Test format & sections
Listening
Level-dependent · Present at every level, scaling in difficulty
Speed and passage complexity increase steadily from Level 1 to Level 9.
Reading
Level-dependent · Present at every level, scaling in difficulty
Passage length and vocabulary demand rise with level, following the new 3.0 vocabulary distribution.
Writing
Level-dependent · Level-dependent tasks
Genuine handwriting is only required from Level 5 onward — below that, recognition-based character tasks are used instead.
Speaking
Level-dependent · Mandatory from Level 3
Previously a separate, often-skipped test (HSKK) — under 3.0 it's part of the main exam and cannot be skipped from Level 3 up.
Translation
Level-dependent · Introduced Level 4+
New to HSK under 3.0 — has no legacy 1–6 equivalent, so candidates need dedicated practice regardless of prior HSK experience.
How HSK is scored
Under 3.0, each level reports subscores across the skills it tests (listening/reading/writing, plus speaking from Level 3 and translation from Level 4), broadly mapped to CEFR (Level 6 ≈ C1, Levels 7–9 ≈ C2). CLEC had not published one unified points/pass-mark scale covering all 9 levels as of the 3.0 rollout — the legacy HSK 1–6 200–300 point scale and its per-level pass marks no longer apply under 3.0. Always confirm current scoring methodology for a specific level with the test centre.
Score levels
Typical requirements
HSK frequently asked questions
What is HSK 3.0 and when did it start?
HSK 3.0 is China's overhauled Chinese-proficiency test framework, expanding from 6 levels to 9. First global trial exams ran 31 January 2026, with full rollout from July 2026. It replaces the legacy HSK 1–6 system — older vocabulary lists, scoring scales, and the separate optional HSKK speaking test no longer apply under 3.0.
Is speaking still a separate, optional test?
Not from Level 3 onward. Under 3.0, speaking is folded directly into the main exam and is mandatory starting at Level 3 — previously it was a separate test (HSKK) many self-study learners skipped entirely.
Do I need to write Chinese characters by hand?
Only from Level 5 onward. Below Level 5, writing tasks use recognition-based formats (like completing a character from pinyin) rather than requiring genuine handwriting.
How much vocabulary do I need to know?
It depends on your level, and the distribution changed shape under 3.0 — an "inverted pyramid" where lower levels actually require LESS vocabulary than before (e.g. old Level 2's ~1,272 words dropped to about 500), while the top level's vocabulary load increased substantially. Studying an old legacy-system wordlist for your level will leave real gaps.
What's new about Levels 7–9?
They're brand new under 3.0 — advanced, near-native levels sharing a single combined exam, with an oral-defence-style speaking component and professional-level translation. Full official scoring/format details for these three levels weren't fully published as of the most recent information available, so check the latest CLEC announcements if you're preparing for this tier.
I've studied for old HSK 4 or 5 before — does that still help?
Partially, but don't assume it's equivalent. The same level number now requires a different vocabulary set, and if you're at Level 3 or above you also need speaking practice (mandatory now) and, from Level 4, translation — a skill the legacy exam never tested at all.