HSK stands for Hànyǔ Shuǐpíng Kǎoshì (汉语水平考试) 😮💨 and is China’s official standarized language test for non-native speakers. The test has 6 levels and includes:
– Listening
– Reading
– Writing (for HSK 3 and onwards)
| Level | Proficiency | Vocabulary | CEFR Equivalent (approx) |
|---|---|---|---|
| HSK 1 | Beginner | 150 words | A1 |
| HSK 2 | Elementary | 300 words | A2 |
| HSK 3 | Elementary | 600 words | B1 |
| HSK 4 | Intermediate | 1,200 words | B2 |
| HSK 5 | Advanced | 2,500 words | C1 |
| HSK 6 | Mastery | 5,000 words | C2 |
The HSK system is used wherever an official language accreditation is needed for example, when you apply for a university or a job in China. Here is a useful list of the different university HSK requirements.
As an independent learner, even if you don’t plan to work or study in China, it can also be useful to track your progress.
Text books will target particular HSK levels and there are resources available online for HSK vocabulary lists and HSK grammar points.
Here are the word lists for each of the HSK levels. They can be exported for Anki, Pleco, Quizlet, Excel and CSV or studied in the WeHanzi app for free.
