CATTI Level 2 exam-day guide
CATTI Level 2 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Printed admission ticket / confirmation letter
CATTI registration is handled through the official Chinese testing channels; the exact entry document (printed 准考证 or an electronic pass) is set per test centre and per year. Print the confirmation you received at registration and bring a paper copy. Confirm with the provider whether a printed pass is mandatory or an electronic one is accepted.
Valid ID matching your registration
Bring the same ID type and number you used at registration (typically a resident ID card for mainland candidates, or a passport for others). A mismatch between the ID on the admission document and the document in hand is a common reason for being turned away. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted at your centre.
Black ink pens, at least two
The written translation papers are handwritten. Bring two or three black ballpoint or gel pens you have already tested, plus a spare refill. Blue ink and pencil are risky for scanned scripts. Confirm with the provider whether black ink is required or merely recommended.
Correction tape or fluid (if permitted)
Neat corrections matter because scripts may be scanned. Check the current notice on permitted stationery; some centres restrict certain correction products. Confirm with the provider before relying on it.
No electronic devices beyond what is allowed
Phones, smart watches, earbuds and similar devices are normally collected or must be powered off and stored away from the desk. Leaving a phone on your person during the paper is treated as a conduct issue. Confirm with the provider where devices are stored.
Know your test mode: paper or computer
CATTI has been moving parts of the exam to computer-based delivery, but the mode depends on level, language pair and centre. Confirm with the provider well in advance, because it changes what you may bring and how you practise.
Printed or written dictionary policy check
Rules on bringing paper dictionaries into the translation papers have changed over time and vary by level and mode. Do not assume; confirm with the provider whether dictionaries are allowed and which types (paper only, no annotations, no electronic).
Rehearse the time split for each paper
Know in advance how many minutes you will spend reading, drafting and checking for each section, and write the split on your practice sheet. Decide your cut-off point for abandoning a stubborn sentence and moving on.
Practise handwriting speed or typing speed
If the paper is handwritten, time yourself producing a full translation by hand; most candidates write far slower than they type. If computer-based, practise typing Chinese and the foreign language under time pressure, including punctuation input.
Plan the journey and arrival buffer
Locate the exact building and room, not just the campus. Aim to arrive well before the start time to allow for ID checks and device collection. Confirm with the provider the arrival time and late-entry cut-off.
Food, water and medication for a long sitting
Papers can run long and breaks are limited. Eat properly beforehand, bring water if permitted, and carry any necessary medication. Confirm with the provider whether water bottles are allowed at the desk.
A one-page personal glossary for last-minute review
Prepare a short sheet of terms, proper nouns and fixed expressions you keep missing. Review it in the final hour before entry, then put it away; it is for memory priming, not for use during the paper.
Plan the day
Switch from learning to consolidation. Do one full timed mock of each paper under realistic conditions, including handwriting or typing, and mark where you lost time. Then stop taking on new vocabulary lists and new theory; the marginal return is low and the anxiety cost is high. Check your admission document, ID and stationery against the checklist, and confirm the test mode, dictionary policy and permitted items with the provider if anything is unclear.
Review your own error patterns rather than new material: recurring mistranslations, register slips, number and unit handling, proper-noun consistency, and punctuation conventions in the target language. Re-read the instructions for each section so that no exam-day minutes are spent working out what is being asked. Do a light speed drill, for example translating two short passages in half the normal time, to rehearse decision-making under pressure.
Pack everything the night before: admission document, ID, pens, permitted correction items, water if allowed. Lay out clothes and plan the route with a backup option. Do a final short review of your one-page glossary, then stop. Sleep at your normal time; a late cramming session costs more in alertness than it gains in knowledge. Set two alarms and check transport schedules for the morning.
Eat a proper meal, arrive at the site with a generous buffer, and complete ID checks and device storage without rushing. Once seated, read the whole paper before writing: note the sections, the marks and the suggested time. Write your time plan at the top of the answer sheet or scratch paper. For translation sections, skim the source text once for topic and register before producing sentences, and reserve the last several minutes for checking names, numbers and omissions.
Follow your time plan and move on when a sentence resists; leave a gap and return if time allows. Keep terminology consistent across the whole text, and keep the target-language register stable rather than drifting between formal and casual. Watch the clock at fixed checkpoints rather than constantly. If a section is going badly, protect the remaining sections instead of over-investing. Stop writing when instructed; continuing after the time call can be treated as a conduct issue.
Do not post or discuss the actual passages in detail online, and do not attempt to reconstruct the paper for others. Note briefly what cost you time and what worked, while it is fresh, so that a retake or the next level is better planned. Then rest; results and certificate arrangements are handled through the official channels, so check those rather than relying on forum rumours.
Rules to check
Bring the ID that matches your registration exactly. If the name or number differs from the admission document, you may be refused entry; contact the provider before test day if you spot a discrepancy.
Arrive by the stated time. Late arrival and early departure are governed by centre rules and the published notice; confirm with the provider what the late-entry cut-off is rather than assuming you will be admitted.
Phones, smart watches, earbuds and other devices must be switched off and stored as instructed. Keeping a device at the desk during the paper is a conduct violation regardless of whether you used it.
Use only stationery and reference materials the current notice permits. Dictionary rules have changed over time and vary by level and mode, so confirm with the provider instead of relying on what earlier candidates did.
Write legibly and within the marked areas. Scripts may be scanned, and answers outside the designated space or in illegible handwriting may not be credited.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the paper, do not look at others' scripts, and do not remove answer sheets or question papers from the room.
Stop writing immediately when time is called. Continuing after the instruction can lead to invalidation of your paper.
Scoring is against fixed criteria applied by trained markers, not a curve you can negotiate. Answer every required section; a blank section cannot be compensated for by strength elsewhere. Result review and appeal routes are set by the provider, so confirm them through official channels.