CATTI Level 2 case studies
CATTI Level 2 · Put your knowledge to work in context.
CATTI Level 2 (翻译专业资格考试二级) is the upper-intermediate tier of China's national translation and interpreting qualification system, administered under the China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration (中国外文局) and promoted through the official 全国翻译人才评价网 portal, which lists 中国外文界 and 中国翻译协会 as its associated bodies. Candidates typically include working translators and interpreters, MTI graduates and final-year students, in-house language staff in government, media and enterprises, and freelancers who want an externally recognised benchmark of professional competence rather than a purely academic certificate. The CATTI Level 2 case studies are 5 cases and about 3,198 words.
1Government Work Report: Fixing a Policy Term and a Metaphor Under Deadline
You are translating a 12,000-character municipal government work report from Chinese into English for an international investment forum. The client's project manager gives three constraints: use established official renderings where they exist; keep the formal register but make it accessible to foreign investors who know little about China's policy vocabulary; no footnotes; deliver in 48 hours.
689 words, about 3 min2Negotiation Interpreting: An Unspecified Yield Figure and a Blunt Deadline
You are the consecutive interpreter for a 90-minute negotiation between a Chinese battery manufacturer and a German automaker. The Chinese side says: '我们良率已经做到99.5%，成本比同行低15%，但账期必须控制在60天以内，否则免谈。' Earlier the German side stated that its standard payment term is 45 days.
626 words, about 3 min3Inflight Magazine: A Li Bai Couplet, Mooncakes and a 300-Word Limit
You are translating an 800-character Chinese essay for an airline inflight magazine. The essay reflects on 乡愁 and quotes Li Bai: '举头望明月，低头思故乡.' The client's brief says: keep it poetic and readable for international travellers; maximum 300 English words; no footnotes or endnotes; the magazine's style avoids italicised foreign terms.
651 words, about 3 min4Oncology Conference: Uncertain Terminology and a Claim of Confidence
You are interpreting for a Chinese oncologist at an international conference. The speaker presents in Chinese and you interpret into English.
628 words, about 3 min5Software Licence: When the Client Asks the Translator to 'Strengthen' Liability
You are translating a 5,000-word software licence agreement from Chinese into English. The clause reads: '乙方应在收到甲方书面通知后30日内完成整改，包括但不限于修复缺陷、提供补丁和更新文档。' Another clause says: '如乙方逾期未整改，甲方有权解除合同并要求赔偿损失。' Your client is 甲方, the licensor.
604 words, about 3 min