The HSK (汉语水平考试) is the standardized test of Chinese proficiency. Two standards are in active use: HSK 2.0 has 6 levels and is what most textbooks, study apps, and testing centers still use. HSK 3.0 (standard published 2021; the 9-band exam is in global pilot) expands to 9 bands with substantially higher vocabulary requirements at every level. The level descriptions below use HSK 2.0 numbers, which match almost all study materials you will encounter.
Studying for the new 9-band exam? "HSK 3" (the level) is not "HSK 3.0" (the new standard). For the 2026 exam's bands, counts, and speaking requirements, see the HSK 3.0 Complete Guide.
The full structure of HSK 3.0. Each stage caps at a specific band; passing the cap band of one stage opens the next.
Foundation: pinyin, basic vocabulary, simple sentence patterns. Bands 1–2 are written-only; Band 3 introduces speaking.
500 words by Band 1, 1,272 by Band 2, 2,245 by Band 3 (official cumulative counts).
Independent communication: complex sentence patterns, broader topic range, opinion expression. Speaking and writing required at every band.
3,245 words by Band 4, 4,316 by Band 5, 5,456 by Band 6 (official cumulative counts).
Academic and professional proficiency: near-native fluency, abstract reasoning, advanced essay composition.
11,092 words cumulative through Bands 7–9 (the syllabus publishes one combined list for the advanced stage).
Vocabulary counts are the official cumulative totals of the 2021 proficiency standard (GF0025-2021), confirmed in the HSK 3.0 exam syllabus published by CLEC in November 2025.
The big format and structural shifts. For a full breakdown of every difference, see the HSK 3.0 vs HSK 2.0 comparison.
| HSK 2.0 (2009–) | HSK 3.0 | |
|---|---|---|
| Levels / bands | 6 levels | 9 bands in 3 stages |
| Top vocabulary count | ~5,000 (HSK 6) | ~11,000 (Band 9) |
| Speaking | Separate HSKK test (optional) | Integrated from Band 3 |
| Writing | From HSK 3 | Progressive from Band 1 (101 characters at Bands 1–2) |
| CEFR mapping | Loose | Stages map to CEFR A–C tiers |
| Use case | University admission, general proficiency | Same plus K-12 standardization in international schools |
Watch: answer ten questions per level, working upward, until the test finds where you actually stand — about ten minutes, no sign-up needed. ·
The vocabulary target for each level under both standards, side by side. The HSK 2.0 numbers still match most textbooks and test centers; the HSK 3.0 numbers are the official cumulative totals for the 2026 exam.
| Level | HSK 2.0 (words / characters) | HSK 3.0 (cumulative words) |
|---|---|---|
| HSK 1 | 150 / 75 | 500 |
| HSK 2 | 300 / 150 | 1,272 |
| HSK 3 | 600 / 300 | 2,245 |
| HSK 4 | 1,200 / 600 | 3,245 |
| HSK 5 | 2,500 / 1,200 | 4,316 |
| HSK 6 | 5,000 / 2,500 | 5,456 |
| HSK 7–9 | — | 11,092 |
150 words, 75 characters. You can understand and use basic phrases: greetings, numbers, family, time, simple questions. This is the "survival Chinese" level — enough to introduce yourself and handle the most basic interactions.
Study time: approximately 80-100 hours (2-3 months at 1 hour/day).
300 words, 150 characters. Simple daily conversations about familiar topics: shopping, weather, transportation, food. You can read short messages and write simple sentences.
Study time: approximately 200 hours total. HSK 2 Study Guide →
600 words, 300 characters. The breakthrough level. You can handle most daily situations: doctor visits, phone calls, directions, work discussions. Reading short articles becomes possible. Many learners call this the "I can actually communicate" level.
Study time: approximately 400 hours total. HSK 3 Study Guide →
1,200 words, 600 characters. Fluent discussion on a wide range of topics. You can read longer articles, watch Chinese TV with reasonable comprehension, write multi-paragraph texts, and hold sustained conversations. Often required for university study in China.
Study time: approximately 600 hours total. HSK 4 Study Guide →
2,500 words, 1,200 characters. You can read Chinese newspapers, write structured essays, and communicate fluently on abstract topics. Formal speech and writing become accessible. This level corresponds roughly to CEFR B2-C1 (the exact mapping is debated).
Study time: approximately 1,000 hours total. HSK 5 Study Guide →
5,000 words, 2,500 characters. Near-native comprehension. You can understand Chinese media, academic texts, and professional documents. Express yourself precisely on complex topics. Many careers requiring Chinese proficiency target this level.
Study time: approximately 1,500-2,000 hours total. HSK 6 Study Guide →
11,000+ words, 6,000+ characters. Defined by the HSK 3.0 standard (published 2021; the exam is in global pilot), these three bands are tested in a single combined exam. Your score determines which level you achieve. This is the domain of professional interpreters, researchers, and native-equivalent users.
HSK 3.0 preparation is band-specific. The pathway below applies regardless of which band you're targeting.
The full vocabulary lists, organized by band. Filterable, downloadable, and integrated with Hanlexon's flashcard system.
Structured pre-exam study cycle. Daily and weekly targets for each band, from a fixed test date back to today.
Format, scoring, and practice patterns for the integrated speaking section that's new in HSK 3.0.
Full-length practice tests by band, modeled on the official format. Auto-scored with per-section breakdown.
Detailed side-by-side comparison of format, scoring, vocabulary, and the band-to-level mapping for credit transfer.
Bands 1–2 now require 101 written characters — new in HSK 3.0. What the writing section looks like and how to drill it.
US heritage Chinese schools (Ma Liping, Jinan (暨南) Chinese, Meizhou (美洲华语) curricula) primarily prepare students for AP Chinese rather than HSK. For those programs see the dedicated Hanlexon for Chinese Schools page.
Hanlexon provides structured curriculum, vocabulary lists, reading materials, grammar exercises, mock exams, and AI conversation practice for HSK 1 through 9. Take the diagnostic test to find your current level, and your personalized study plan will guide you from there.
Diagnostic placement test, vocabulary by band, mock exams, AI-graded writing.
Start your HSK 3.0 prepTwo HSK standards are in active use. HSK 2.0 has 6 levels and is what most textbooks and testing centers still use. HSK 3.0 (syllabus published; the exam is in global pilot) expands to 9 bands: HSK 1–6 as individual levels and HSK 7, 8, 9 tested in a single combined exam.
No full launch date has been announced. What CLEC (the Center for Language Education and Cooperation, formerly Hanban) and CTI have published is the HSK 3.0 syllabus, released in November 2025 with sample papers and effective July 2026. The exam is being piloted globally: a first round on 31 January 2026 and a second on 20 September 2026. CLEC has not published a date on which HSK 3.0 replaces the current HSK, nor an end date for current HSK sittings — registration for those remains open. Check chinesetest.cn for the authoritative schedule; we deliberately do not guess at dates it has not given.
Six levels become nine bands organized in three stages. Speaking is integrated into the main exam from Band 3 (no separate HSKK). Writing starts at Bands 1–2 with 101 characters. Top-end vocabulary expands from roughly 5,000 (HSK 6) to roughly 11,000 (Band 9). See the full comparison page for the row-by-row breakdown.
Elementary Stage covers Bands 1–3, Intermediate covers Bands 4–6, Advanced covers Bands 7–9. The stages align conceptually with CEFR — Elementary ~ A1–A2, Intermediate ~ B1–B2, Advanced ~ C1–C2.
Under HSK 3.0, speaking is integrated from Band 3 upward, so a separate HSKK is generally not required. Bands 1–2 remain written-only. See the speaking test details for format and scoring.
Pick the highest band you can pass. Roughly: Band 1 < 6 months study; Band 3 (Elementary cap) intro course done; Band 6 (Intermediate cap) graded readers + conversational; Band 9 only near-native. The Hanlexon diagnostic gives a band recommendation in 30 minutes.
From zero Chinese: Band 3 (Elementary cap) in 6–12 months; Band 6 (Intermediate cap) in 2–3 years; Band 9 (Advanced cap) in 4–7 years. Heritage learners typically test 1–2 bands above formal-study prediction.
HSK 3.0 results come from a pilot exam, and CLEC has not published how institutions should treat them. Admission requirements are set by each university, so ask your target programme directly which test and which score it wants. Current HSK results continue to be accepted as they always have been.
It depends on the standard. As a level in HSK 2.0 numbering, HSK 3 needs about 600 words and 300 characters. Under the new HSK 3.0 standard, the cumulative vocabulary through Band 3 is about 2,245 words. Both are in active use during the 2026 transition, which is why you see both counts.