Introduction

HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi) or the Chinese Proficiency Test is a standardized test at the state level to assess the Chinese proficiency of non-native speakers (foreigners, overseas Chinese and students of Chinese national minorities). It was developed in 1984 and the first test was held overseas in 1991. Since then, more than 1.3 million people from over 120 countries and regions have appeared for the test. HSK testing centers have been set up in 34 Chinese cities and 37 countries. In 2005, more than 110,000 students signed up for the HSK.

As tests of general language proficiency, HSK is not based on any particular textbook or course of study. Differentiated by levels of difficulty, HSK is divided into three categories with eleven score levels:

HSK Basic (Levels 1, 2, 3)
HSK Elementary - Intermediate (Elementary Level 3, 4, 5; Intermediate Level 6, 7, 8)
HSK Advanced (Levels 9, 10, 11)

The highest level in HSK Basic overlaps the lowest level in HSK Elementary - Intermediate. HSK Applicants have to decide which of the three categories of the test is applicable to them. In general, there are two factors to consider: 1) purpose of taking the test and 2) current competence level. CEC recommends that students should take Chinese language program and HSK preparation course in Chinese national universities if they want to reach HSK Elementary - Intermediate or HSK Advanced.

Functions of HSK Certificates

1) To certify that the holder has acquired the required Chinese Proficiency to enter a college or university as an undergraduate or graduate student.

2) To certify that the holder can be exempt from taking the Chinese language course depending on the level of certification.

3) As a basis for the employers to evaluate the Chinese proficiency of the job applicants.

Suitable Candidates for HSK

HSK (Basic) applies to those learners with the basic Chinese proficiencies, namely, those who have taken 100 to 800 hours of regular modern Chinese learning (including those with the equivalent learning experiences).

HSK (Elementary-Intermediate) is for those who are at the elementary and intermediate level in Chinese proficiency, i.e. those who have taken 400-2000 regular hours of modern Chinese courses (including those whose proficiency in Chinese is similar to that standard).

HSK (Advanced) is designed to measure the Chinese proficiency of those who are proficient in Chinese, i.e. who have taken 3000 regular hours or more modern Chinese learning (including those whose proficiency in Chinese is similar to that standard).

Click here to download the HSK Vocabulary List

HSK Test Format

HSK Basic is a 140-item, 135 minute test. HSK Basic is divided into three sections: listening, sentence structure and reading comprehension. All questions are multiple-choice format.

HSK Elementary-Intermediate is a 170-item, 145 minute test divided into four parts: listening, sentence structure, reading comprehension and a cloze(fill in the blanks) section. Questions 1 to 154 are multiple-choice while questions 155 to 170 are cloze format requiring examinees to fill in blank spaces of a text at regular intervals with the appropriate Chinese characters.

The HSK Advanced test is 2 hours 35 minutes in length. HSK Advanced consists of three separately-timed subtests: a 120-item written test (objective), a writing composition section and an oral test. The 120-item written test is further divided into three subsections: listening, reading and cloze. A variety of objective-type questions are used including multiple-choice, matching, fill in the blank and writing Chinese characters. The oral test takes the form of an interview.

	Sample test and test schedule, please visit HSK Center

Registration Procedures

1) Candidates shall bring two recent 30 x 40 mm photos without headwear when registering and present a photo-bearing identification, such as a passport or residence permit.

2) Candidates have to pay the fees for the test and registration. In China, it is ￥200 RMB for HSK Basic (including ￥70 RMB for the registration fee); ￥250 RMB for HSK Elementary-Intermediate (including ￥70 RMB for the registration fee) and ￥400 RMB for HSK Advanced (including ￥70 RMB for the registration fee) (as to fees to be paid in other countries or by students of ethnic minorities, please contact local test centers). Fees for the test and registration are non-refundable. And postage is included in the fees. When a candidate cannot take the test in time due to some insurmountable reasons and notifies in advance the test center at which he registered before the test date, with the approval of the center (with the signature and stamp of the center), one test opportunity will be retained for the candidate and he or she will only pay the registration fee if he takes the next test in the future.

3) Candidates living where there are no local test centers may register by mail. Applications must be sent to the test center by registered mail at least one week before the final registration deadline and enclose a photocopy of an official piece of identification, a resume (including the Chinese and English names, sex, nationality, date of birth), a detailed mail address and two recent 30 x 40 photos without head wear. Meanwhile fees for the test and registration shall be remitted to the registration site by post. No telephone registration will be accepted. And the admission ticket will be given to the candidate in person upon his or her arrival at the testing site.

4) Candidates will be given the admission ticket and the HSK User Handbook. Candidates shall take the test according to the time and place specified on the admission ticket.

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