SHANGHAI, Aug. 1 -- PEOPLE who want to work as interpreters and translators in China will need to pass a certified test as the country bids to improve translation quality and service.

All translators working at government organizations, public institutions and state-owned enterprises must pass the China Aptitude Test for Translators and Interpreters (CATTI) before they take up their job starting 2008, said Guo Xiaoyong, director of the leading group of the CATTI.

"The test covers all translators engaged in translation between Chinese and the other seven languages - French, English, Japanese, Russian, German, Spanish and Arabic," Guo said.

"The test, as a professional assessment tool, will help improving the quality of translation service," he said.

Currently, the CATTI is only open to Chinese translators.

China has seen a rapid increase in language-based exchanges and services, a result of expanding Sino-foreign exchanges since the country adopted its reform and opening-up policy about 30 years ago.

The CATTI, launched jointly by the Ministry of Personnel and the China International Publishing Group in July 2003, is regarded as the most authoritative test of its kind in the country.

There were no nationally accepted qualification tests for translators and interpreters before CATTI was launched, though there were many tests organized by different regions and departments.

CATTI has four levels, namely senior, level one, level two and level three.