CATTI Level 2 common mistakes
CATTI Level 2 · Understand the traps and how to avoid them.
In translation, copying the source sentence structure word-for-word, producing Chinese that is grammatically correct but unnatural (e.g., translating 'The project was completed in 2020' as '该项目被在2020年完成' instead of '该项目于2020年完成').
Candidates often translate at the word level rather than the clause level, especially under time pressure. They fear omitting information, so they preserve every source element in the same order, ignoring Chinese collocation and information flow.
What to do instead
Before writing, identify the main clause and its logical relations (cause, condition, concession) and restructure the sentence according to Chinese conventions: put the condition or time phrase first, avoid unnecessary passive markers like '被', and split long English sentences into shorter Chinese ones. Practice by translating paragraphs, then comparing your version with a model to notice structural shifts.
In translation, leaving out or mistranslating numbers, dates, proper names, and terms with established translations (e.g., rendering 'the World Trade Organization' as '世界贸易组织' correctly but then writing 'WTO' inconsistently elsewhere, or misreading 'billion' as '百万').
These details are easy to overlook when concentrating on sentence meaning. Candidates also lack a habit of verifying terminology and may rely on memory, which is unreliable under exam pressure.
What to do instead
Adopt a two-pass approach: during the first pass, mark all numbers, names, and terms with a highlighter or underline. In the second pass, verify each one against a glossary or reliable source. Build a personal glossary of common international organizations, treaties, and economic terms, and review it before the exam. For numbers, double-check the unit (billion vs. million) and the Chinese expression (亿 vs. 万).
In translation, overusing literal translation for idioms, metaphors, and culturally loaded expressions, resulting in awkward or incomprehensible Chinese (e.g., translating 'to kill two birds with one stone' as '用一块石头杀死两只鸟' instead of '一举两得').
Candidates often lack awareness of the cultural gap and try to preserve the source image. They may also be unfamiliar with common Chinese idioms that convey the same meaning.
What to do instead
When encountering an idiom or metaphor, first ask whether a ready-made Chinese expression exists. If not, consider whether the image can be kept without confusion; if not, translate the meaning. Study categories of idioms (e.g., biblical, sports, nautical) and their common Chinese equivalents. Practice paraphrasing English idioms in plain English first, then translate the paraphrase.
In translation, failing to manage time: spending too long on one difficult sentence or section, leaving insufficient time for revision and for the second passage.
Candidates want to produce a perfect version of the first passage and lose track of the overall time budget. They may also underestimate the time needed for proofreading.
What to do instead
Before the exam, practice with a timer and set strict checkpoints: e.g., finish the first passage in 50 minutes, the second in 50 minutes, and reserve 20 minutes for revision. If stuck on a sentence for more than 3 minutes, write a provisional version and mark it for later review. During revision, focus on checking numbers, names, grammar, and coherence rather than rewriting entire sentences.
In translation, producing a target text that is grammatically correct but lacks cohesion, with abrupt jumps between sentences and unclear referents (e.g., using 'this' or 'it' without a clear antecedent in Chinese).
Candidates translate sentence by sentence without considering the paragraph as a whole. They may also be unaware of Chinese devices for cohesion, such as repetition of nouns, use of conjunctions, and topic-comment structure.
What to do instead
Before translating, read the entire passage to understand its overall meaning and logic. During translation, use appropriate cohesive devices: repeat key nouns instead of using pronouns when ambiguous, add conjunctions like '因此', '然而', '此外' where the logical relation is implicit, and ensure each sentence connects smoothly to the previous one. After translating, read the Chinese text aloud to check for natural flow.
In interpreting, focusing on memorizing words rather than grasping the speaker's logic, leading to fragmented output that misses the main idea and includes irrelevant details.
Candidates often try to note down as many words as possible, especially when they hear unfamiliar terms. This overloads their working memory and prevents them from analyzing the message structure.
What to do instead
Practice active listening: before taking notes, identify the subject, verb, and object of each sentence and the logical links (cause, contrast, sequence). Use a note-taking system that records ideas and relations, not individual words. Do summary exercises: listen to a 2-minute speech and retell it in 30 seconds, focusing on main points.
In interpreting, pausing too long or using excessive fillers ('um', 'uh', '那个', '就是说') when searching for a word, which disrupts fluency and erodes listener confidence.
Candidates fear silence and try to fill it, or they are not trained to use coping tactics. They may also lack vocabulary retrieval speed.
What to do instead
Learn and practice coping tactics: paraphrase (explain the meaning if the exact term is unavailable), generalization (use a broader term), and omission of non-essential details. Train with timed exercises where you must keep speaking for 30 seconds on a topic without preparation. Record yourself and count fillers; aim to reduce them gradually.
In interpreting, delivering the target language with the same sentence structure as the source, resulting in unnatural word order or awkward phrasing (e.g., 'I have a book red' instead of 'I have a red book').
Under time pressure, candidates tend to follow the source syntax closely, especially when interpreting from Chinese to English or vice versa. They may not have automatized the structural differences.
What to do instead
Practice sight translation and consecutive interpreting with a focus on restructuring. For example, when interpreting Chinese '因为下雨，所以比赛取消了' into English, start with 'The match was cancelled because of the rain' rather than 'Because it rained, so the match was cancelled.' Do drills where you must reorder elements (e.g., adjective-noun, verb-object) quickly. Build automaticity through repeated pattern exercises.
In interpreting, ignoring cultural references or specialized terms and rendering them incorrectly or vaguely, causing misunderstanding (e.g., translating 'the Pentagon' as '五角大楼' correctly but 'the Hill' as '山' instead of '国会山').
Candidates may not recognize the cultural reference or may lack the specialized knowledge. They may also be afraid to ask for clarification in the exam setting.
What to do instead
Build background knowledge by reading about politics, economics, and culture in both languages. Keep a glossary of common metonyms and specialized terms. In practice, when you encounter an unknown reference, use a general term (e.g., 'the US government' for 'the Hill') rather than a literal translation. In the exam, if a term is crucial and you are unsure, you can briefly ask the speaker for clarification if the format allows; otherwise, use a safe generalization.
In interpreting, neglecting note-taking system or using an inconsistent one, resulting in notes that are unreadable or ambiguous when delivering the speech.
Candidates may try to write full words or sentences, which slows them down, or they may use ad-hoc symbols that they cannot decode later. They may also not practice enough with their system.
What to do instead
Develop a consistent note-taking system based on symbols, abbreviations, and layout (e.g., diagonal indentation for subject-verb-object, arrows for relations). Practice with the same set of symbols until they become automatic. Use a notebook with a vertical line to separate ideas. Regularly review your notes immediately after interpreting to see if they were effective, and refine your system.