HSK (Chinese Proficiency Test) Requirements & Prerequisites
Everything you need to know before registering for the HSK (Chinese Proficiency Test), eligibility, cost, format, and what to expect on exam day.
Cost
$35-$75
Provider
Hanban/Confucius Institute
Validity
2 years
Available
Global
Education
Check official exam requirements
Experience
Varies, check official requirements
Specific Requirements
- No prior qualification, age limit, or course of study is required. Anyone may register for any HSK level, and there is no rule that you must pass a lower level first.
- A CTI service website account. Each email address may hold only one account, and you must log in with that email each time.
- A valid government-issued photo identity document: passport, resident identity card, residence permit, or travel permit, depending on where you test. Candidates testing outside their home country must use a passport.
- A compliant registration photo: taken within the last 6 months, colour, bareheaded, white background preferred, jpg format, between 50kb and 500kb. Hats, headscarves, hair bands, and sunglasses are not allowed except for religious reasons, and edited or AI-altered photos are refused.
- Payment of the test centre's fee. CTI publishes no single global price. CTI-hosted mainland test centre notices list HSK 1 at 150 yuan, HSK 2 at 250, HSK 3 at 350, HSK 4 at 450, HSK 5 at 550, HSK 6 at 650, and the HSK Speaking Test at 200, 300, and 400 yuan for Elementary, Intermediate, and Advanced. Overseas centres set their own prices in local currency.
- Registration before the published deadline, which for 2026 falls roughly 3 to 4 weeks before a paper test and about 10 days before an internet-based test.
- For the September 2026 trial administration, candidates at Levels 3 to 6 must register the matching speaking test at the same time.
- Mailing information, required only for candidates registering at test centres in mainland China. Candidates in Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, or overseas collect score reports from the centre instead.
Number of Questions
HSK 1: 40 questions. HSK 2: 60. HSK 3: 80. HSK 4: 100. HSK 5: 100. HSK 6: 101. HSK Levels 7 to 9: 98 items, of which 67 are objective and 31 are subjective. HSK Speaking: 27 items at Elementary, 14 at Intermediate, 6 at Advanced.
Duration
Varies by level. HSK 1: about 35 minutes of testing inside a 40-minute session. HSK 2: about 50 minutes inside 55. HSK 3: about 85 minutes inside 90. HSK 4: about 100 minutes inside 105. HSK 5: about 120 minutes inside 125. HSK 6: about 135 minutes inside 140. Each session includes 5 minutes for filling in personal information. HSK Levels 7 to 9 runs about 210 minutes with one scheduled break. The pacing section of this guide uses HSK 4 as its reference level.
Question Format
Listening comprehension items played once, with answers marked on paper or on screen, Reading comprehension items ranging from single signs and short messages at Level 1 to news reports, scientific articles, survey reports, and academic literature at Levels 7 to 9, Writing items at Levels 3 to 5 split across two short-answer sections, A single extended writing task at Level 6, allotted 45 minutes on its own, Chart description and analysis, plus defending an opinion on a set topic, in the two Levels 7 to 9 writing tasks, Written and oral translation from a foreign language into Chinese, only in Levels 7 to 9, HSK Speaking: listen and repeat, listen and answer, picture description, read aloud, and answer the questions, depending on level, Handwritten Chinese characters in the paper-based writing sections, which is why the syllabus specifies a separate list of characters candidates must be able to write rather than only recognise
Passing Requirement
120 of 200 at HSK 1 and HSK 2. 180 of 300 at HSK 3 and HSK 4. CTI publishes no pass mark for HSK 5 or HSK 6 and reports only the section scores and total. 60 of 100 at every HSK Speaking level. HSK Levels 7 to 9 has no pass mark and instead assigns one of four outcomes: Below HSK Level 7, HSK Level 7, HSK Level 8, or HSK Level 9.
How It Is Delivered
Paper-based at a test centre, internet-based at a test centre, or internet-based at home, depending on what the chosen centre offers. HSK Levels 7 to 9 is currently internet-based only.
Languages Offered
Simplified Chinese characters throughout the test paper., Registration and the CTI service website are available in Simplified Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean, French, Russian, and Spanish.
Rules specific to this exam
- Section Breakdown: HSK 1: listening 20 questions in four sections of 5, about 15 minutes; 3-minute answer transfer; reading 20 questions in four sections of 5, 17 minutes. HSK 2: listening 35 questions (10, 10, 10, 5), about 25 minutes; 3-minute transfer; reading 25 questions (5, 5, 5, 10), 22 minutes. HSK 3: listening 40 questions in four sections of 10, about 35 minutes; 5-minute transfer; reading 30 questions in three sections of 10, 30 minutes; writing 10 questions in two sections of 5, 15 minutes. HSK 4: listening 45 questions (10, 15, 20), about 30 minutes; 5-minute transfer; reading 40 questions (10, 10, 20), 40 minutes; writing 15 questions (10, 5), 25 minutes. HSK 5: listening 45 questions (20, 25), about 30 minutes; 5-minute transfer; reading 45 questions (15, 10, 20), 45 minutes; writing 10 questions (8, 2), 40 minutes. HSK 6: listening 50 questions (15, 15, 20), about 35 minutes; 5-minute transfer; reading 50 questions (10, 10, 10, 20), 50 minutes; writing 1 task, 45 minutes. HSK 7 to 9: listening 40 items in 3 sections, about 30 minutes; reading 47 items in 3 sections, 60 minutes; writing 2 tasks, 55 minutes; translation 4 items, 41 minutes; speaking 5 items in 3 sections, about 24 minutes. The published schedule runs 13:00 to 16:10, a 30-minute break to 16:40, then translation and speaking to 17:10
Visit the official Hanban/Confucius Institute certification page
Create an account and select your exam
Choose a test center or online proctoring option
Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
Score Scale
HSK 1 and 2: listening and reading of 100 points each, 200 total. HSK 3 to 6: listening, reading, and writing of 100 points each, 300 total. HSK Speaking: 100 points at each of Elementary, Intermediate, and Advanced. HSK Levels 7 to 9: five separately reported skill scores of 0 to 100 for listening, reading, writing, translation, and speaking, plus a band result.
Score You Need
120 of 200 at HSK 1 and HSK 2. 180 of 300 at HSK 3 and HSK 4. CTI publishes no pass mark for HSK 5 or HSK 6 and reports only the section scores and total. 60 of 100 at every HSK Speaking level. HSK Levels 7 to 9 has no pass mark and instead assigns one of four outcomes: Below HSK Level 7, HSK Level 7, HSK Level 8, or HSK Level 9.
How It Is Calculated
For Levels 7 to 9, CTI states that ability values are estimated with an item response theory model from the candidate raw scores, and that band placement follows from those ability values together with the content and difficulty of the items delivered. The measurement model then converts each skill to a reported 0 to 100 score. For Levels 1 to 6, CTI publishes the section maxima and totals but does not publish an equating or scaling method, so treat any raw-to-scaled table you find elsewhere as unverified.
When You Get Results
Internet-based written results are released 15 days after the test date, internet-based speaking results after 20 days, and paper-based written and speaking results after 30 days. Statutory holidays push the release back, in some cases by a week. Candidates check results on the CTI service website using the admission ticket number and name, which is why CTI tells you to keep the admission ticket after the exam. In mainland China the printed score report is couriered within 5 working days of release to the mailing address given at registration; for centres in Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, or overseas, reports reach the test centre about 45 days after the exam for collection in person.
- Validity: Score reports are valid for two years as proof of proficiency, counted from the exam date. There is no renewal or continuing-education mechanism: the only way to hold a current certificate after two years is to sit the exam again.
- Review: Candidates who doubt a result can apply for a score review through the My Account area of the CTI service website. CTI also runs its own investigations where a score looks inconsistent with a candidate's proficiency, where a venue is flagged, or on random technical verification; those reviews typically take 2 to 8 weeks, during which scores are withheld or temporarily pulled.
- Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo)
- Appointment confirmation email
- For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet
What are the prerequisites for the HSK (Chinese Proficiency Test)?
No prior qualification, age limit, or course of study is required. Anyone may register for any HSK level, and there is no rule that you must pass a lower level first.. A CTI service website account. Each email address may hold only one account, and you must log in with that email each time.. A valid government-issued photo identity document: passport, resident identity card, residence permit, or travel permit, depending on where you test. Candidates testing outside their home country must use a passport.. A compliant registration photo: taken within the last 6 months, colour, bareheaded, white background preferred, jpg format, between 50kb and 500kb. Hats, headscarves, hair bands, and sunglasses are not allowed except for religious reasons, and edited or AI-altered photos are refused.. Payment of the test centre's fee. CTI publishes no single global price. CTI-hosted mainland test centre notices list HSK 1 at 150 yuan, HSK 2 at 250, HSK 3 at 350, HSK 4 at 450, HSK 5 at 550, HSK 6 at 650, and the HSK Speaking Test at 200, 300, and 400 yuan for Elementary, Intermediate, and Advanced. Overseas centres set their own prices in local currency.. Registration before the published deadline, which for 2026 falls roughly 3 to 4 weeks before a paper test and about 10 days before an internet-based test.. For the September 2026 trial administration, candidates at Levels 3 to 6 must register the matching speaking test at the same time.. Mailing information, required only for candidates registering at test centres in mainland China. Candidates in Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, or overseas collect score reports from the centre instead..
How much does the HSK (Chinese Proficiency Test) cost?
The HSK (Chinese Proficiency Test) exam costs $35-$75. This includes the exam fee only, study materials are additional.
How do I register for the HSK (Chinese Proficiency Test)?
Visit the official Hanban/Confucius Institute certification page → Create an account and select your exam → Choose a test center or online proctoring option → Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
What should I bring to the HSK (Chinese Proficiency Test)?
Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo). Appointment confirmation email. For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet.
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