HSK levels: three bands, nine levels, side by side
HSK 3.0 restructures the exam into three bands and nine levels, covering 11,092 words and 3,000 characters. Below is what each level actually requires — vocabulary, timing, pass mark and what you can do with it.
| Levels | Words | Characters | Time | Pass | CEFR | Mock tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HSK 1Handle greetings, numbers, dates and the simplest daily exchanges. | 500 | 300 | 40 min | 120/200 | A1 | Coming soon |
| HSK 2Talk about routine, shopping, travel and immediate needs. | 1,272 | 600 | 55 min | 120/200 | A2 | Coming soon |
| HSK 3Cope with most situations while travelling or studying in Chinese. | 2,245 | 900 | 1 h 30 min | 180/300 | B1 | Coming soon |
| HSK 4Discuss a broad range of topics and communicate fluently with native speakers. The usual bar for university admission and scholarships. | 3,245 | 1,200 | 1 h 45 min | 180/300 | B1+ | Coming soon |
| HSK 5Read Chinese newspapers and magazines, follow films, and give a full speech. | 4,316 | 1,500 | 2 h 5 min | 180/300 | B2 | Coming soon |
| HSK 6Understand written and spoken Chinese with ease and express yourself fluently in writing and speech. | 5,456 | 1,800 | 2 h 20 min | 180/300 | C1 | Coming soon |
| HSK 7–9Work, research or teach in Chinese. One computer-based paper, graded into bands 7, 8 or 9. | 11,092 | 3,000 | 3 h 30 min | 7 / 8 / 9 | C1–C2 | 5 papers |
Find your HSK level in 3 minutes
Ten questions across all nine HSK 3.0 levels, with the difficulty following your answers. Vocabulary, grammar and usage — not a flashcard deck, and not ten multiple-choice questions in a row.
Start the test (about 3 minutes)