Maple Leaf International School Yiwu becomes a testing center for the Chinese Proficiency Test. [Photo/zgyww.cn]

Maple Leaf International School Yiwu has been approved as testing center for the Chinese Proficiency Test (HSK), an international standardized test of Chinese language proficiency, local media reported on July 1.

The HSK assesses the Chinese language proficiency of non-native Chinese speakers in their daily, academic and professional lives. It is the third largest international language test after the IELTS and TOEFL and has opened over 1,300 testing centers in 152 countries.

The testing center at Maple Leaf International School is the second of its kind in the city and the first primary school to be approved.

Established in 2017, the school uses Western teaching styles and prepares students for admission to Western universities, while also honoring Chinese educational traditions and culture.

The school accepts international students, many of whom are children of foreign businessmen operating businesses in Yiwu, and offers a wide range of options. With international enrollment expanding, the school has been increasing the percentage of Chinese-language lessons.

Yiwu is home to around 15,000 foreign residents. The opening of the second HSK center will help them and their children learn about Chinese culture, apply for scholarships, understand preferential policies, and bond with locals.