On June 22, 2025, a major incident occurred at the Tianjin test site for the National Translation Professional Qualification (Level) Examination (CATTI exam). Multiple candidates arrived at the designated test center only to discover incorrect information about the examination venue. The new test site was located 20 to 30 kilometers away from the original one, resulting in many candidates being forced to abandon the exam due to the impact on time, distance, and mentality.
The situation unfolded during the CATTI exam held at the Tianjin test center on June 22. It was reported that there was a mix-up in the allocation of examination rooms, causing the exam scheduled for 9 a.m. to be delayed until 11 a.m. or even later, prompting many candidates to forfeit the exam.
According to a report by Hongxing News, several affected candidates confirmed the mix-up of examination rooms. They expressed concerns about whether there would be a makeup exam arranged and are currently awaiting further information.
A candidate using the pseudonym Xiaote mentioned on the afternoon of June 22 that the morning session from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. was the written translation comprehensive ability test, while the afternoon session from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. was the practical translation test.
“I arrived at Tianjin Business Vocational College test center a little after 8 a.m. and found my assigned seat according to the information on my admission ticket. Around 8:20 a.m., the invigilator started checking candidates’ information but found that none of the details matched for the classroom I was in.”
The candidate continued, stating that they were asked to wait on-site by the invigilator. It wasn’t until around 10:20 a.m. that candidates were informed they could rush to the new test center and take the exam there.
Xiaote was redirected to Tianjin Vocational University’s main campus as the new examination center. “This center was more than 30 kilometers away from my original location. Carrying two heavy dictionaries, I decided to give up because I wasn’t sure if I could make it in time and the whole ordeal was quite stressful for me.”
Another candidate, Xiaonai, revealed that her original test center was the Northern Talent Market in Nankai District, Tianjin, while the new test center was at Tianjin Vocational University in Beichen District, a distance of over 20 kilometers between the two locations.
Xiaonai, too, had to make the difficult decision to forfeit the exam. “There were quite a few people around me who also chose to give up,” she said.
The CATTI exam is a nationally unified professional qualification certification, held only once a year. For many graduates of foreign language majors, this certificate is crucial for employment opportunities. The error in the examination room allocation means that those forced to forfeit the exam can only apply again next year, losing not only the registration fee but also valuable opportunities and time.
Officials from the Tianjin 12333 examination hotline have received numerous inquiries regarding the situation. However, it is still under consideration whether there will be makeup exams for candidates who were unable to take the examination, and there is no clear answer at the moment.
Repeated calls to the Tianjin Talent Evaluation Center on the afternoon of June 22 went unanswered.