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Stepped progression illustration in teal tones representing the six HSK proficiency levels.
HSK

HSK 3.0: Levels, Word Lists, Test Format & Audio

HSK (汉语水平考试) is China's official Chinese test for non-native speakers. HSK 3.0 has six main levels, from 300 words at HSK 1 to 5,399 at HSK 6; its papers start on 13 December 2026. Fluentide has free listening for every level, with transcript and pinyin.

By Haoshan HongNative Mandarin speakerUpdated October 2026

On this page

What is the HSK?

Six levels, HSK 1 to 6, plus a separate advanced paper, HSK 7–9. Writing starts at HSK 2; speaking is a separate test.

HSK word count by level

Each level's official list includes every level below it.

HSK proficiency ladderHSK 3.0 levels 1 to 6 with cumulative vocabulary requirements: HSK 1 requires 300 words, HSK 2 requires 500, HSK 3 requires 1,000, HSK 4 requires 2,000, HSK 5 about 3,600, and HSK 6 about 5,400 words. Word counts follow the official HSK 3.0 exam syllabus.HSK levels by cumulative vocabularyHSK 1beginner300 wordsHSK 2elementary500 wordsHSK 3pre-intermediate1,000 wordsHSK 4intermediate2,000 wordsHSK 5upper-intermediate~3,600 wordsHSK 6advanced~5,400 wordsSource: HSK 3.0 exam syllabus, chinesetest.cn
Words needed at each level, counting the levels below it.

How do the six HSK levels compare?

A1HSK 1

Greetings, numbers, dates, family and simple food orders, spoken slowly.

  • • 300 words
  • • 40 questions · 20 listening + 20 reading
A2HSK 2

Short everyday exchanges: shopping, directions, weather, simple plans.

  • • 500 words
  • • 60 questions · 25 listening + 25 reading + 10 writing
B1HSK 3

Most daily-life topics. Travel in China without falling back on English.

  • • 1,000 words
  • • 70 questions · 30 listening + 30 reading + 10 writing
B2HSK 4

Broad conversation, slower news, longer exchanges with some fluency.

  • • 2,000 words
  • • 70 questions · 32 listening + 32 reading + 6 writing
C1*HSK 5

Newspapers, film and TV, a reasonably full speech.

  • • ~3,600 words
  • • 72 questions · 35 listening + 35 reading + 2 essays
C2*HSK 6

Written and spoken Chinese with ease; fluent expression in both.

  • • ~5,400 words
  • • 82 questions · 40 listening + 40 reading + 2 essays

Where is the full word list for each HSK level?

HSK 1 word list

300 words with pinyin

HSK 2 word list

500 words with pinyin

HSK 3 word list

1,000 words with pinyin

HSK 4 word list

2,000 words with pinyin

HSK 5 word list

~3,600 words with pinyin

HSK 6 word list

~5,400 words with pinyin

HSK 2.0 or HSK 3.0 — which version am I taking?

HSK 3.0 is the new version of the exam, not HSK level 3. Its papers start on 13 December 2026; registration closes 16 November (paper) and 3 December (computer).

Cumulative words, L1–L6
HSK 3.0: 300 / 500 / 1,000 / 2,000 / ~3,600 / ~5,400
HSK 2.0: 150 / 300 / 600 / 1,200 / 2,500 / 5,000
Questions, L1–L6
HSK 3.0: 40 / 60 / 70 / 70 / 72 / 82
HSK 2.0: 40 / 60 / 80 / 100 / 100 / 101
Writing starts at
HSK 3.0: HSK 2
HSK 2.0: HSK 3
Pass mark
HSK 3.0: Not announced yet (September 2026)
HSK 2.0: 120 / 200 at HSK 1–2, 180 / 300 at HSK 3–6

Source: Chinese Testing International: exam structure and syllabus (December 2025), launch notice (8 September 2026).

How much of the HSK is listening?

Listening is 42–50% of the questions at every level. In the official HSK 4 sample, each recording plays once.

HSK question counts by sectionIn HSK 3.0, listening and reading have the same number of questions at every level. HSK 1 has 20 listening and 20 reading questions. HSK 2 has 25 listening, 25 reading and 10 writing. HSK 3 has 30 listening, 30 reading and 10 writing. HSK 4 has 32 listening, 32 reading and 6 writing. HSK 5 has 35 listening, 35 reading and 2 writing. HSK 6 has 40 listening, 40 reading and 2 writing. Listening is 42 to 50 percent of the questions at every level.Listening is close to half of every HSK paperlisteningreadingwritingHSK 120 + 20 · 50% listeningHSK 225 + 25 + 10 · 42% listeningHSK 330 + 30 + 10 · 43% listeningHSK 432 + 32 + 6 · 46% listeningHSK 535 + 35 + 2 · 49% listeningHSK 640 + 40 + 2 · 49% listeningHSK 3.0 · Chinese Testing International · speaking is a separate paper
Bar length shows the number of questions in each section.

Which HSK level should I take?

Sit the level whose words you already mostly know.

1

Open the level below your target

Play one episode there, once, with no transcript.

2

Check yourself at roughly 70%

Followed about 70%? You're ready to sit it.

3

Below 50%? Drop one level

Do four to six weeks of daily listening there first.

4

Choosing a study goal instead?

Aim at HSK 4: usable Chinese, and what most Chinese universities ask for.

The method in practice

Free HSK-calibrated listening audio at every level

Episodes written for each HSK level, with transcript, pinyin, line-by-line English and tap-to-define words.

  • Four HSK-graded audio tiers, new episodes daily
  • Full transcript, pinyin toggle, and English on every line
  • Free to browse — no signup needed to listen

Use one story with mixed HSK levels

The same Fluentide story exists at every level, from Starter (HSK 1) to Advanced (HSK 5+). A mixed group can keep one topic and switch the level instead of finding several different texts.

1

Play audio only

Start without the transcript so the room has to listen first.

2

Add Chinese, then pinyin or English

Reveal the script only if someone is stuck. Keep supports optional.

3

Switch the level, keep the story

Move between Starter, Beginner, Elementary, Intermediate, and Advanced without changing the topic.

4

Assign that story

Pro can assign it to one class of up to 25 students. They join free with a code and only get the stories you assign.

Chinese listening for teachers · Assign a story · See Pro

How long does each HSK level take?

The stall is HSK 4 to 5: vocabulary nearly doubles (2,000 to 3,599 words) and the audio nears native speed.

Time from zero to each HSK levelTypical time from no Chinese to each HSK level at 30 to 60 minutes of daily study: HSK 1 in 1.5 to 4 months, HSK 2 in 4 to 8 months, HSK 3 in 9 to 18 months, HSK 4 in 1.5 to 2.5 years, HSK 5 in 2.5 to 4 years, HSK 6 in 4 or more years. The gaps widen sharply after HSK 3 because HSK 4 to HSK 5 nearly doubles the vocabulary from 2,000 to about 3,600 words while listening speed moves close to native pace.The HSK ladder is not evenly spacedrough time from zero, at 30–60 min of daily study01 yr2 yr3 yr4 yr5 yrHSK 11.5–4 moHSK 24–8 moHSK 39–18 moHSK 41.5–2.5 yrHSK 52.5–4 yrHSK 64+ yrvocabulary nearly doubles here: 2,000 → ~3,600 wordsRanges, not promises — skipping listening practice reliably stretches them
Rough time to reach each level, starting from zero.

Based on HSK 2.0 learners, whose lists were smaller: treat these as minimums.

How does HSK map to CEFR?

Roughly A1 to C2, with conversational fluency around HSK 4–5. HSK 6 falls well short of C2; HSK 7–9 sits above it.

HSK levels mapped to CEFR and vocabulary sizeHSK 1 to 6 map roughly to CEFR A1 to C2, from 300 to about 5,400 words in HSK 3.0. Conversational fluency begins around HSK 4 to 5. The HSK 5-6 to C1-C2 alignment is disputed.conversational fluency zone →A1HSK 1300 wordsA2HSK 2500 wordsB1HSK 31,000 wordsB2HSK 42,000 wordsC1*HSK 5~3,600 wordsC2*HSK 6~5,400 wordsbeginner → advanced · * HSK 5–6 to C1–C2 is disputed
A rough match, not an official one.

Where to practise each level

Chinese listening practice

Every leveled episode, with transcript, pinyin and English.

The comprehensible input method

Why audio just above your level builds listening speed.

How long does Chinese take?

Timelines by hours per week.

What HSK level is fluent?

Where the fluency line sits, and why HSK 6 is not C2.

Chinese learning resources

Find courses and tools for every skill.

Jump straight to a level: HSK 1 · HSK 2 · HSK 3 · HSK 4 · HSK 5 · HSK 6