HSK listening

The question types

Pictures (HSK 1–3)

You hear a sentence or short dialogue and choose a picture: from three at HSK 1–2, or from a set of six at HSK 1–3. Before the audio, look at the pictures and name what makes each one different, in Chinese if you can: 喝茶, 下雨, 打篮球. Usually one word in the recording decides the answer.

Choosing a reply (HSK 1)

You hear a question and choose the best reply. Listen for the question word: 谁 needs a person, 哪儿 a place, 几点 a time, 怎么样 an opinion. Answers that repeat a word from the question are often traps.

Dialogue plus a question (HSK 2–6)

Two people speak, then a voice asks a question, usually about the second speaker: what she wants, where they are, why he is late. At HSK 4 and above, the choices are printed with four options. Read them while the previous item finishes; they tell you whether to listen for a place, a time, a feeling or a reason.

Short talks (HSK 3–6)

One speaker gives a short talk, sometimes followed by two or three questions. Questions follow the order of the audio. The first sentence often states the topic and the last sentence the conclusion, so pay most attention at the start and the end.

Which statement matches (HSK 6) and true / false / not mentioned (HSK 7–9)

At HSK 6 the first part asks which of four statements matches the recording. Wrong choices usually change one detail: who did it, how many, before or after. At HSK 7–9 you judge statements as true, false or not mentioned; choose “false” only when the recording says the opposite.

What usually decides the answer

• Turning words. 但是, 可是, 不过 and 其实 usually come right before the point that matters.
• Changes of plan. 本来…后来…, 改, 不…了 (我们不去爬山了, 改去博物馆).
• Numbers and times. Several numbers may be mentioned; the question asks about one. Note them all.
• Negatives and limits. 没, 不, 别, 只, 才, 就 change the meaning of an otherwise familiar sentence.
• Attitude. At HSK 5–6, questions ask how the speaker feels: 赞成, 怀疑, 无奈, 不在乎. Tone of voice helps.

Taking notes

You can write on the paper during listening. Keep notes tiny: a number, a name, an arrow for a change. For a talk with several questions, jot one or two characters or pinyin syllables per point, in order. Don’t try to write sentences; you will miss the next one.

On the paper test, you get 3–5 minutes after listening to copy answers onto the answer sheet, so mark your answers on the question paper as you go.

A daily routine (20–30 minutes)

1. Test-format practice (10 minutes). Five to ten listening questions at your level, once only, as on the test.
2. Intensive listening (10 minutes). Take one short recording you got wrong. Listen sentence by sentence, then read the transcript and find what you missed: an unknown word, a word you know but didn’t recognise, or speed.
3. Shadowing (5 minutes). Repeat after the recording to train your ear to the rhythm. This also helps the speaking test.
4. Extensive listening (any time). Podcasts or graded audio slightly below your level, without stopping. Volume matters.

Common problems

• “I know the words but miss them in audio.” You learned them by sight. Review words with sound, and practise with recordings at test speed.
• “I fall behind and lose the next question.” Decide, mark an answer and move on. One missed question is better than three.
• “It’s too fast.” Use slower graded audio for extensive listening and test-speed audio for practice. Both are needed.