In short: the HSK is moving from six levels to nine, and each level now asks for more words. Chinese Testing International says the new exam starts worldwide on 13 December 2026.[4][5] Apart from the January 2026 pilot, HSK sittings before then use HSK 2.0.[5][10] For a session on or after that date, check with your test centre which version it uses.
Two documents, two sets of numbers
Most of the confusion about HSK 3.0 comes from mixing up two official documents.
- The 2021 standard. China’s Ministry of Education and National Language Commission issued the Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF 0025—2021) on 24 March 2021, in force from 1 July 2021.[1][2] It describes what learners should know at each level, for teaching and course design.
- The 2025 exam syllabus. The Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC) published the syllabus for the new exam in November 2025, in effect from July 2026.[3] It lists the words each exam level actually tests, and its numbers are lower than the standard’s.
So when one site says “HSK 4 has 3,245 words” and another says “2,000”, both are quoting an official number. For the exam, the syllabus is the one that matters.
Nine levels in three stages
The new system has three stages: elementary (levels 1–3), intermediate (4–6) and advanced (7–9). Levels 7, 8 and 9 share one set of requirements and one exam.[1][8]
| Level | New exam (syllabus) | 2021 standard | HSK 2.0 exam |
|---|---|---|---|
| HSK 1 | 300 | 500 | 150 |
| HSK 2 | 500 | 1,272 | 300 |
| HSK 3 | 1,000 | 2,245 | 600 |
| HSK 4 | 2,000 | 3,245 | 1,200 |
| HSK 5 | 3,600 | 4,316 | 2,500 |
| HSK 6 | 5,400 | 5,456 | 5,000+ |
| HSK 7–9 | 11,000 | 11,092 | none |
Sources: the syllabus word list,[3] the standard’s summary table[1] and Hanban’s HSK 2.0 levels.[11] The standard also sets targets for characters (300 at level 1, rising to 3,000 at levels 7–9), syllables and grammar points.[1]
To see the words themselves, level by level and with the HSK 2.0 level of each, use our HSK 3.0 word lists.
What else changed
- More levels at the top. HSK 7–9 adds an advanced exam above the old HSK 6.[7]
- Translation. The standard adds translation as a fifth skill alongside listening, speaking, reading and writing.[2] In the exam, translation is tested at HSK 7–9.[7]
- Speaking. The official sample papers include a separate speaking paper for HSK 3 to 6. At HSK 4 it’s five questions in about 20 minutes.[9] Candidates in the January 2026 pilot at those levels registered for speaking too.[10]
- Handwriting. The standard sets handwriting targets, from 100 characters at level 1 to 1,200 at levels 7–9.[1]
- New formats. Question types, question counts, timing and listening speed all changed.[7] The new HSK 4 sample paper, for example, has 70 questions in about 85 minutes, against 100 questions in about 105 minutes today.[9][12]
HSK 7–9
One exam covers all three advanced levels. Your result is “below 7”, 7, 8 or 9, and each skill is reported on a 0–100 scale. It’s internet-based only.[8] In 2026 it was offered on 9 May and 22 November.[6]
Where the exams stand now
- The new HSK 1–6 was piloted on 31 January 2026 at selected test centres in 168 countries, on paper and online.[10]
- The 2026 test calendar lists HSK 1–6 dates from 24 January to 13 December,[6] and Chinese Testing International has since announced the 13 December sitting as the start of the new exam.[4]
- The new exam starts worldwide on 13 December 2026. Registration closes on 16 November for paper tests and 3 December for computer-based tests, Beijing time.[4]
Still unclear: at the time of writing there’s no official statement on when HSK 2.0 sittings end everywhere, or on how existing HSK 2.0 certificates will be treated. HSK score reports have been valid for two years from the test date.[12] If a university or employer asks for a level, check which version they accept.
What it means if you’re studying now
- Testing before 13 December 2026? Study the HSK 2.0 lists for your level.
- Testing after? Expect more words at each level: the new HSK 4 tests 2,000 words, where the old one tested 1,200.[3] Build the speaking practice in from the start.
- Either way, nothing you learn is wasted. The new lists ask for more words sooner, so steady daily vocabulary work matters more than ever.
Purlingual’s word lists follow the new HSK 3.0 levels, HSK 1 to 6: see the HSK vocabulary lists. For a sense of the time involved, read how long it takes to pass HSK 4. Deciding which version to sit? See HSK 3.0 vs HSK 2.0: which should you take?
Sources
- Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF 0025—2021) · Ministry of Education and National Language Commission, 2021
- Ministry of Education: release of the new grading standards · 31 March 2021
- HSK exam syllabus (新版HSK考试大纲) · CLEC, November 2025, in effect July 2026
- Chinese Testing International: HSK 3.0 launch announcement · 8 September 2026
- University of Sheffield Confucius Institute: HSK tests
- Chinese Testing International: 2026 test calendar · 24 December 2025
- Chinese Testing International: HSK overview
- Chinese Testing International: HSK 7–9
- Official HSK 3.0 sample papers · 2026
- Beijing government: registration opens for the HSK 3.0 pilot · 22 December 2025
- Hanban: HSK 2.0 levels (archived) · snapshot of 9 January 2020
- Chinese Testing International: HSK 4
