Pass the HSK — one level at a time
Level-by-level study guides, official word lists, and free self-checks — all built for self-study.
- 1–6all HSK levels
- 5,000words up to HSK 6
- 2free self-checks
- 14HSK guides
Free study tools
Latest HSK articles
Browse all articlesWhat to do as the exam approaches
HSK exam dates depend on your test center — there is no single worldwide date. Check the official schedule for your center, then use the guide below as a rough roadmap.Check the official HSK schedule →
- 60+ days outBuild the foundation ― Time to lock in vocabulary and pronunciation (pinyin and tones). Focus on steady volume.
- 30–59 daysStart past papers ― Get used to the question formats and timing. Solve papers to surface your weak points.
- 14–29 daysShore up weak points ― Focus on the areas you got wrong and the listening formats you struggle with. Drill frequent words.
- 7–13 daysFull review ― Rather than new material, consolidate what you know and finalise your timing.
- 1–6 daysFinal stretch ― Don’t add new material. Get your rest and logistics in order.
- Exam dayExam day ― Stay calm and put everything you’ve built into practice.
Choose a level
- HSK 1Beginner · ~150 wordsBasic words and simple greetings and phrases.
- HSK 2Elementary · ~300 wordsSimple everyday exchanges.
- HSK 3Lower-Intermediate · ~600 wordsBasic conversations for daily life, study and work.
- HSK 4Intermediate · ~1,200 wordsConverse on a wide range of topics. A practical benchmark often cited for resumes.
- HSK 5Upper-Intermediate · ~2,500 wordsRead newspapers and magazines and hold extended conversations.
- HSK 6Advanced · ~5,000+ wordsUnderstand information with ease and express yourself fluently in speech and writing.
HSK articles
- How to Use HSK in Your Country: Study, Jobs, and Other Chinese Tests
A practical guide to adapting HSK study goals to your local context, including university applications, CVs, jobs, CEFR-style expectations, TOCFL, and local test recognition.
- How to Use HSK Past Exams — Where to Find Them and How to Improve Your Score
A guide to past HSK exams, the single most valuable study material for HSK prep — where to find them (official past exam books and sample questions) and how to use them to actually improve your score. Covers time management practice, analyzing your mistakes, and how to repeat them effectively.
- How to Study for the HSK — A Self-Study Roadmap
A step-by-step roadmap for passing the HSK on your own — choosing a target level, picking materials, the order to study in, and how to use past papers effectively.
- Old HSK vs. 6-Level HSK vs. HSK 3.0
A clear guide to how the HSK has changed — the 6-level HSK, HSK 3.0 with three bands and nine levels, vocabulary changes, and how to choose the right materials.
- Using HSK for Your Career: Which Level Do Different Jobs Need?
How HSK levels map to common career paths that involve Chinese — trade, roles at Chinese-affiliated companies, teaching, and tourism — and how to present your score on a resume.
- Using HSK for University: Studying in China, Exchanges, and Scholarships
How HSK levels map to common university goals in China — degree programs, exchange semesters, and scholarship applications — and how to check the requirements that actually apply to you.
- Common Chinese Mistakes for English Speakers
The pronunciation and grammar habits that trip up English-speaking learners of Chinese most often — tones, retroflex sounds, measure words, and verb aspect — with practical fixes for each.
- HSK Listening Strategy: Catch the Decision Words
A practical HSK listening method: predict before the audio starts, catch the words that decide the answer, and turn every mistake into a short drill.
- HSK Reading Strategy: Find the Answer Before You Translate Everything
A practical HSK reading method: read the question first, hunt for evidence in the text, and handle unknown words without losing time or accuracy.
- Benefits of Taking the HSK, Difficulty, and Passing Scores
A clear overview of the benefits of taking the HSK (Chinese Proficiency Test), what to expect in terms of difficulty at each level, and the passing scores. Covers how it's used for study abroad and job applications, where Level 4 sits as an intermediate milestone (with universities and employers in China often looking for Level 5–6), and the passing scores for the 200-point and 300-point formats.
- How to Memorize HSK Vocabulary — Master the Word Lists Level by Level
How to memorize the high-frequency vocabulary that's key to passing the HSK. Covers the vocabulary size for each level, how to prioritize the official word lists versus words that frequently appear in past exams, tips for memorizing with example sentences and audio, and how to use a dictionary app to review.
- A 30-Day Study Plan to Pass HSK 1 — Self-Study Roadmap
A 30-day self-study plan for HSK 1 (~150 words, beginner). A week-by-week roadmap covering pronunciation, the 150 words, basic sentence patterns and past papers, plus a daily routine and tips for staying consistent.
- How Long Does It Take to Pass HSK 4? — A Self-Study Plan
How many months it takes to reach HSK 4, broken down by starting point (from zero, or from HSK 2–3) and daily study time. How to build up the ~1,200-word vocabulary, a reverse-engineered plan covering pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar and past papers, plus the common sticking points.
- HSK vs. TOCFL — Which Chinese Proficiency Test Should You Take?
A comparison of the two main standardized Chinese proficiency tests, the HSK and the TOCFL, covering who administers them, the character set, level systems, recognition, and typical use. The HSK is the mainland-China standard using simplified characters, while the TOCFL is Taiwan's CEFR-aligned test built around traditional characters.