HSK 3.0 Guide
Learning Requirements, Communication Skills and Examinations
HSK 3.0 introduces a broader framework for learning and assessing Chinese, with nine levels grouped into three stages: Elementary, Intermediate and Advanced.
The Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK), or Chinese Proficiency Test, is an internationally recognized examination of Chinese language proficiency for non-native speakers. Its levels provide a structured reference for learning Chinese and demonstrating language ability.
More than a set of examination requirements, HSK 3.0 connects vocabulary, grammar and Chinese characters with communication topics and practical tasks — what learners should be able to understand and do in Chinese. At Advanced level, Translation is also included.
Whether you are starting Chinese, planning your next HSK level or preparing for an examination, understanding these expectations helps you set clear learning goals and follow your progress.
This HSK 3.0 Guide explains the learning requirements and communication expectations at each level, including vocabulary, grammar, character recognition and writing, topics, communication tasks and examination structure. Start with the overview below, then explore the detailed chapters for your target level.
If you are currently studying HSK 2.0 and want to know how to move into the new system:
1. HSK 3.0 — All Levels at a Glance
This summary brings together the main learning requirements and communication expectations for each HSK 3.0 level. Use it for a quick comparison; the following chapters explain each area in more detail.
Learning requirements
| Level | Vocabulary | Grammar | Character Recognition | Character Writing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HSK 1 | 300 | 70 | 246 | — |
| HSK 2 | 500 | 148 | 371 | 100 |
| HSK 3 | 1,000 | 244 | 655 | 250 |
| HSK 4 | 2,000 | 339 | 1,096 | 400 |
| HSK 5 | 3,600 | 409 | 1,527 | 550 |
| HSK 6 | 5,400 | 459 | 1,940 | 700 |
| HSK 7–9 | 11,000 | 593 | 3,088 | 1,200 |
- Figures are cumulative and match Chapter 3.
- HSK 7–9 share one Advanced syllabus.
Communication and progression
| Level | Key Topics (examples) | What You Can Do | Main Progression |
|---|---|---|---|
| HSK 1 | Personal information, family, daily routines, food and shopping | Exchange basic personal information and handle simple everyday interactions | First exchanges about familiar needs |
| HSK 2 | Family life, travel, health, leisure and everyday activities | Describe daily life, make arrangements and share simple experiences | From basic exchanges to describing daily experiences |
| HSK 3 | Daily and social life, travel, nature, sports and entertainment | Handle common situations, explain simple problems and express basic opinions | From familiar routines to handling situations and expressing opinions |
| HSK 4 | Social life, technology, culture, history and international exchange | Describe experiences in detail, explain viewpoints and produce connected written texts | From basic opinions to coherent explanations and connected writing |
| HSK 5 | Business, sustainability, society, culture and technology | Discuss professional and social issues and produce structured written texts | From general discussions to structured communication on broader issues |
| HSK 6 | Education, social issues, economics, literature and history | Discuss complex topics fluently and present and support opinions | From structured discussion to fluent, well-supported argumentation |
| HSK 7–9 | Law, public policy, economics, science and advanced academic subjects | Communicate effectively in complex professional and academic situations, including translation | From broad fluency to precise, specialized academic and professional communication |
- Key Topics and Can-Do descriptions are concise editorial summaries;
- Main Progression is a curriculum-oriented description, not an official HSK label.
2. HSK 3.0 — Three Stages, Nine Levels
HSK 3.0 is organized into three stages, each containing three proficiency levels.
| Stage | Levels | Main Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Levels 1–3 | Everyday communication and development of core language skills |
| Intermediate | Levels 4–6 | Broader communication, more complex reading and writing, and expressing and supporting ideas |
| Advanced | Levels 7–9 | Academic and professional Chinese, complex communication and translation |
As learners progress through the nine levels, they develop from communicating about familiar everyday situations to expressing complex ideas and using Chinese confidently in academic and professional contexts.
What Can You Do at Each HSK 3.0 Level?
The following table summarizes the general language proficiency expected at each HSK 3.0 level.
| Level | General Proficiency |
|---|---|
| HSK 1 | Simple everyday communication |
| HSK 2 | Basic communication in daily life, study and work |
| HSK 3 | Effective communication in daily life, study and work |
| HSK 4 | Full and coherent communication in daily life, study and work |
| HSK 5 | Accurate and appropriate communication in professional and academic settings |
| HSK 6 | Extensive and fluent communication in professional and academic settings |
| HSK 7 | Appropriate and fluent communication in professional and general academic contexts |
| HSK 8 | In-depth communication in professional and general academic contexts |
| HSK 9 | Precise and in-depth communication across professional and academic contexts |
These descriptions provide an overall picture of the expected proficiency at each level. The following chapters explain the specific learning requirements, communication topics and tasks, and examination requirements in more detail.
3. HSK 3.0 — Learning Requirements by Level
HSK 3.0 defines the learning requirements for each level across four areas: Vocabulary, Grammar, Character Recognition and Character Writing.
- Vocabulary: The number of Chinese words learners are expected to know and understand.
- Grammar: The grammatical structures and patterns learners need to understand and use.
- Character Recognition: The number of Chinese characters learners are expected to recognize, read and understand.
- Character Writing: The number of Chinese characters learners are expected to be able to write.
Character Writing — Learning Requirement vs. Examination
As in HSK 2.0, there is an important difference between paper-based and computer-based examinations. In a paper-based examination, answers requiring Chinese characters must be handwritten. In a computer-based examination, learners can generally enter Chinese using Pinyin input and select the appropriate characters.
The Character Writing learning requirement and the method used to enter answers during an examination are therefore not necessarily the same
Learning Requirements at a Glance
The table below shows the cumulative requirements for each HSK 3.0 level. Each level includes the requirements of all preceding levels.
| HSK Level | Vocabulary | Grammar | Character Recognition | Character Writing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HSK 1 | 300 | 70 | 246 | — |
| HSK 2 | 500 | 148 | 371 | 100 |
| HSK 3 | 1,000 | 244 | 655 | 250 |
| HSK 4 | 2,000 | 339 | 1,096 | 400 |
| HSK 5 | 3,600 | 409 | 1,527 | 550 |
| HSK 6 | 5,400 | 459 | 1,940 | 700 |
| HSK 7–9 | 11,000 | 593 | 3,088 | 1,200 |
Notes:
- All figures are cumulative.
- The official syllabus groups the Advanced requirements for HSK 7–9 together.
- The first 100 characters in the Character Writing syllabus are assigned jointly to HSK 1–2; there is no separate HSK 1 writing list. They are therefore shown under HSK 2 in this table.
Download Detailed HSK 3.0 Requirements
Download the complete Vocabulary, Grammar, Character Recognition, Character Writing and Topics lists for your HSK 3.0 level. Communication Tasks are not included.
4. HSK 3.0 — Topics by Level
HSK 3.0 organizes its learning content around communication topics, covering situations and subjects learners encounter in everyday life, education, work and society.
The official syllabus organizes these topics into three levels:
- Primary Topics: Broad areas of communication, such as Daily Life.
- Secondary Topics: More specific subjects within these areas, such as Food and Dining.
- Tertiary Topics: Specific aspects of a subject, such as Eating Habits.
As learners progress, the range of topics expands from familiar everyday situations to broader social, cultural, professional and academic subjects.
Topics at a Glance
The table below shows the number of Tertiary Topics at each HSK level, together with a summary of the main topics covered.
| HSK Level | Tertiary Topics | Main Topics Covered |
|---|---|---|
| HSK 1 | 30 | Personal information, family, daily routines, food, shopping, basic education and work situations, and everyday cultural practices. |
| HSK 2 | 34 | Family activities, travel, health, leisure, school and workplace experiences, traditional festivals and customs. |
| HSK 3 | 54 | Broader daily and social life, nature and the environment, modern urban life, sports, arts and entertainment. |
| HSK 4 | 77 | Contemporary society, science and technology, historical figures and events, cultural developments and international exchange. |
| HSK 5 | 72 | Business and management, environmental sustainability, Chinese society and culture, philosophy, traditional knowledge and technology. |
| HSK 6 | 68 | Education and social issues, economics and personal finance, public welfare, traditional literature, history and cultural values. |
| HSK 7–9 | 92 | Complex social and national issues, law, economics, public policy, culture, science, technology and advanced professional and academic subjects. |
Notes:
- The figures represent the number of Tertiary Topics at each HSK level. These are the most detailed topics in the official syllabus and together cover all the subject matter included under the broader Primary and Secondary Topics. The figures are not cumulative.
- The Main Topics Covered column summarizes the subject matter; it does not reproduce the official Primary Topic categories.
- Topics may reappear at higher levels, where they are explored in greater depth and complexity.
- HSK 7–9 share one Advanced Topic Syllabus.
For the complete Topics list, together with Vocabulary, Grammar and Character requirements, see the level-specific PDF downloads in Chapter 3.
From Topics to Communication Skills
Topics define what learners communicate about. The ability to use Chinese within these topics develops as learners progress through the HSK levels.
Chapter 5 explains the corresponding Communication Tasks — what learners are expected to be able to do in Chinese at each level.
5. HSK 3.0 — Communication Tasks: What Can You Do at Each Level?
HSK 3.0 places particular emphasis on practical communication — what learners can actually do with Chinese in everyday life, education, work and society.
The official HSK 3.0 syllabus defines Communication Tasks for each level. These describe the language activities learners are expected to perform, including understanding information, interacting with others, expressing ideas and communicating in writing.
As learners progress, these tasks become broader and more complex, requiring greater fluency, accuracy and independence.
Communication Tasks at a Glance
The table below shows the number of Communication Tasks at each HSK 3.0 level, together with examples of what learners are expected to be able to do.
| HSK Level | Tasks | What Can You Do? |
|---|---|---|
| HSK 1 | 9 | Exchange basic personal information, express simple needs, and handle basic daily interactions using simple words and formulaic expressions. |
| HSK 2 | 11 | Describe aspects of everyday life, make simple arrangements, share familiar experiences, and participate in brief social exchanges. |
| HSK 3 | 14 | Handle common situations in daily, social and study contexts, describe events, explain simple problems, and express opinions on familiar topics. |
| HSK 4 | 16 | Communicate in detail on a wide range of familiar and social topics, describe experiences and events, explain viewpoints, and produce connected texts. |
| HSK 5 | 17 | Discuss complex topics in social, professional and basic academic contexts, give structured presentations, and produce clear, detailed texts. |
| HSK 6 | 17 | Communicate fluently, flexibly and effectively on complex topics in social, academic and professional settings, understand nuanced language, and present well-supported arguments. |
| HSK 7–9 | 24 | Communicate effectively in complex professional and academic situations, analyze specialized subjects, participate in negotiations and academic exchanges, produce formal written texts, and undertake translation tasks. |
Notes:
- The figures represent the number of communication tasks specified at each HSK level. The figures are not cumulative.
- The What Can You Do? column highlights selected communication abilities; it does not reproduce the full syllabus description.
- HSK 7–9 share one Advanced Communication Syllabus.
How Communication Skills Develop
Across the nine HSK levels, learners develop their ability to understand spoken and written Chinese, communicate orally and express themselves in writing.
At the Elementary stage, communication focuses mainly on familiar situations and practical everyday needs. At the Intermediate stage, learners increasingly explain ideas, discuss broader subjects and produce more developed spoken and written communication.
At the Advanced stage, communication extends to complex professional and academic situations, including translation between Chinese and other languages.
6. HSK 3.0 — Examination Overview
The HSK 3.0 examinations assess how effectively learners can use Chinese at different proficiency levels, from everyday communication to advanced academic and professional language use.
The examinations cover Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking and, at Advanced level, Translation. The skills assessed and the examination requirements vary by level.
6.1 Exam Components and Duration
The table below provides an overview of the skills assessed and the approximate examination duration at each HSK 3.0 level.
| HSK 3.0 | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking | Translation | Exam duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HSK 1 | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | — | ≈40 min |
| HSK 2 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | ≈60 min |
| HSK 3 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | Written ≈83 min Speaking ≈15 min |
| HSK 4 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | Written ≈85 min Speaking ≈20 min |
| HSK 5 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | Written ≈110 min Speaking ≈23 min |
| HSK 6 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | Written ≈125 min Speaking ≈23 min |
| Levels 7–9 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ≈210 min |
Notes:
- Speaking examinations (HSK 3–6): Students take a corresponding speaking examination alongside the written examination. Both examinations are registered for together and scheduled on the same day. The HSK Written Test assesses all required skills except speaking. For Levels 7–9, speaking is integrated into one comprehensive examination, rather than assessed separately.
- Writing in paper-based and computer-based examinations: The way candidates enter Chinese characters differs between the two examination formats. See Chapter 3 for an explanation.
- Exam durations are approximate.
6.2 HSK Speaking Test
Speaking is an important component of HSK 3.0, with different examination arrangements depending on the level.
- HSK 1–2: No HSK Speaking Test is required.
- HSK 3–6: Candidates take a corresponding HSK Speaking Test alongside the written HSK examination. Registration and scheduling arrangements should be confirmed for the intended examination date.
- HSK 7–9: Speaking is integrated into the comprehensive Advanced examination.
Candidates should check the latest official registration requirements for their examination date.
6.3 HSK 7–9 — One Advanced Examination
HSK 7, 8 and 9 are assessed through one combined Advanced examination rather than three separate examinations.
The examination covers all five language skills:
Listening · Reading · Writing · Translation · Speaking
Candidates take the same examination, and their performance determines whether they achieve HSK 7, 8 or 9.
The complete examination takes approximately 210 minutes.
6.4 Scoring and Passing Requirements
HSK examination results report candidates’ performance in the different language skills assessed.
Under the existing HSK scoring system, the commonly stated passing thresholds are 60% of the available points. These are included for reference; the applicable HSK 3.0 examination rules must be confirmed before publication:
- HSK 1–2: 120 out of 200 points.
- HSK 3–6: 180 out of 300 points.
- HSK Speaking Test: 60 out of 100 points.
or HSK 1–6, passing is based on the overall score, rather than a separately specified minimum score for each examination section.
HSK 7–9: Candidates take one Advanced examination. Their performance across Listening, Reading, Writing, Translation and Speaking is evaluated to determine whether they achieve HSK 7, 8 or 9.
The final scoring and passing requirements for HSK 3.0 examinations should be checked against the official regulations before publication.
Official HSK Information and Updates
For the latest official information on HSK 3.0, including syllabus updates, examination requirements, registration procedures, examination dates and results, please visit www.chinesetest.cn
As HSK 3.0 continues to be implemented, students are advised to check the official website for any changes that may affect their learning or examination plans.