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The HSK test is a standardised proficiency test for Chinese as a foreign language, where candidates’ language skills are assessed. The HSK includes a written as well as an oral exam, which are held and graded independently of one another.
HSK is suitable for:
- anyone willing to acquire a language certificate |
- undergraduates as well as postgraduates and PhD students who need a language certificate to be admitted to a specific study programme in China. |
The paper-based written HSK test for levels 1 to 6 is held annually at the Institute of Asian and Oriental Studies of the University of Zürich.
18 November 2023
Levels 1 to 6 relate to the following test requirements:
HSK 1 | 150 words, characters and Pinyin |
HSK 2 | 300 words, characters and Pinyin |
HSK 3 | 600 words, characters only |
HSK 4 | 1200 words, characters only |
HSK 5 | 2500 words, characters only |
HSK 6 | over 5000 words, characters only |
The written HSK includes the following:
Level 1 (ca. 35 mins.) | Listening comprehension: 20 tasks / 15 mins. |
Reading comprehension: 20 tasks / 15 mins. | |
Level 2 (ca. 50 mins.) | Listening comprehension: 35 tasks / 25 mins. |
Reading comprehension: 25 tasks / 25 mins. | |
Level 3 (ca. 85 mins.) | Listening comprehension: 40 tasks / 35 mins. |
Reading comprehension: 30 tasks / 25 mins. | |
Written expression: 10 tasks / 15 mins. | |
Level 4 (ca. 100 mins.) | Listening comprehension: 45 tasks / 30 mins. |
Reading comprehension: 40 tasks / 35 mins. | |
Written expression: 15 tasks / 25 mins. | |
Level 5 (ca. 120 mins.) | Listening comprehension: 45 tasks / 30 mins. |
Reading comprehension: 45 tasks / 45 mins. | |
Written expression: 10 tasks / 40 mins. | |
Level 6 (ca. 135 mins.) | Listening comprehension: 50 tasks / 35 mins. |
Reading comprehension: 50 tasks / 50 mins. | |
Written expression / essay: 45 mins. |
Candidates will receive a score report detailing the results of every part of the test.
As the tests are assessed in China, the score reports are only issued eigth weeks after the test date. After about one month, candidates can preview their results online.
Tests may be repeated indefinitely.
Practice tests can be accessed here.
hsk@aoi.uzh.ch