HSK 3.0: the complete guide to the new HSK
HSK 3.0 is the new HSK: nine levels where there were six, a new word list at every level, and character and grammar lists published level by level. Its first official worldwide sitting is on 13 December 2026, 63 days from now. This page is the index of everything here on it, and every number in the table is counted from the published lists.
HSK 3.0 in one table
| Level | Stage | New words | Words in total | New characters | Grammar points | Free test |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HSK 1 | Elementary | 302 | 302 | 246 | 70 | Test |
| HSK 2 | Elementary | 198 | 500 | 125 | 78 | Test |
| HSK 3 | Elementary | 491 | 991 | 284 | 96 | Test |
| HSK 4 | Intermediate | 991 | 1,982 | 441 | 95 | Test |
| HSK 5 | Intermediate | 1,580 | 3,562 | 431 | 70 | Test |
| HSK 6 | Intermediate | 1,778 | 5,340 | 413 | 50 | Test |
| HSK 7-9 | Advanced | 5,562 | 10,902 | 1,148 | 134 | Test |
| All | 10,902 | 3,088 | 593 | Placement |
Each number links to the full list. Levels 7, 8 and 9 share one word list and one exam, so they appear as a single row. The standard also lists 1,200 characters to be written by hand, starting at level 2; they are on the character pages.
Find your level
- HSK placement test: 28 questions across every band, returns your estimated HSK 3.0 level.
- A free test for each level: 20 questions on that level's own words, scored on the page.
- HSK level checker: paste any Chinese text and see the HSK 3.0 level of every word.
- Vocabulary by topic: family, food, colors and 27 more topics, each word with its HSK 3.0 level.
- Study calculator: how long from one level to another at your pace.
The exam
- HSK 3.0 exam date: 13 December 2026, the registration deadlines, and what is still unconfirmed.
- The new HSK, explained: what is settled, what is in transition, and how to tell which paper you will sit.
- HSK 3.0 against HSK 2.0: the two exams side by side.
- The HSK 3.0 speaking test: a speaking paper for each level from 3 to 6.
- The HSK 7-9 exam: the advanced band, already running on the new standard.
- The nine-band standard: the framework underneath the exam.
- Which HSK should I take?
The lists, level by level
The word lists show the level each word had in the old exam, so you can see what is new to you. The comparison of the two standards as a whole is in what the new HSK changed, word by word.
Where these numbers come from
The counts are taken from the word, character, handwriting and grammar lists of the Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards (国际中文教育中文水平等级标准) and the HSK 3.0 exam syllabus, as this site vendors them. The syllabus itself rounds the word totals to about 300, 500, 1,000, 2,000, 3,600 and 5,400 for levels 1 to 6. The 2021 standard proposed higher totals at levels 1 to 5, which is why two sets of numbers circulate.
In Chinese: HSK 3.0：三等九级新考试改了什么.
Frequently asked questions
What is HSK 3.0?
HSK 3.0 is the new version of the HSK, the standard Chinese proficiency exam. It is built on the Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards published in 2021 and the exam syllabus published in November 2025. It has nine levels in three stages: elementary (1 to 3), intermediate (4 to 6) and advanced (7 to 9, sat as one exam).
When does HSK 3.0 start?
The first official worldwide sitting is on 13 December 2026. Registration closes on 16 November for the paper test and 3 December for the computer test. The advanced HSK 7-9 exam has run on the new standard since 2022. Dates and deadlines.
How many words does HSK 3.0 have?
10,902 words in total on the list this site holds: 302, 198, 491, 991, 1,580 and 1,778 new words at levels 1 to 6, and 5,562 more at the 7-9 band. The old HSK had about 5,000 across six levels.
What is the difference between HSK 2.0 and HSK 3.0?
Nine levels where there were six, a different word list at every level with about twice the words at levels 1 and 2, explicit character and grammar lists, a speaking paper from level 3, and translation at the advanced band. HSK 3.0 against HSK 2.0.
What HSK 3.0 level am I?
Take the free placement test: 28 questions, four at each band, with the result worked out in front of you. Each level also has a free 20-question test.
Is HSK 3.0 harder than HSK 2.0?
At the bottom, yes: the new level 1 has about 300 words where the old one had 150. By level 6 the totals are close. The larger change is the shape of the exam, with speaking and writing arriving earlier.
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