#mandarin is so difficult (affectionate) but mandarin is so difficult (derogatory)

[marilearnsmandarin]

Rant

I'm taking the HSK4 in a week.

A whole year ago I took a mock test and got 71% right. I even considered taking the test then (so glad I didn't!)

Since then, I've had an entire year to study. I've used the app SuperChinese every. single. day. and finished all the HSK4 level lessons. I've also had 3 hours of Chinese class every week. Not to mention the podcasts I've listened to, the cdramas I've watched, the occasional reading...

So I was a little bit disappointed when I took two mock tests last month, a few weeks apart, and got

on the first one and

on the second.

For the past month I've studied a lot more focusing on the test. I've been listening to mock tests' audios and doing reading exercises every day besides reviewing SuperChinese and copying characters I struggle remembering... and today I got

I know I'm (probably) going to pass, but I feel like I've been working really hard and not getting anywhere.

I'm also gonna be really relieved after the test is done and over with, but what is that going to mean for my motivation?

I don't see myself taking another HSK test anytime soon.

Mock tests taken on allmusing.net