HSK 2.0
Current Standard
- Levels
- 6 levels (HSK 1-6)
- Total vocabulary
- ~5,000 words
- Focus
- Vocabulary & grammar
- Characters tested
- ~2,600 characters
- Status
- Active until 2025
HSK 2.0 vs HSK 3.0
Understanding the key differences between the two standards
HSK 3.0
New Standard
- Levels
- 9 bands (HSK 1-9)
- Total vocabulary
- ~11,092 words
- Focus
- Vocabulary, grammar, characters & translation
- Characters tested
- ~3,000 characters
- Status
- Rolling out from 2025
Key Differences
More Levels
HSK 3.0 expands from 6 to 9 bands, adding advanced proficiency tiers for near-native speakers.
Larger Vocabulary
Total vocabulary doubles from ~5,000 to ~11,000 words, with greater emphasis on written Chinese.
Character Focus
HSK 3.0 explicitly tests character recognition and handwriting as separate skills at each band.
Translation Skills
Advanced bands (7-9) introduce translation between Chinese and other languages as a tested competency.
2025 Test Dates
Internet-based HSK (Levels 1-6). Registration closes ~10 days before each exam.
| Test Date | Registration Deadline | Score Release |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 9 | Feb 27 | Mar 24 |
| Apr 12 | Apr 2 | Apr 28 |
| May 17 | May 7 | Jun 3 |
| Jun 22 | Jun 12 | Jul 7 |
| Jul 19 | Jul 9 | Aug 4 |
| Aug 17 | Aug 7 | Sep 1 |
| Sep 7 | Aug 28 | Sep 22 |
| Oct 18 | Oct 8 | Nov 3 |
| Nov 15 | Nov 5 | Dec 1 |
| Dec 7 | Nov 27 | Dec 22 |
HSK 7-9 is offered twice in 2025: May 11 and Sep 8 (internet-based only).
Source: chinesetest.cn - dates may vary by region