# HSK levels explained

> Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (Chinese Proficiency Test), maintained by Chinese Ministry of Education / Chinese Testing International (CTI).

The HSK is China's official standardised Chinese proficiency test for non-native speakers, used for university admission, scholarships and employment in China. The six-level exam most learners still sit, HSK 1 to HSK 6, follows the 2010 syllabus known as HSK 2.0, whose official vocabulary lists run from 150 words at HSK 1 to 5,000 at HSK 6. In 2021 a new national standard, GF0025-2021 or HSK 3.0, restructured the framework into three stages and nine bands, raising the requirement to 11,092 words and 3,000 characters and specifying characters, syllables and grammar points for the first time; the combined levels 7-9 exam has launched while levels 1-6 continue through a phased transition, so both sets of figures are given below. Word counts are official; the HSK 2.0 character counts are derived by counting the characters inside the official word lists, because the 2010 syllabus specified words only. No official study hours are published for any HSK level, so those ranges are widely cited estimates.

## The 6 HSK levels

| Level | Name | Typical vocabulary | Study to reach it |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [HSK 1](https://nativepal.app/levels/hsk/hsk-1/) | Beginner | 150 official words and about 170 characters; HSK 3.0 sets 500 words and 300 characters | 50-150 hours |
| [HSK 2](https://nativepal.app/levels/hsk/hsk-2/) | Elementary | 300 official words and about 350 characters; HSK 3.0 sets 1,272 words and 600 characters | 150-300 hours |
| [HSK 3](https://nativepal.app/levels/hsk/hsk-3/) | Lower Intermediate | 600 official words and about 620 characters; HSK 3.0 sets 2,245 words and 900 characters | 300-600 hours |
| [HSK 4](https://nativepal.app/levels/hsk/hsk-4/) | Intermediate | 1,200 official words and about 1,070 characters; HSK 3.0 sets 3,245 words and 1,200 characters | 600-1,000 hours |
| [HSK 5](https://nativepal.app/levels/hsk/hsk-5/) | Upper Intermediate | 2,500 official words and about 1,700 characters; HSK 3.0 sets 4,316 words and 1,500 characters | 1,000-1,800 hours |
| [HSK 6](https://nativepal.app/levels/hsk/hsk-6/) | Advanced | 5,000 or more official words and about 2,600 characters; HSK 3.0 sets 5,456 words and 1,800 characters, with a further advanced band of 11,092 words and 3,000 characters at levels 7-9 | 2,000-2,600 hours |

## FAQ

### What is HSK?

The HSK is China's official standardised Chinese proficiency test for non-native speakers, used for university admission, scholarships and employment in China. The six-level exam most learners still sit, HSK 1 to HSK 6, follows the 2010 syllabus known as HSK 2.0, whose official vocabulary lists run from 150 words at HSK 1 to 5,000 at HSK 6. In 2021 a new national standard, GF0025-2021 or HSK 3.0, restructured the framework into three stages and nine bands, raising the requirement to 11,092 words and 3,000 characters and specifying characters, syllables and grammar points for the first time; the combined levels 7-9 exam has launched while levels 1-6 continue through a phased transition, so both sets of figures are given below. Word counts are official; the HSK 2.0 character counts are derived by counting the characters inside the official word lists, because the 2010 syllabus specified words only. No official study hours are published for any HSK level, so those ranges are widely cited estimates.

### How many HSK levels are there?

HSK has 6 levels, from HSK 1 to HSK 6, maintained by Chinese Ministry of Education / Chinese Testing International (CTI).

### Which languages use HSK?

Mandarin Chinese only.

### Which HSK level should I start at?

If you have never studied the language, start at HSK 1. Otherwise pick the highest level whose can-do statements you can already manage comfortably. NativePal lets you set and change your level at any time.

## More

- [All proficiency frameworks](https://nativepal.app/levels/)
- [All supported languages](https://nativepal.app/languages.html)