How the mastery of Mandarin has evolved with AI
- Daisy Ng
- Sep 9
- 2 min read
Once upon a time, when I was taking my IGCSE (O’ Levels in Singapore) in Chinese as First Language and Chinese Literature, I remember memorising and regurgitating them in a mostly written paper to get my As. While Chinese Literature was a lovely subject to study, tackling the exam itself offered no room for creativity and self expression. It required familiarity with content and citing specific paragraphs to answer the questions fully.
Over the past few years, major Mandarin programmes like the Cambridge IGCSE Chinese (Second Language 0523, revised in 2020 and taught from 2022 onwards) have moved away from an almost exclusive focus on writing. Instead, they now place equal emphasis on listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
In 2021, Singapore’s updated MOE Chinese curriculum follows suit and changes the exam weightage to balance speaking, listening, reading and writing.
This mirrors what China’s Han Yu Shui Ping Kai Shi (汉语水平考试) focuses on developing - listening, reading, speaking and eventually writing.
It also aligns with what we believe defines Mandarin mastery, supported by our show-&-tell, reading sessions and cultural/festive activities.
Why this global shift in assessment?
The way we use language has shifted. With the rise of AI tools, students can now lean on apps to check grammar, structure essays, or even draft compositions in Mandarin. Writing is still important, but it’s no longer the sole marker of mastery.
In short, the future of Mandarin education is about balance.
What AI cannot replace, however, is a child’s ability to truly listen and understand native speakers, hold a conversation, and read fluently across different contexts. These are the skills that reflect real-world communication.
This is great news for parents. It means your child’s Mandarin learning journey is no longer about memorising characters and churning out essays. Instead, it’s about becoming a confident communicator—able to chat with grandparents, order food in Beijing, or discuss ideas with classmates in Mandarin.
Writing remains valuable, but listening, speaking, and reading now take centre stage—because these are the human skills AI can’t do for us, and the ones our children will carry into their everyday lives.
This shift matters deeply for your child’s future — it’s not just about passing exams, but about connecting with family, thriving in school, and confidently using Mandarin on the world stage as a true bilingual communicator.
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