Test Format of HSK
Learn About the Sections of the Test Paper

FAMILIARISE YOURSELF WITH THE TEST FORMAT

There are 5 sections on the HSK test paper: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking and Translation, but NOT for all the levels. Listening and Reading are in all the levels' tests, Writing starts from HSK 3, Speaking and Translation are at HSK 7-9 test only.

5 Skills Test

HSK tests 5 language skills in separate sections, but not all the skills will be tested at all levels, a variety of different question types are used. Here’s a simple guide to what you can expect.

For the Speaking section of HSK 3-6, you are required to take HSKK test separately.

Speaking test for Level 3-6

  • HSK 3> HSK Spesking Test Primary
  • HSK 4> HSK Spesking Test Intermediate
  • HSK 5> HSK Spesking Test Advanced
  • HSK 6> HSK Spesking Test Advanced

Listening Level 1-9

You will listen to the recorded texts – A phrase or a sentence, a paragraph of context or a conversation with question. You are required to:
  • Determine whether the options corresponds to what you hear.
  • Choose from the options on the test paper.
  • Judge whether the recorded texts you hear is same as the question.
  • Fill in the blanks to complete the sentence.
  • ...

Reading Level 1-9

  • Read a paragraph of context and choose an answer.
  • Arrange sentences in the correct order.
  • Fill in the blank to complete a sentence.
  • Read a short article and answer questions.
  • ...

Writing Level 3-9

  • Form a sentence with words to the correct order.
  • Write an essay of about 80 words with given words in the question.
  • Read an article of about 1000 words and shorten to a short article of about 400 words.
  • Write an article of about 200-600 words to describe a picture or chart, or demonstrate opinions based on the question.
  • ...

Translation Level 7-9

  • Translate the context given into Chinese.
  • Translate the context given into Chinese orally.

SpeakingLevel 7-9

  • Answer the questions or present your views orally in relation to the topics in the question.

Test Format of Chinese Proficiency Test (HSK)

  • Choose a Level:
  • All
  • HSK 1
  • HSK 2
  • HSK 3
  • HSK 4
  • HSK 5
  • HSK 6
  • HSK 7-9

HSK 1

Sections of Test

20 Listening Qs
20 Reading Qs

Test Duration

40 Qs / 40 min.

Test Scores Report

1. Listening Score
2. Reading Score
3. Total Score
Passing Mark 120 / 200

HSK 2

Sections of Test

35 Listening Qs
25 Reading Qs

Test Duration

60 Qs / 55 min.

Test Scores Report

1. Listening Score
2. Reading Score
3. Total Score
Passing Mark 120 / 200

HSK 3

Sections of Test

40 Listening Qs
30 Reading Qs
10 Writing Qs

Test Duration

80 Qs / 90 min.

Test Scores Report

1. Listening Score
2. Reading Score
3. Writing Score
4. Total Score
Passing Mark 180 / 300

HSK 4

Sections of Test

45 Listening Qs
40 Reading Qs
15 Writing Qs

Test Duration

100 Qs / 105 min.

Test Scores Report

1. Listening Score
2. Reading Score
3. Writing Score
4. Total Score
Passing Mark 180 / 300

HSK 5

Sections of Test

45 Listening Qs
45 Reading Qs
10 Writing Qs

Test Duration

100 Qs / 125 min.

Test Scores Report

1. Listening Score
2. Reading Score
3. Writing Score
4. Total Score
Passing Mark 180 / 300

HSK 6

Sections of Test

50 Listening Qs
50 Reading Qs
1 Writing Qs

Test Duration

101 Qs / 140 min.

Test Scores Report

1. Listening Score
2. Reading Score
3. Writing Score
4. Total Score
Passing Mark 180 / 300

HSK 7-9

Sections of Test

40 Listening Qs
47 Reading Qs
2 Writing Qs
4 Translation Qs
5 Speaking Qs

Test Duration

98 Qs / 210 min.

Test Scores Report

1. Listening Score
2. Reading Score
3. Writing Score
4. Translation Score
5. Speaking Score
6. Evaluation Result (4 Grades)
Results to be measured by the Item Response Theory (IRT)