improve the CET as it was frequently criticized after many cases of cheating had come to light recently.
   
The CET primarily targets college students whose majors are not English. It has two levels, Band 4 and Band 6. Both are intended for higher-level English.
  
Although the CET is designed to measure a student’s English ability, because of its wide recognition, almost all colleges in China require bachelor’s degree students to pass the CET Band 4. Employers, including foreign companies, prefer applicants with a CET certificate. Other privately educated graduates also took part in the tests to find jobs.
   
It was estimated that about 2 million people sat for CET tests every year.
   
Many said the CET certificates had been overemphasized in job hunting after reports found that many people cheated in the tests to get a certificate for a better job.
   
Instead of CET certificates, the ministry will issue copies of test results.
   
Each CET test has four parts: listening, reading, writing and comprehensive questions.
   
The percentage of listening scores would be increased from 20 to 35 percent beginning June this year to show a participants’ actual English capability, the Ministry of Education said.

(Shenzhen Daily February 28, 2005)