In short: the guideline most often quoted, from the Confucius Institute for Scotland, is roughly 40–80 hours of study for HSK 1, rising to more than two years of classes for HSK 5.[1] Teachers have long said that’s too optimistic.[3] The part you can plan exactly is vocabulary: at 5 new words a day, HSK 1 to 4 take about eight months of new words today, and about 13 months on the new exam that starts on 13 December 2026.[2][4][6]
Every level at a glance
| Level | Study guideline | HSK 2.0 words | Days | HSK 3.0 words | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HSK 1 | 40–80 hours | 150 | 30 | 300 | 60 |
| HSK 2 | 80–120 hours | 300 | 60 | 500 | 100 |
| HSK 3 | 120–180 hours | 600 | 120 | 1,000 | 200 |
| HSK 4 | 2 academic years, 2–4 classes a week | 1,200 | 240 | 2,000 | 400 |
| HSK 5 | over 2 years, 2–4 classes a week | 2,500 | 500 | 3,600 | 720 |
| HSK 6 | none given | 5,000+ | 1,000 | 5,400 | 1,080 |
Sources: the study guideline from the Confucius Institute for Scotland,[1] HSK 2.0 words from Hanban,[2] and HSK 3.0 words from the new exam syllabus.[4] Days count new words only, from zero, at 5 a day.
Where the numbers come from
The study guideline. The Confucius Institute for Scotland gives a study time for HSK 1 to 5. HSK 1 to 3 are given in hours; HSK 4 and 5 in years of classes; HSK 6 by vocabulary alone.[1] Hanban’s own archived levels page gives the vocabulary, what a learner can do, and a European (CEFR) level for each, but no study time.[2]
The critique. In 2010 Fachverband Chinesisch, the German association of Chinese teachers, rejected Hanban’s CEFR levels. It read Hanban’s HSK 4 guideline as two years at 2–4 hours a week, or 160–320 hours, and called that unrealistic even for European languages. Its own estimate for a level comparable to B2 was 1,200–1,600 class hours plus private study.[3] From HSK 3 up, it placed each level two CEFR steps below where Hanban put it.[2][3]
The word arithmetic. Vocabulary is the one part you can plan precisely. It’s new words only: reviews, listening, grammar and writing come on top. Five new words a day is Purlingual’s default pace.
How long does HSK 1 take?
The guideline is 40–80 hours of study and a vocabulary of about 150 words.[1] At three hours a week, that’s roughly three to six months. Hanban says an HSK 1 learner can understand and use very simple words and phrases, and put it at A1.[2] Fachverband Chinesisch gave it no CEFR level at all.[3] The exam takes 40 minutes; the pass mark is 120 out of 200.[5]
Words: 150 words take 30 days at 5 a day.[2] The new HSK 1 has 300 words, or 60 days.[4] Purlingual’s HSK 1 list, on the new exam, adds 300 words, 60 days at 5 a day.
How long does HSK 2 take?
The guideline is 80–120 hours of study and about 300 words.[1] At three hours a week, that’s roughly six to nine months from the start. Hanban says an HSK 2 learner can handle simple, routine exchanges on familiar topics, and put it at A2.[2] Fachverband Chinesisch placed it at A1.1, without knowing the written characters.[3] The exam takes 55 minutes; the pass mark is 120 out of 200.[5]
Words: HSK 2 adds 150 words to HSK 1’s 150, another 30 days. From zero, 300 words take 60 days.[2] The new HSK 2 has 500 words, or 100 days.[4] Purlingual’s HSK 2 list, on the new exam, adds 205 words, 41 days at 5 a day. With every list up to HSK 2, that’s 505 words, or 101 days.
How long does HSK 3 take?
The guideline is 120–180 hours of study and about 600 words.[1] At three hours a week, that’s roughly nine to 14 months from the start. Hanban says an HSK 3 learner can communicate at a basic level in daily life, study and work, and manage most situations when travelling in China. It put HSK 3 at B1.[2] Fachverband Chinesisch placed it at A1.[3] The exam takes 90 minutes; the pass mark is 180 out of 300.[5]
Words: HSK 3 adds 300 words, another 60 days. From zero, 600 words take 120 days, about four months.[2] The new HSK 3 has 1,000 words, or 200 days.[4] Purlingual’s HSK 3 list, on the new exam, adds 496 words, 100 days at 5 a day. With every list up to HSK 3, that’s 1,001 words, or 201 days.
How long does HSK 4 take?
The guideline is two academic years with 2–4 classes a week, and 1,200 words.[1] Hanban says an HSK 4 learner can talk about a wide range of topics with native speakers, and put it at B2.[2] Fachverband Chinesisch read the guideline as 2–4 hours a week, 160–320 hours in all, and placed HSK 4 at A2.[3] The exam takes 105 minutes; the pass mark is 180 out of 300.[5]
Words: HSK 4 adds 600 words, another 120 days. From zero, 1,200 words take 240 days, about eight months.[2] The new HSK 4 has 2,000 words, or 400 days, about 13 months.[4] Purlingual’s HSK 4 list, on the new exam, adds 1,000 words, 200 days at 5 a day. With every list up to HSK 4, that’s 2,001 words, or 401 days.
HSK 4 is the level most people aim for, so it has its own guide, with the exam sections and a weekly plan: how long it takes to pass HSK 4.
How long does HSK 5 take?
The guideline is more than two years with 2–4 classes a week, and 2,500 words.[1] Hanban says an HSK 5 learner can read newspapers and magazines, enjoy films and plays, and give a full speech in Chinese. It put HSK 5 at C1.[2] Fachverband Chinesisch placed it at B1.[3] The exam takes 125 minutes; the pass mark is 180 out of 300.[5]
Words: HSK 5 adds 1,300 words, another 260 days. From zero, 2,500 words take 500 days, about 16 months.[2] The new HSK 5 has 3,600 words, or 720 days, about two years.[4] Purlingual’s HSK 5 list, on the new exam, adds 1,601 words, 321 days at 5 a day. With every list up to HSK 5, that’s 3,602 words, or 721 days.
How long does HSK 6 take?
The guideline gives no study time for HSK 6, only a vocabulary of at least 5,000 words.[1] Hanban says an HSK 6 learner can easily understand written and spoken Chinese and express themselves well in speech and writing. It put HSK 6 at C2.[2] Fachverband Chinesisch placed it at B2.[3] The exam takes 140 minutes; the pass mark is 180 out of 300.[5]
Words: HSK 6 adds at least 2,500 words, another 500 days. From zero, 5,000 words take 1,000 days, about two and three-quarter years.[2] The new HSK 6 has 5,400 words, or 1,080 days, about three years.[4] Purlingual’s HSK 6 list, on the new exam, adds 1,799 words, 360 days at 5 a day. With every list up to HSK 6, that’s 5,401 words, or 1,081 days.
On the new exam
The new HSK 3.0 exam starts worldwide on 13 December 2026.[6] Its word counts are higher at every level, so the same level takes longer: HSK 4 goes from 1,200 words to 2,000.[2][4] The new HSK 3 to 6 also each have a speaking test.[5] Which version to sit is covered in HSK 3.0 vs HSK 2.0: which should you take?, what changed in HSK 3.0: what changed, and when you can sit it in HSK test dates.
Every word for the new HSK 1 to 6 is in the HSK vocabulary lists.
Sources
- Confucius Institute for Scotland, University of Edinburgh: HSK levels explained
- Hanban: HSK 2.0 levels (archived) · snapshot of 9 January 2020
- Fachverband Chinesisch: statement on the HSK · 1 June 2010
- HSK exam syllabus (新版HSK考试大纲) · CLEC, November 2025, in effect July 2026
- University of Sheffield Confucius Institute: HSK tests
- Chinese Testing International: HSK 3.0 launch announcement · 8 September 2026
