HSK

HSK Levels and for Whom They Are

The Chinese Proficiency Test (HSK) is China's national standardized test designed and developed by the HSK Center of Beijing Language and Culture University to assess the Chinese language proficiency of non-native speakers (including foreigners, overseas Chinese and students from Chinese national minorities).

HSK is divided into three categories: beginning level (HSK Basic), elementary to intermediate level (HSK Elementary-Intermediate), and advanced level (HSK Advanced).

HSK (Basic) is a standardized test designed for beginners. It is most appropriate for those who have acquired 400-3000 basic Chinese words (referring to level A and B in the Outline of HSK Grammar).

HSK Elementary-Intermediate is suitable for persons who have mastery of 2000-5000 Chinese words (referring to levels A, B and C in the outline of HSK Vocabulary) and certain rules of grammar (referring to levels A, B and C in the outline of HSK Grammar).

HSK Advanced applies to those who have mastery of 5000-8000 Chinese words (referring to level A, B, C and D in the Outline of HSK Vocabulary) and the corresponding rules of grammar (referring to level A, B, C and D in the Outline of HSK Grammar).

Chinese Proficiency Certificates

Successful examinees are issued a Chinese Proficiency Certificate for the examination they took. There are three levels of certificates for the beginners' HSK, namely, the levels of C, B and A.

There are six levels of certificates for the elementary and intermediate HSK, C, B and A for the elementary HSK and C, B and A for the intermediate HSK. There are also three levels of certificates for the advanced HSK, namely, the levels of C, B and A.

Within two months of the test, the HSK sponsor will send by mail the Chinese proficiency certificates and score reports to the HSK organizers. These organizers will forward the certificates and score reports to the examinees.

The examinees may also collect their certificates and score reports from the place where they registered.

The Advantage of Chinese Proficiency Certificates

Chinese proficiency certificates issued by the State Committee for the Chinese Proficiency Test of China are:

1. Certificates certifying the possession of Chinese language skills when applying for a job on the international human resources market for which these skills are necessary;

2. Certificates fulfilling admission requirements when applying to different types of schools at various levels in China;

3. Certificates allowing their holders to be exempt from Chinese courses at the corresponding level at educational institutions.

Terms of Validity of Chinese Proficiency Certificates

Chinese proficiency certificates are permanently valid. As a proof of Chinese proficiency for foreign students applying for enrollment into different types of schools at various levels in China, HSK scores are valid for two years from the date of examination.

Content and Duration of the HSK

1. The content of the beginners' HSK includes listening comprehension, grammar, and reading comprehension. The test lasts 135 minutes.

2. The content of the elementary and intermediate HSK includes listening comprehension, grammar, reading comprehension, and filling in blanks. The test lasts 145 minutes.

3. The content of advanced HSK includes listening comprehension, reading comprehension, comprehensive expression, composition, and an oral examination. The test lasts 155 minutes.

HSK Dates

The HSK is held in China and in foreign countries every year.

HSK in China

1. Beginners' HSK: twice a year

First time: 9 a.m. (Beijing time), 2nd Sunday of May

Second time: 9 a.m. (Beijing time), 3rd Sunday of December

2. Elementary and intermediate HSK: three times a year

First time: 9 a.m. (Beijing time), 2nd Sunday of May

Second time: 9 a.m. (Beijing time), 1st Sunday of July

Third time: 9 a.m. (Beijing time), 3rd Sunday of December

3. Advanced HSK: once a year

Beijing: 9 a.m. (Beijing time), 4th Sunday of May

Shanghai and other cities: 9 a.m. (Beijing time), 2nd Saturday of May

Note: For HSK dates in Hong Kong and Macao, please contact local HSK centers.

HSK abroad
The HSK is held once a year in foreign countries on either March 15, May 17, September 20 or October 25. The specific date is set by the HSK organizer of the relevant country in light of its local conditions. For details, please contact the HSK examination places abroad according to our website.

The HSK Scoring System

Scoring System of HSK Basic

HSK (Basic) is a standardized test designed for beginners. It is most appropriate for those who have acquired 400-3000 basic Chinese words (referring to level A and B in the Outline of HSK Grammar).

1. Function of the Certificate of HSK Basic:

The Certificate of HSK Basic includes three levels, i. e. level A, B and C. (level A is the highest, equivalent to level C of the Certificates will be awarded to those who have secured the minimum required scores.

The certificate of HSK Basic serves:

(1) As a requirement to enter a college or university in China as an undergraduate student in the field of science, engineering, agriculture or Western medicine (Level A only).

(2) To exempt students from taking certain language courses in China.

(3) As an exemption of language testing for hiring decisions for positions requiring basic competence in Chinese.

2. HSK (Basic) scoring system:

(1) A sub score of HSK Basic is a graduated score ranging from 0 to 100 with 50 as the mean and 20 as the standard deviation. The total score, which is the sum of graduated scores for subs cores, is a graduated score ranging from 0 to 300. The scale subscores show the relative position of a candidate in a standard HSK Basic sample group. Table 1.1 gives the percentile of graduated subs cores. The second row indicates the percentage occupied by those whose scores are lower than the corresponding scores in the standard HSK Basic reference group.

(2)The type and grade of HSK Basic is based on the total score. Table 1.2 explains the type and grade of the certificate.

(3) Requirements to obtain HSK Basic certificate

The candidate must secure the total minimum score required for the corresponding level.

3. Description of the level scoring system of HSK Basic: HSK Basic has three score level ranging from 1 to 3: Level 1 Has basic competence (Low) in Chinese. Able to handle simple, elementary needs in very familiar situations. Any person having mastery of 600 Chinese words and certain rules of grammar can reach this standard which is also the standard for obtaining the certificate of HSK Basic Grade C.

Level 2 Has basic (Mid) in Chinese. Able to partially satisfy the requirements of basic communicative exchanges. Level 2 is the standard for obtaining the certificate of HSK Basic Grade B.

Level 3 Has basic competence (High) in Chinese. Level 3 is the minimum level in Chinese proficiency for a candidate to be admitted to a college or university in China as an undergraduate student in the field of science, engineering, agriculture, or Western medicine as well as the standard for obtaining the certificate of HSK Basic Grade A, which is equivalent to Grade C of HSK Elementary.

4. Components and test length of HSK(Basic):

HSK Basic is a 140-item, 135-minute test. HSK Basic is divided into three subtests: Listening, sentence structure and reading. All item are multiple-choice. During the time allowed for each section, examinees must work on that section only and are not permitted to work beyond the time limit for the section. Examinees are also not permitted to turn to a section that has not been announced or go back to an earlier section. The test is taken in this order:

First SectionListening50 itemsapproximately 35 minutes

Second Section Sentence Structure 40 items 40 minutes

Third Section Reading50items 60 minutes

Scoring System of HSK Elementary-Intermediate

HSK Elementary-Intermediate is suitable for persons who have mastery of 2000-5000 Chinese words (referring to level A, B and C in the outline of HSK Vocabulary) and certain rules of grammar (referring to lever A, B and C in the outline of HSK Grammar).

1. Function of the Certificate of HSK Elementary-Intermediate:

(1) to be a requirement to enter a college or university in China as an undergraduate student.

(2) to exempt the holder from taking certain language courses in China.

(3) as a basis for employers to evaluate job applicants' Chinese language proficiency.

2．HSK Elementary-Intermediate scoring system:

(1) Interpretation of the scores of HSK Elementary-Intermediate:

A sub score of HSK Elementary-Intermediate is a scale sore with 50 as the mean and 15 as the standard deviation. The total score is a scale score with 200 as the mean and 60 as the standard deviation. These scores show the relative position of the candidate in a standard HSK sample group. In table 2.1, it indicates the relative position of a candidate in the whole group. The column on the right gives the percentage of those whose scores are lower than the corresponding scores in the standard HSK reference group. The total score is not equal to the sum of all the subscores.

(2) Table 2.2 shows the subscores of HSK Elementary-Intermediate as well as the types and grades of the certificate of HSK Elementary-Intermediate.

In table 2.2, HSK Elementary has a bottom line below level C, which is established for the convenience of setting the standards for the HSK Elementary certificate. Thus, the bottom line cannot be used for measuring a beginner's level. The candidate cannot fain the certificate of HSK Elementary if any score falls below the minimum elementary subs core requirements.

3．Description of the level scoring system:

HSK has eleven score levels, amongst which levels 1-3 are the beginning level, levels 3-5 are the elementary level, levels 6-8 are the intermediate level, and levels 9-11 are the advanced level. The following is the description of level 3-level 8.

Level 3 Has basic (low) competence in Chinese. A person reaching this level can gain the certificate of HSK Elementary Grade C. Level 3 is the minimum level in Chinese proficiency for a candidate to be admitted to a college or university in China as an undergraduate student in the field of science, engineering, agriculture or western medicine.

Level 4 Has basic (mid) competence in Chinese. Can gain the certificate of HSK Elementary Grade B.

Level 5 Has basic (high) competence in Chinese. Can gain the certificate of HSK Elementary Grade A.

Level 6 is proficient in Chinese at the intermediate (low) level. Can gain the certificate of HSK Intermediate Grade C. Level 6 is the minimum level required by the Ministry of Education for a candidate to enter college or university in China as an undergraduate student in the field of literature, history and traditional Chinese medicine.

Level 7 is proficient in Chinese at the intermediate (mid) level. Can gain the certificate of HSK Intermediate Grade B.

Level 8 is proficient in Chinese at the intermediate (high) level. Can gain the certificate of HSK Intermediate Grade A.

4．Requirements for obtaining the certificate of Elementary-Intermediate HSK:

(1)The candidate must secure the total scores required for the corresponding grade.

(2)The candidate must secure three of the four required subscores for the corresponding grade.

(3)Only one of the four subscores is allowed to be lower than the required minimum grade, but not lower than the minimum scores of the next lower grade. In such case, the candidate can only be awarded the certificate of a lower grade.

The above three requirements aim at encouraging the candidate to develop various skills in Chinese uniformly. Thus, the irregular development of any particular skill will affect level of the HSK certificate obtained by the candidate.

5. Components and test length of HSK Elementary-Intermediate:

HSK Elementary-Intermediate is a 170-item, 145 minutes test which is divided into four subtests; listening, sentence structure, reading and cloze. Items from 1-154 are multiple-choice. Items 155-170 are a test of comprehension in which blank spaces at regular intervals in a text must be filled in with appropriate Chinese characters. During the time allowed for each section, examinees must work on that section only and are not permitted to work beyond the time limit for the section. Examinees are also not permitted to turn to a section that has not been announced or turn to a previous section.

The test is taken in this order: First Section Listening 50 items approximately 35 minutes Second Section Sentence Structure 30 items 20 minutes Third Section Reading 50 items 60 minutes Fourth Section Cloze 40 items 30 minutes

Scoring System of HSK Advanced

HSK Advanced applies to those who have mastery of 5000-8000 Chinese words (referring to level A, B, C and D in the Outline of HSK Vocabulary) and the corresponding rules of grammar (referring to level A, B, C and D in the Outline of HSK Grammar).

1. Function of the Certificate of HSK Advanced:

(1) to be a requirement in Chinese proficiency for a candidate to enter a university in China as a graduate student.

(2) to exempt the holder from taking certain Chinese courses.

(3) to certify the holder as being qualified to undertake ordinary work by using Chinese as a communicative tool.

2. HSK Advanced scoring system:

(1) Interpretation of the scores of HSK Advanced:

A subscore of HSK Advanced is a scale score with 50 as the mean and 15 as the standard deviation. These scores show the relative position of the candidate in a standard sample group. Table 3.1 helps to locate the relative position of a candidate in the whole group. The second line indicates the percentage occupied by those whose scores are lower than the corresponding scores in the standard HSK reference group.

(2) Table 3.2 shows the types and grades of the certificate of HSK Advanced

3. Description of the level scoring system for HSK Advanced:

HSK has eleven score levels, among which levels 9-11 are the advanced level.

Level 9 is proficient in Chinese at the advanced (low) level. Level 9 is the standard to obtain the certificate of HSK Advanced Grade C. This is also the requirement for a candidate to use Chinese as a communicative tool in ordinary work.

Level 10 is proficient in Chinese at the advanced (mid) level. Level 10 is the standard to obtain the certificate of HSK Advanced Grade B. This is also the requirement for a candidate to use Chinese as a communicative tool in ordinary work.

Level 11 is proficient in Chinese at the advanced (high) level. Examinees reaching level 11 can be regarded as qualified as an intermediate-level translator. Level 11 is the standard to obtain the certificate of HSK Advanced Grade A.

4. Requirement for obtaining the certificate of HSK Advanced:

(1) The candidate must secure the total score required for the corresponding grade of the certificate.

(2) In the five subtests, the candidate must secure three of the four subscores for listening, reading, composition and oral tests required for the corresponding grade.

(3) Two of the five subscores may be lower than the required minimum, (for the four subtests of listening, reading, composition and oral, only one subscore may be lower than the required minimum for the corresponding grade), but not lower than the required minimum scores for the next lower grade. In such case, the candidate can only be awarded a certificate of a lower grade.

(4) None of the five subscores are allowed to be lower than the bottom line under Grade C.

5. Components and test length of HSK Advanced: The total test length is 2 hours and 35minutes. HSK Advanced consists of three separately-timed subtests: 120-item written test (objective), composition and oral test. The 120-item test is organized into three subtests: listening, reading and cloze. A variety of objective question types will be used including multiple-choice, matching, gap-filling and writing Chinese characters. The oral test takes the form of an interview. During the time allowed for each section, examinees must work on that section only, and are nor permitted to work beyond the time limit for the section. Examinees are also not permitted to turn to a section that has not been announced or go back to a previous section.

The test is taken in this order and timed as follows: (1) Written test (objective) 120 items 105 minutes

   (a) Listening                40 items approximately 25 minutes
   (b) Reading
   first section                 15 items    15 minutes
   second section               25 items    25 minutes
   (c) Cloze                    40 items    40 minutes
  

After the 120-item written test, there is a 10 minute test break. Then a composition and oral test follow.

   (2) Composition               30 minutes
   (3) Oral test                   20 minutes
   first stage preparation           10 minutes
   second stage talk (recorded)      10 minutes