HSK – Everything you need to know

By Felipe / Last updated October 22, 2024

Hey there, future fluent Chinese speakers! Have you heard of the HSK test? HSK stands for 汉语水平考试 (Hànyǔ Shuǐpíng Kǎoshì) and is China's official standardized Chinese proficiency test for non-native speakers. Let's have a look at how it is structured, and why you might want to take it!

Quick disclaimer: This guide is about HSK version 2.0. An update to the HSK test (version 3.0) has been officially announced in 2021 and brings some significant changes. However, textbooks are still being updated to fit the new curriculum and you can not take the new HSK tests, yet. So for the foreseeable future, the current HSK 2.0 is going to stay relevant.

How many HSK levels are there?

Under the HSK 2.0 system, there are six levels of proficiency. They start from HSK 1 (the easiest) and go up to HSK 6 (the most advanced). Each level represents a step up in Chinese skills. HSK 1 starts with basic phrases and sentences. HSK 6 means you can easily comprehend written and spoken information, as well as express yourself fluently in written Chinese. Speaking proficiency used to be assessed in a separate test called HSKK. However, since January 2023, everyone taking HSK 3 and above in mainland China, Hong Kong, or Taiwan has to also take the HSKK of the appropriate level.

Why do people take the HSK?

Great question! There are some good reasons why you might want or even have to take the test.

If you want to work or study in China, you will most likely have to proof that you know a certain amount of Chinese. Universities usually require something between HSK 4 and HSK 6 for foreign students to enroll in a Chinese-taught program. Here is a list of HSK requirements for a number of Chinese universities. For work, requirements will vary by employer but probably also be at least HSK 5.

There are also solid reasons to take the HSK test even if you don't have to. First, it's a fantastic way to certify your Chinese language skills and earn official bragging rights. Every Chinese learning beginner will be very impressed when they hear that you passed an HSK exam. Second, preparing for the HSK is a great way to structure your learning. It is easy to give up on Chinese if you have no specific goal, so aiming for a certain HSK level can be a great motivation. It also makes sure that you don't completely neglect one area of language acquisition, like listening, reading, or writing.

HSK vocabulary

Let's have a look at how the six HSK levels are structured. The following table shows the number of characters and words introduced at each level and how many that makes in total.

Looking at the numbers, it becomes clear that the HSK starts slowly and then increasingly ramps up the requirements. You basically need to double your vocabulary with each level. That means you can get quick successes by passing the first few levels, but the later levels turn into a real grind. For example, HSK 4 only gets you a quarter of the way to HSK 6, as you can see in the pie chart.

On the other hand, learning new words becomes easier as you progress. If you really make a push for it, you can learn dozens of new words per day. When I was studying for the HSK 5 exam, I was learning 30-40 new words per day, which was the absolute maximum I could retain. But still, even at that speed it took me two months of studying Chinese full-time to work my way through the whole HSK 5 vocabulary. Learning Chinese as a hobby means that reaching any of the higher levels is likely going to take years.

Which HSK level is fluent?

"Fluency" is a bit of a tricky term, as it varies depending on who you ask and in what context. Let's look at how the HSK levels are advertised in theory and what you can expect in practice.

In theory, the six HSK levels correspond to the six levels A1/2, B1/2, and C1/2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. HSK 4 is considered a benchmark for fluency in everyday conversations. You should be able to travel in China, handle most daily tasks, and engage in conversations without much strain. HSK 6 is the highest level and thus represents native-like fluency. It's the level where you can navigate complex conversations, understand nuanced texts, and express yourself freely.

In practice, passing HSK 4 takes a solid amount of effort and is no mean feat. However, daily interactions are still gonna be challenging because people in the real world simply don't talk like in the textbooks 🥲 At the top end of the spectrum, HSK 6 is also unfortunately not real fluency. It is "designed for learners who can easily understand any information communicated in Chinese and are capable of smoothly expressing themselves in written or oral form". However, HSK 6 will only teach you 2,663 characters. Based on how many characters you need to know to read Chinese fluently, you need to know somewhere between 3,000 and 4,000 characters. So there is still a gap of at least a few hundred characters.

It seems that China's Ministry of Education also realized the discrepancy between theory and practice. That's why they announced a new HSK structure in 2021, that consists of 9 levels. The new level 9 is supposed to better match native-like fluency and aligns HSK 6 better with an upper intermediate level.

Where can you take the HSK exam?

Major cities all over the world host official HSK test centers. They are often located in universities or Chinese language institutes, such as Confucius Institutes. The test dates are synchronized worldwide. Furthermore, the HSK test can now also be taken online. Check out the official website to find upcoming test dates.

Closing thoughts

Whether you're just starting on your Chinese learning journey or aiming to master the language, there are good reasons to take the HSK. I personally think that the new HSK 3.0 is better structured and gives advanced learners more opportunities. Nonetheless, the current HSK 2.0 is going to stay with us for a while longer and has levels that are great for beginners and intermediate learners. If you fall into that category and want to put your Chinese to the test, go for it, no need to wait for the new HSK.

Until next time, happy learning! 🙂