This reminds me of the english students I frequently encounter. I tell them to take the PETS english tests to measure their English level but they are determined to begin with level 3 (level 1-5). I urge them Not to do this but they know better. I tell them that a failure does not give them a fair estimate of their level. On they go and take PETS 3 and they fail just as I expected and they learn nothing from this expereince. On the contrary, now they are psychologically disappointed and they quit.
The more intelligent students I have begin with level 1 and move on to 2,3,4 and 5. Learning and improving with time and measuring their progress. They are encouraged to contninue studying and get to the next level. Additionally, they get a certificate that proves their level and this certificate serves other important purposes associated with english.
@HFCAMPO People learn at different rates depending on their talents, energy and time available. When I started a year and a half ago my teacher recommended I take level 2 first. I did and cant remember exactly how I scored but it was well over 90%. So I daresay she judged the situation well. That was in Ireland and since then I have studied fulltime for a year in China and my professional teachers here recommend I take HSK 4 so thats what I wil do. Each person must find their own method....the important thing is that students learn well! Im sure ur approach works great for tons of people and thats cool.
Yes, people learn at different rates but the OP admits he has failed the last test so it makes me wonder why the op will skip and move forward without passing the previous level.
It seems you take all comments y made by people very personally here and apply them to your own situation. I was asking a question of the OP but it seems you like to answer for others.
@HFCAMPO The op said he "narrowly" failed HSK 5 so to me it seems perfectly sensible to keep working away and to move on to HSK 6. To sit the HSK u have to pay something ike 600 RMB and make ur way to a testing centre and then wait like a month for ur results. If I failed the HSK 5 by a couple of percentage points I would prefer not to take it again and instead start working on HSK 6 rather then going thru the whole rigmarole of doing HSK 5 again unless I needed it for some particular reason. I guess if the op feel like giving u his personal story then he will.
As to me "taking it personally" I dont know where u see that. I simply replied in very general way to a post in a thread I was already involved in. I used my own story just as an example and indeed the last sentence "Each person must find their own method....the important thing is that students learn well! Im sure ur approach works great for tons of people and thats cool." could hardly be more general. Y u think I "take all comments....personally" mystifies me.
all the best
Daithi
