• Ability Description

*HSK (Levels 7-9) adopts the form that a test paper is divided into three levels according to the test results.

Grade	Level	Ability description
Beginner	HSK (Level 1)	Be able to understand and use some very simple Chinese words and sentences, and have the ability to learn Chinese further.
	HSK (Level 2)	Be able to communicate simply and directly on some common topics in life in Chinese.
	HSK (Level 3)	Can use Chinese to complete basic communication tasks in life, study and work.
Intermediate	HSK (Level 4)	Be able to conduct basic complete, coherent and effective social communication on more complicated topics such as life, study and work.
	HSK (Level 5)	Be able to conduct relatively complete, smooth and effective social communication on complex topics such as life, study and work.
	HSK (Level 6)	Be able to have rich, fluent and decent social communication on the study and work topics in some professional fields.
Advanced	HSK (Level 7) *	Be able to conduct basic normative, fluent and decent social communication on a wider and higher-level topic.
	HSK (Level 8)	Be able to conduct standardized, fluent and decent social communication on various high-level or professional topics.
	HSK (Level 9)	Be able to use all kinds of skills comprehensively and conduct standardized, fluent and appropriate social communication on all kinds of topics in all kinds of situations.

• Test Content

The HSK is developed according to the Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021), which examines the listening, speaking, reading, writing and translation abilities of Chinese, as well as the key Chinese characters, vocabulary, grammar, Chinese culture and China’s national conditions.

Test Subject	Proficiency*	Vocabulary
HSK (Level 1)	Listening, reading	300
HSK (Level 2)	Listening, reading	500
HSK (Level 3)	Listening, reading and writing	1000
HSK (Level 4)	Listening, reading and writing	2000
HSK (Level 5)	Listening, reading and writing	4000
HSK (Level 6)	Listening, reading and writing	5400
HSK (Levels 7-9)	Listening, speaking, reading, writing and translating	11000

* The “speaking” ability of HSK levels 1-6 is tested in a separate HSK speaking test.
 

• Test Principles

Promote the all-round development of learners, criterion-referenced and test-teaching correlation;
Highlight China’s language and culture, with rich themes and comprehensive examination;
Strengthen Chinese communication ability, pay attention to practice and apply what you have learned.
Test Purpose
HSK scores can meet diverse needs and provide reference for the following purposes:

1. College enrollment, class teaching, course exemption and credit granting;
2. The employing agency recruits, trains and promotes staff;
3. Chinese language teaching units to evaluate the effectiveness of their teaching.
4. Chinese language learners to understand and improve their Chinese language skills.