Background Information Competency tests(资格考试) are used to determine whether or not a person possesses a certain skill to do something, as opposed to a proficiency test which determines how well a person can do something. A competency test is a pass /fail test, the point being not to achieve an exceptional score, but merely to pass it. Usually a competency test is set, in reading and basic math computations, not in all subject areas. Sometimes students must pass competency tests at the end of each academic year to let the school authorities determine whether they are capable of doing work at their grade levelBackground Information Competency tests (资格考试）are used to determine whether or not a person possesses a certain skill to do something, as opposed to a proficiency test which determines how well a person can do something. A competency test is a pass / fail test, the point being not to achieve an exceptional score, but merely to pass it. Usually a competency test is set, in reading and basic math computations, not in all subject areas. Sometimes students must pass competency tests at the end of each academic year to let the school authorities determine whether they are capable of doing work at their grade level