The Zhongwen Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK, abbreviation of the old name Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi; ), translated as the Chinese Proficiency Test, is the People's Republic of China's standardized test of proficiency in the Standard Chinese language for non-native speakers. The test is administered by the National Chinese Proficiency Test Committee, an agency of the Ministry of Education of China.
The test cannot be taken in Taiwan, where only Taiwan's TOCFL exam can be taken. In turn, the TOCFL exam is not available in Mainland China.
Background Development of the HSK test began in 1984 at Beijing Language and Culture University, and was officially made a national standardized test in 1992. By 2005, over 120 countries had participated as regular host sites and the tests had been taken around 100 million times, including domestic ethnic minority candidates. In 2011, Beijing International Chinese College became the first HSK testing center to conduct the HSK test online.
The HSK test is analogous to the English TOEFL, and an HSK certificate is valid without any limitation in China. The test aims to be a certificate of language proficiency for higher educational and professional purposes. It is not uncommon to refer to a standard or level of proficiency by the HSK level number, or score. For example, a job description might ask for foreign applicants with "HSK5 or better."
The HSK is administered solely in Mandarin and in simplified Chinese characters; however, if the exam is paper-based, the test-taker can choose to write the writing assignments in simplified or in traditional characters, at their discretion. The test can be either paper-based or Internet-based, depending on what the specific test center offers. With an Internet-based test, the writing part with characters is subjectively slightly easier, as one types the pinyin and selects the right character from the list, while with a paper-based test, one must remember the characters, their strokes and their order, and write them out.
Test takers with outstanding results can win a scholarship for short-term language study in China.
Structure
HSK 3.0 (2025) On November 15, 2025, the official HSK 3.0 exam syllabus was released at the 2025 World Chinese Language Conference in Beijing, resolving the years of uncertainty following the 2021 framework announcement.
Built upon the 2021 standard, the syllabus lowered the vocabulary requirements at the beginner and intermediate levels. It also made speaking tests mandatory from Level 3 onwards. The syllabus took effect November 18, 2025, a global trial exam was held January 31, 2026. As of July 2026, the full rollout of HSK 3.0 exams have yet to be implemented.
+ New HSK 3.0 (2025) syllabus Level Band Words Characters(recognition) Characters(writing) Grammar points introduced cumulative introduced cumulative introduced cumulative introduced cumulative Beginner 1 300 300 246 246 0 0 70 70 2 200 500 125 371 100 100 78 148 3 500 1000 284 655 150 250 96 244 Intermediate 4 1000 2000 441 1096 150 400 95 339 5 1600 3600 431 1527 150 550 70 409 6 1800 5400 413 1940 150 700 50 459 Advanced 7–9 5600 11000 1148 3088 500 1200 134 593 Total 11000 3088 1200 593
+ New HSK 3.0 (2025) exam structure Level Written test Speaking test Listening Reading Writing Questions Time Questions Time Questions Time Items Time HSK 1 20 ~12 min 20 20 min Not tested Not tested HSK 2 25 ~17 min 25 25 min 10 10 min Not tested HSK 3 30 ~23 min 30 30 min 10 20 min 15 ~15 min HSK 4 32 ~20 min 32 30 min 6 25 min 5 ~20 min HSK 5 35 ~25 min 35 35 min 2 40 min 5 ~23 min HSK 6 40 ~30 min 40 40 min 2 45 min 5 ~23 min
HSK 3.0 (2021–2025)
In 2020, an internal Chinese academic paper discussed that the Chinese Proficiency Standards would undergo a change: a hybrid paradigm of "Three Stages and Nine Levels" characterized by all-in-one integration. The Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China announced further details regarding HSK 3.0 on April 1, 2021. Among the information shared was a wordlist for each individual stage, and a date for the introduction of the new test—July 1, 2021. Newer grammar practice materials for the intermediate and advanced levels published by the Beijing Language and Culture University Press were released in September and December 2022.
HSK 2021 3.0 included a focus on handwritten Chinese characters and translation, which was not included in HSK 2.0. Also there was a redistribution of words in each level. For instance, some words were previously grouped under Level 3, but then were under Level 1 in HSK 3.0.
Although the HSK 7–9 exam officially launched in March 2022, the launch of the 1–6 levels was delayed for this entire period. The HSK 1–6 exams remained on HSK 2.0 until the official release of the 2025 revision.
+ New HSK 3.0 (2021–2025) syllabus Level Band Syllables WordsCharacters(recognition)Characters(writing) Grammar points introduced cumulative introduced cumulative introduced cumulative introduced cumulative introduced cumulative Beginner 1 269 269 500 500 300 300 300 300 48 48 2 199 468 772 1272 300 600 81 129 3 140 608 973 2245 300 900 81 210 Intermediate 4 116 724 1000 3245 300 1200 400 700 76 286 5 98 822 1071 4316 300 1500 71 357 6 86 908 1140 5456 300 1800 67 424 Advanced 7–9 202 1110 5636 11092 1200 3000 500 1200 148 572 Total 1110 11092 30001200 572
HSK 2.0 (2010–2021) The previous format was introduced in 2010, with a philosophy of testing "comprehensive language and communication ability". Most notable are the inclusion of written segments at all levels (not just in the Advanced levels as in the pre-2010 test), a reform of the ranking system, and the use of new question structures. Complete vocabulary lists, previous tests, and simulated tests are available as preparation materials. A minor update of the vocabulary lists was made in 2012.
The HSK consists of a written test and an oral test, which are taken separately. This oral test is also known as the HSKK or .
Written test Level Vocabulary Written test Description Words(cumulative / new) Characters(cumulative / new) Listening Reading Writing 1 150 150 174 174 20 questions, 15 min 20 questions, 17 min Not tested Designed for learners who can understand and use some simple Chinese characters and sentences to communicate, and prepares them for continuing their Chinese studies. In HSK 1 all characters are provided along with pinyin. 2 300 150 348 174 35 questions, 25 min 25 questions, 22 min Designed for learners who can use Chinese in a simple and direct manner, applying it in a basic fashion to their daily lives. In HSK 2 all characters are provided along with pinyin. 3 600 300 618 270 40 questions 30 questions 10 items Designed for learners who can use Chinese to serve the demands of their personal lives, studies and work, and are capable of completing most of the communicative tasks they experience during their Chinese tour. 4 1200 600 1064 446 45 questions 40 questions 15 items Designed for learners who can discuss a relatively wide range of topics in Chinese and are capable of communicating with Chinese speakers at a high standard. 5 2500 1300 1685 621 45 questions 45 questions 10 items Designed for learners who can read Chinese newspapers and magazines, watch Chinese films and are capable of writing and delivering a lengthy speech in Chinese. 6 5000 2500 2663 978 50 questions 50 questions 1 composition Designed for learners who can easily understand any information communicated in Chinese and are capable of smoothly expressing themselves in written or oral form.
The Listening, Reading and Writing tests each have a maximum score of 100. HSK 1 and 2 therefore have a maximum score of 200 with 120 points required to pass. HSK 3 and 4 have a maximum of 300 points with 180 points required to pass. There is no minimum number of points required for each of the sections as long as the sum is over 120 or 180 points respectively.
HSK 5 and 6 also have a maximum of 300 points and originally required a score of 180 points to pass. However, since a decision made in February 2013, there has been no official passing score for either HSK 5 or 6.
Hanban provides examples of the exam for the different levels together with a list of words that need to be known for each level. These examples are also available (together with the audio for the Listening Test) on the websites of the Confucius Institute at QUT and HSK Academy.
Online test The written version is now available in two forms, a computer and a paper based test. Both tests are still held at test centers, the differences between the two are as follows: Not every test center has the facilities for conducting computer-based tests Computer-based tests allow you to input characters using the keyboard Results of computer-based tests are published two weeks after the exam, paper-based test results take one month
Oral test The HSKK test is a separate test. However, the three HSKK levels correspond with the six HSK levels of the written test. HSK level HSKK level CEFR Words Questions Minutes 1 Beginner A 200 27 17 2 3 Intermediate B 900 14 21 4 5 Advanced C 3000 6 24 6
Comparison with CEFR levels In 2010, Hanban asserted that the HSK's six levels corresponded to the six levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). However, the German and French associations of Chinese language teachers reject this equivalency, arguing that HSK Level 6 is only equivalent to CEFR Level B2 or C1.
HSK Estimated CEFR level Level Words (sum) Characters (sum) Hanban France Germany Italy TOCFL 6 5000 2663 C2 B2 to C1 B2 B1+ to B2 B2 5 2500 1685 C1 B1 to B2 B1 A2+ to B1 B1 4 1200 1064 B2 A2 A2 A1+ to A2 A2 3 600 618 B1 A1 to A2 A1 A1.1 to A1.2 A1 2 300 348 A2 A1.1 A1.1 (without writingohne Schriftzeichenkenntnisse) A1.1 Below A1 1 150 174 A1 Below A1 Below A1 Below A1 Below A1
Before 2010 Test Rank (等第) Vocabulary(cumulative) Score (级别) CertificateAdvancedCharacters: 2865Words: 884011 Advanced A10 Advanced B9 Advanced C*— noneElementary/IntermediateCharacters: 2194Words: 52578 Intermediate A7 Intermediate B6 Intermediate CCharacters: 1603Words: 30525 Elementary A4 Elementary B3 Elementary C**— noneBasicCharacters: 800Words: 10333 Basic A2 Basic B1 Basic C— none*Generally signifies a professional level.**Generally required for non-language academic programs.
Ranking
Formerly, there were 11 possible ranks (1–11) and 3 test formats (Basic, Elementary/Intermediate, and Advanced). A rank of between 3 and 8 was needed to enroll in a Chinese university, depending on the subject being studied. A score of 9 or higher was a common business standard.
A student taking the Basic test (HSK) could attain a rank of 1 through 3 (1–3), or fail to meet requirements and thus not receive a rank. The Elementary/Intermediate test (HSK) covered ranks 3–8 (3–8), with ranks below 3 not considered. Likewise, the Advanced test (HSK) covered ranks 9–11 (9–11), with scores below 9 not considered.
Content The previous format for both Basic and Elementary/Intermediate HSK included four sections: listening comprehension, grammar structures, reading comprehension, and written expressions. Aside from the written expressions portion (which requires writing of Chinese characters), these two tests were completely multiple-choice. The Advanced HSK however, added an additional two portions: spoken and written.
Test dates and locations