New HSK 3.0 Level 2 (Band 2)
2026 Update
Total vocabulary has been reduced from 1272 to 500 words. The 2026 update specifies exactly which topics are covered at each level, making it clear what real-world situations test takers should prepare for. HSK Band 2 Topic Outline: Family life, holidays, and surname culture.
New HSK 3.0 Band 2 Vocabulary List (2026 Version)Standards
Test takers have basic listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. Be able to have a brief conversation on relatively familiar topics and tasks or reply to others for basic social purposes.
Be able to handle simple social interactions, family life, study arrangement, shopping, dining, personal feelings, etc. Be able to discuss personal hobbies with friends and order food in a Chinese restaurant. Be able to fill in personal information on a school registration form.
Syllable |
Character |
Vocabulary |
Grammar |
Handwriting |
468 |
600 |
1272 |
129 |
200 (no less than 15 characters per minute) |
1. Listening
Test takers can understand all the required topics and tasks from band 2, including daily speech or dialogues (within 300 characters) with simple sentences and few simple compound sentences. The materials are spoken in a standard and clear pronunciation at a slow pace (no less than 140 characters per minute). Be able to understand basic information with the help of gestures and facial expressions.
2. Speaking
Test takers can handle all required syllables for band 2 and pronounce these syllables properly. Be able to use the vocabulary and grammar from band 2 to hold interactions and speak about various topics. Be able to use simple sentences to have a simple conversation and make statement.
New HSK 3.0 Band 2 Vocabulary List (2021 Version)New HSK 3.0 Band 2 Grammar
New HSK 3.0 Syllable List
New HSK 3.0 Character List
New HSK 3.0 Handwriting Character List
3. Reading
Test takers can read the required syllables, characters and vocabulary for band 2. Be able to use diagrams, dictionaries and pinyin to understand the materials (within 200 characters). Reading speed should be no less than 100 characters per minute. Be able to understand specific information from introductive and declarative materials. Be able to read general notices and emails.
4. Writing
Test takers can handwrite the 200 Chinese characters from the required handwriting list. Be able to understand strokes, writing orders of Chinese characters and common punctuations. Writing speed should be no less than 15 characters per minute. Use simple sentences to introduce personally related topics within the given duration, with no less than 100 Chinese characters.
Test Content
HSK (Level 2) exam is intended for beginners but at a slightly more advanced level, assessing their basic listening and reading capabilities in Chinese.
HSK (Level 2) consists of 60 questions, divided into listening and reading sections. The exam time is approximately 55 minutes (including 5 minutes for candidates to fill in personal information).
| Test Content | Number of Items | Duration (Min) | ||
| I. Listening | Section 1 | 10 | 35 | About 25 |
| Section 2 | 10 | |||
| Section 3 | 10 | |||
| Section 4 | 5 | |||
| Filling in the answer sheet (transferring the answers of the listening part to the answer sheet) | 3 | |||
| II. Reading | Section 1 | 5 | 25 | 22 |
| Section 2 | 5 | |||
| Section 3 | 5 | |||
| Section 4 | 10 | |||
| Total | / | 60 | About 50 | |
The HSK (Level 2) score report provides three scores: Listening, Reading, and Total. Achieving a full score entails earning 200 points, while a cumulative score of 120 or above qualifies as a passing mark. The HSK scores are valid for two years, starting from the day of the exam.
