HSK 3.0 changes the exam format, so saying “I’m preparing for HSK 4” now needs a little more detail. The old and new exams share level numbers, but their vocabulary, tasks and speaking requirements differ. An older textbook may leave you unprepared for the new writing and speaking tasks.
The information below was checked on October 7, 2026, against the Chinese Testing International website, the official syllabus and the sample papers linked there.
When does HSK 3.0 start?
The official website announces the worldwide launch of HSK 3.0 on December 13, 2026. Trial sessions have already taken place; the second was scheduled for September 20, 2026. Check which version your particular session uses. CTI’s launch announcement.
Before paying, confirm the version, level, paper or computer format, and speaking component with your chosen test center. If you need a certificate for admission, check the program’s requirements for the level, scores and result date separately. An exam launch date does not automatically change every university’s admission rules.
Why take HSK: study, scholarships and work
A certificate is most useful when you need documented evidence of Chinese proficiency. Chinese-taught bachelor’s and master’s programs may set minimum HSK levels and scores; English-taught programs may have different language requirements. Check the department and intake rules rather than assuming that a particular HSK level is accepted everywhere.
HSK results are also used in applications for Chinese Government Scholarships (CSC) and the International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship, including applications through recommending Confucius Institutes. Some programs also require a speaking-test result. Requirements vary by study type: the 2026/2027 government scholarship rules and SUFE’s language scholarship requirements, for example, specify different conditions. A certificate does not guarantee funding.
For jobs in China and international companies, HSK can document language proficiency on a CV. Employers still assess whether you can write messages, discuss tasks and use professional vocabulary. CTI lists study, scholarships and careers among the practical uses of HSK results. It is not a universal requirement for every job and does not replace work authorization.
Why do HSK 3.0 descriptions give different numbers?
The confusion starts with the documents: two different texts often go by the same name. The 2021 proficiency standard describes Chinese proficiency through three stages, nine levels, language benchmarks and the skills of listening, speaking, reading, writing and translation. It provides a framework for learning and assessment. China’s Ministry of Education explains the standard.
The exam syllabus published in November 2025 specifies HSK tasks, topics, vocabulary, characters and grammar. For exam preparation, compare that syllabus with the current sample papers. Level 1 in the proficiency standard is associated with 500 words; the exam syllabus lists 300 at Level 1. Confusing the lists can mean studying unnecessary material or missing required vocabulary from the beginning.
The syllabus cover gives July 2026 as its implementation date. A separate CTI announcement places the worldwide exam launch in December. The effective date of a document and the launch date of exam sessions are different things. Current materials are linked in the HSK3.0 section of the official ChineseTest website.
Before comparing two figures, check the document title and edition. Several different tables circulate under the HSK 3.0 label.
HSK 2.0 and HSK 3.0: levels and vocabulary
HSK 2.0 was built around six exams. The new system covers nine levels: 1–3 form the elementary stage, 4–6 the intermediate stage, and 7–9 the advanced stage. An old Level 6 result does not thereby become a new Level 9 result.
The comparison below shows cumulative vocabulary: everything included up to that level, rather than only the new words in its section. The HSK 2.0 figures are the familiar syllabus targets; the HSK 3.0 figures follow the vocabulary numbering in the current official PDF of the 2025 syllabus.
- Level 1: HSK 2.0: 150; HSK 3.0: 2025 exam syllabus: 300.
- Level 2: HSK 2.0: 300; HSK 3.0: 2025 exam syllabus: 500.
- Level 3: HSK 2.0: 600; HSK 3.0: 2025 exam syllabus: 1,000.
- Level 4: HSK 2.0: 1,200; HSK 3.0: 2025 exam syllabus: 2,000.
- Level 5: HSK 2.0: 2,500; HSK 3.0: 2025 exam syllabus: 3,600.
- Level 6: HSK 2.0: 5,000; HSK 3.0: 2025 exam syllabus: 5,400.
- Level 7–9: HSK 2.0: No separate block; HSK 3.0: 2025 exam syllabus: 11,000.
The HSK 3.0 Level 1 word list in Russian shows the initial vocabulary. Level 2 adds 200 entries after the first 300. It does not add another 500. The number of entries is also different from the number of distinct written forms: separate readings and meanings may occupy their own rows.
You cannot use these figures to convert a certificate. New HSK 4 does not become old HSK 5 simply because their vocabulary sizes are closer. The lists, topics and language tasks differ. Previous knowledge remains useful, but readiness needs checking against a new sample paper. A comparison of the two standards provides a shorter reference.
Modern vocabulary: services, shopping and the internet
The vocabulary difference becomes clearer through words in the 2025 syllabus. Every example below was checked in the official list; the level indicates its first inclusion:
- HSK 3: 外卖 (wàimài — “takeaway or delivered food”).
- HSK 4: 扫码 (sǎomǎ — “scan a code,” including a QR code); 网购 (wǎnggòu — “shop online; online shopping”).
- HSK 5: 点赞 (diǎnzàn — “give a like”); 直播 (zhíbō — “livestream; broadcast live”).
These words connect the syllabus to code-based payments, orders and online communication. Their presence in the new list does not establish that every word first appeared in all teaching materials in 2025. For preparation, the particular meaning and level in your syllabus edition matter more.
HSK 3.0 and CEFR: an approximate guide
CEFR describes language proficiency by skill on the A1–C2 scale. The official exam materials cited here do not establish a universal exact conversion from HSK 3.0 to CEFR. One useful orientation is the Confucius Institute at the University of Sheffield’s estimate; the source itself labels it CEFR Estimate.
- Level 1: Approximate CEFR estimate from Sheffield: A1.
- Level 2: Approximate CEFR estimate from Sheffield: A1+.
- Level 3 with speaking: Approximate CEFR estimate from Sheffield: A2.
- Level 4 with speaking: Approximate CEFR estimate from Sheffield: B1.
- Level 5 with speaking: Approximate CEFR estimate from Sheffield: B2.
- Level 6 with speaking: Approximate CEFR estimate from Sheffield: B2+ / C1.
That source does not provide an estimate for levels 7–9. They should therefore not all be automatically assigned C2. A plus sign refines the estimate rather than adding a separate main level. When selecting a course, consult the Council of Europe’s CEFR skill descriptions; for admission, submit the certificate the program actually requires.
The HSK 3.0 format at levels 1–6
The official sample papers available on the review date show the following structure. Main-test durations come from the paper-based samples and include personal-information entry and answer transfer. The speaking test is separate; its duration includes preparation.
- Level 1: Listening: 20; Reading: 20; Writing: —; Total tasks: 40; Main test: About 40 min; Speaking test: —.
- Level 2: Listening: 25; Reading: 25; Writing: 10; Total tasks: 60; Main test: About 60 min; Speaking test: —.
- Level 3: Listening: 30; Reading: 30; Writing: 10; Total tasks: 70; Main test: About 83 min; Speaking test: About 15 min.
- Level 4: Listening: 32; Reading: 32; Writing: 6; Total tasks: 70; Main test: About 85 min; Speaking test: About 20 min.
- Level 5: Listening: 35; Reading: 35; Writing: 2; Total tasks: 72; Main test: About 110 min; Speaking test: About 23 min.
- Level 6: Listening: 40; Reading: 40; Writing: 2; Total tasks: 82; Main test: About 125 min; Speaking test: About 23 min.
The source is the Sample Questions archive in the official HSK3.0 section, with sample papers updated in July 2026. The second trial-session notice confirms the schedule and the requirement to register for levels 3–6 together with their corresponding speaking tests. Follow your center’s admission notice for your sitting: there may be a break between components.
Writing now starts at HSK 2. The old HSK 2 tested listening and reading. The new sample contains ten writing tasks, including filling gaps and supplying characters. “Writing” here does not mean a free composition, but recognizing an answer among options is no longer enough.
At HSK 4, the writing section includes a short text of at least 80 Chinese characters. The current HSK 5 sample requires a picture-based composition of at least 100 characters and another text of at least 200. HSK 6 requires a practical text of at least 150 characters and an opinion piece of at least 300. These lengths belong to the particular samples; actual exam topics will differ.
Fewer tasks do not necessarily mean fewer demands. Two independently written texts can expose gaps that dozens of multiple-choice answers leave hidden.
Speaking: what changes from HSKK?
In the 2.0 system, HSKK assessed speaking at three levels: basic, intermediate and advanced. Registration could be linked to the written HSK under the center’s rules. Saying that “the old HSK never required speaking” can therefore be misleading.
HSK 3.0 provides corresponding speaking samples for levels 3, 4, 5 and 6. Level 3 contains eight listen-and-repeat tasks, five picture-based responses and two answers to questions. Levels 4–6 contain two retellings after listening, one picture description and two answers to questions. Material difficulty and response time vary.
Repeating a supplied sentence and retelling a recording independently are different tasks. Retelling requires retaining the content and building sentences again. After listening, check whether you can explain what happened and why once the source text is closed.
A familiar check: I recognize a word when its translation is next to it.
A check for speaking tasks: I retrieve the word without its translation and connect it to other words in my answer.
For example, 计划 (jìhuà — “plan; to plan”) may be familiar from a flashcard. But if you need to describe an intention, you have to construct a sentence such as 我计划明天去北京。 (wǒ jìhuà míngtiān qù Běijīng — “I plan to go to Beijing tomorrow”). This is a learning example, not an official exam task.
HSK 7–9: one exam that determines a level
The advanced stage uses a common exam whose result determines Level 7, 8 or 9; a result below Level 7 is also possible. It covers listening, reading, writing, translation and speaking. You take one test involving complex content. There are no separate vocabulary lists and sequential tests for each of those three levels.
The current official sample contains 91 tasks and takes about 200 minutes: 40 listening tasks, 40 reading tasks, two writing tasks, four translation tasks and five speaking tasks. Earlier samples contain 98 tasks and last 210 minutes. Do not automatically apply an older duration table to a new sitting. Confirm the language used in the translation component when registering, too.
Translation is a feature of the advanced levels 7–9 exam. It is not a separate compulsory component at every HSK 3.0 level.
Preparing for HSK 3.0: check your skills
Start with the version and level, then work through a current sample under the stated time limits. Word lists and reference materials are collected in the HSK reference section in Russian. Selected examples explain task types; assessing readiness requires a complete practice paper for your version.
Once you have checked your answers, examine what you could not do. An unfamiliar key word points to a vocabulary gap. If the words are familiar but you cannot hear them in the recording, work on recognizing spoken language. If you understand the recording but struggle to retell it, practice recalling the meaning and answering independently. These difficulties can overlap; one mistake is not enough to establish a cause.
A checklist for moving from HSK 2.0 to HSK 3.0- Confirm your goal and exam version. Record the university, scholarship or employer’s requirement, the level you need and the speaking component.
- Download the current 2025 exam syllabus. Compare your level’s list with the words you have learned. Separate unfamiliar words from familiar words with meanings you have not yet learned.
- Complete a full practice paper for your version. Follow the time limits and component order. If a resource contains only selected tasks, use it to understand the format rather than to calculate readiness.
- Identify the actions you struggle with. Note difficulties in listening, reading, writing and speaking separately. Distinguish unfamiliar vocabulary from known words you cannot yet use.
- Choose a textbook aligned with the 3.0 syllabus. For example, FLTRP’s New HSK Course was developed with CTI for the new syllabus, as confirmed by the publisher’s announcement. Check the particular volume, edition and exercises; “new” on the cover does not by itself establish alignment with HSK 3.0.
- Practice retelling. Listen to a short recording, close the text and convey the meaning in your own words. Then check which facts and connections you missed.
- Write on a fresh topic under a timer. Make a plan, complete the task and check coherence, length and errors. A memorized composition does not test your response to a different topic.
- Check again with another paper. Improvement needs to carry over to new material rather than amounting to memorized answers from your first test.
Between practice papers, connect vocabulary to an action: review a word, hear it in a sentence and use it in your own answer. That gives vocabulary a role in speaking and writing rather than leaving it as a separate list.
In Tomyo, word cards with pinyin, translations, examples and audio support vocabulary work, while texts and dialogues provide context. You can use these between practice papers. Exam retelling, written work and time management need separate practice; having words in an app does not by itself establish readiness for HSK 3.0.
What you learned through the old syllabus stays with you. Try that knowledge in new tasks: can you retell a recording, write a text or explain your position? Those attempts show what carries over from HSK 2.0 preparation and what still needs work.
Official preparation resources
- ChineseTest: the official exam and registration website.
- HSK exam syllabus published in 2025: PDF.
- Sample Questions: the official sample-paper and audio archive. This is a large ZIP, and its contents may be updated; check the sample papers’ title pages.
- CTI’s official WeChat account: HKGJ-CTI, as listed in CTI’s launch announcement.
- FLTRP’s New HSK Course announcement and the publisher’s teaching and learning resources.
