Choose Your HSK Level
HSK tests listening, reading, and writing. HSKK tests oral proficiency. Both are required for Chinese university admission.
HSK 1 — Can understand and use 150 basic Chinese words.
Introduction to pinyin, basic tones, and essential Hanzi. Covers greetings, numbers, and simple transactions.
HSK 2 — Can understand 300 basic words and simple sentences.
Expands to 300 vocabulary items. Introduces measure words, time expressions, and basic question structures.
HSK 3 — Can manage in most practical communication situations.
600 vocabulary items. Covers directions, shopping, making appointments, and basic reading of short passages.
HSK 4 — Can discuss a wide range of topics with fluency.
1,200 vocabulary items. Complex sentence structures, opinions, and Chinese cultural context in reading passages.
HSK 5 — Can read Chinese newspapers and write essays.
2,500 vocabulary items. Idioms, abstract topics, formal writing, and comprehension of implicit meanings.
HSK 6 — Can easily grasp written and spoken information.
5,000+ vocabulary items. Advanced Chinese literature, academic papers, complex idiomatic expressions, and native-speed listening.