Challenge for 2016: Taking the HSK

Last year, my goal was to improve my reading ability in Chinese by learning over 2,300 characters. After accomplishing that goal, I needed a new challenge for 2016. So, I’ve decided to take the Hànyǔ Shuǐpíng Kǎoshì (汉语水平考试), also known as the HSK. I believe the fastest way to master a language is to set goals. Imagine running a marathon with no finish line. You would probably have little motivation to keep going or quit before getting very far. That’s why it’s important to define what you want to achieve in your language-learning journey.

What is the HSK?

The HSK is a standardized test of Chinese language proficiency for non-native speakers. It’s often required for enrolling in Chinese universities or for jobs that need a certain degree of Chinese language skills. Anyone interested in getting an official certificate that validates his or her level of Chinese proficiency should take the HSK.

Why take the HSK?

If you’re not planning to enroll in a university in China or working there, then you may not see any benefit in taking the exam. But, you should consider other reasons for taking the HSK. Here are six good reasons to consider.

Reason #1: You’ll be provided with an official certificate that validates your Chinese language ability when you pass the HSK. This certificate is valid indefinitely. But, if applying to a Chinese university, the certificate is valid for only two years.

Reason #2: The fact that you’re studying Chinese shows you’re serious about learning the language; otherwise, why pick such a difficult language to learn? You might as well make learning Chinese worthwhile and have something to show for all the effort you’re putting into it.

Reason #3: If you’re a self-learner, you can sometimes be blind to what you don’t know. Taking the HSK is a good way to measure your Chinese proficiency. You’ll discover what skills you need to develop and improve.

Reason #4: Taking the HSK can motivate you to study Chinese and give you something to work towards. This can be helpful for anyone who feels stuck at a certain level or hasn’t been able to make much progress.

Reason #5: Your Chinese will improve because of studying for the HSK. By making it a goal to take the exam, you’ll be more serious about studying Chinese.

Reason #6: Even if you don’t need to know Chinese for your work, you never know what future opportunities may hold. Taking the HSK can expand your possibilities and provide options you may not have considered before. It also shows your grit and commitment to potential employers, clients, or business partners.

Assessing your HSK level

First, you’ll want to determine the HSK level you should test in. If you’re not sure, you can read the language ability for each level on Hanban’s website (II. Test Levels) or take the online self-assessment offered through the Confucius Institute Online. The assessment will start at level one and gradually increase in difficulty. At the end of the assessment, you will receive a score and your HSK level.

If you have a general idea of your HSK level, but can’t decide between two levels, you can find mock tests on the same website. Once you register, you’ll be able to access the tests and sample the questions. These tests can be used for practice, but you’ll want to find more practice tests with different questions to help you prepare for the HSK.

Components of the HSK

The HSK is the written test and is separate from the HSKK (汉语水平口语考试), the oral test. Registration and testing for both are independent of one another. The oral test is divided into three levels—basic, intermediate, and advanced—while the written test comprises six levels. Levels 1 and 2 are ranked as beginner, Levels 3 and 4 are intermediate, and Levels 5 and 6 are advanced. The following breakdown provides more details of the test by level.

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Level 5

Level 6

Notice that as the levels go up, you need to master twice as many words as required for the previous level. Also, the number of test questions increase along with the time limit.

Resources to prepare for the HSK

Once you have determined the HSK level to take, the next step is to find resources that will help you study for the test. Popup Chinese is a website that provides sample HSK test questions. Besides sample exercises, you will find HSK flashcards for study and vocabulary lists you can download. The word lists are in an Excel format, and include the simplified and traditional characters, Pinyin, and definition.

Apart from online resources, you’ll find plenty of HSK preparation materials and workbooks on Amazon. Make sure you get workbooks that will prepare you for the new HSK format and not the former test that was offered before 2010.

The books I bought are part of the New HSK Preparations series published by Peking University Press. The workbooks contain exercises, answers, explanations, and tips to help prepare for the exam. There are HSK books that have only mock tests with answer sheets, and books focused on just the reading, writing, or listening sections of the HSK. If you get only one book, I recommend getting one with several mock tests with answers.

How to register for the HSK

The HSK is administered at test centers around the world. To find the test center nearest you and check available test dates, visit http://www.chinesetest.cn. Once you create an account, you can register for the date you want to take the HSK.

Studying for the HSK

When you have scheduled a date for taking the test, you can create a study schedule that will get you ready for the exam. Try to study everyday, even if it’s only for half an hour. A consistent study schedule is better than studying a few hours once a week.

Also, vary your study sessions each time so you’re working on different components of the HSK. For example, you might work on listening exercises on Monday, reading exercises on Tuesday, vocabulary on Wednesday, and writing exercises on Thursday. By mixing up your learning every time, all parts of the HSK will stay fresh in your memory and it will better prepare you for exam time.

One other thing you can do to make the most out of your studying is to make sure you understand the answers you got wrong when doing practice exercises. Sometimes reading the explanation for the correct answer is enough, but if you’re still unsure, ask a native speaker. This is when having a language partner can be helpful. Or, you can find a Chinese teacher who can offer online instruction for the HSK. You can find these services by searching for “HSK online teachers” on Google.

Make it a challenge

I’d like to make it clear that learning Chinese is not about passing the HSK. Instead, you should think about taking the HSK as a way to learn Chinese. For me, the HSK is just a way to motivate and challenge myself to improve my level of Chinese. If you approach it from this perspective, you will enjoy studying for the test and not feel stressed about it. I can still improve my Chinese without taking the HSK, but taking and passing the exam would provide a more concrete measure of my progress.

If you haven’t taken the HSK yet or passed HSK Level 6, I challenge you to make it a goal for yourself. Even if you don’t pass the first time, you will have made immense progress in your Chinese language ability.

Below are links to a few more HSK resources, in case you’re looking for more. I plan to take the HSK Level 5 exam at year’s end. Perhaps, I’ll share my progress on preparing for the test over the next few months. If you have questions or tips you’d like to share, please add your comment below. And, if you’re planning to take the HSK, please share which level and how you’re preparing for it!

More HSK Resources

HSK word lists for Levels 1–6
HSChinese App for iOS and Android users
54 Resources to prepare you for the HSK by FluentU