HSK 3: format, words and preparation

What HSK 3 means

CTI describes this level in one line: 能用中文就生活、学习、工作场景进行有效交流。

In English: Can communicate effectively in Chinese about daily life, study and work.

Test format

These numbers come from CTI’s official HSK 3 sample paper for the new HSK. Includes 5 minutes for personal details and 5 minutes after listening to fill in the answer sheet. There is no pinyin on the paper. Answer choices: 3 choices, or match from a set of 5–6.

Question types, part by part

Knowing the format in advance saves time on the day. Here is what each part of the HSK 3 paper asks you to do, with one tip for each.

The HSK 3 speaking test

CTI has published a separate speaking sample paper for each of HSK 3–6. About 15 minutes including 6 minutes of preparation. Sample questions: introduce a family member; what kind of job do you like and why. CTI’s public notices do not yet say how speaking results combine with the written score, so check with your test centre when you register.

Words and characters

The 2025 syllabus lists 500 new words for HSK 3, for a total of 1,000 counting all earlier levels. You are expected to recognise 655 characters by this level and be able to write 250 of them by hand.

A sample of the new words at this level:

Topics and tasks in the syllabus

The syllabus lists real-life tasks you should be able to handle at HSK 3. Listening and reading questions are built around them, so they make a good checklist:

• Introducing yourself; handling everyday errands
• Food, transport and shopping
• Seeing a doctor, visiting the sick, ideas about health
• Free time, housing, habits and family relationships
• Study, campus life and family education
• Office work and careers
• Nature, the environment and a place’s surroundings
• Arts events, sports and matches
• Chinese food and tableware; traditional customs

How to prepare

• Read characters without pinyin, every day. If you still need pinyin to read a dialogue, this is the main thing to fix before HSK 3.
• Learn the 500 new HSK 3 words in sentences. Several reading parts test whether a word fits a context.
• Practise handwriting the HSK 3 writing list (150 new characters) and writing simple sentences with a given word.
• Prepare for the speaking test: repeat sentences after audio, describe pictures in one sentence, and give 90-second answers about yourself.
• Do a timed practice test around four weeks before the test and another in the final week.

How long it takes

From a solid HSK 2, 3–6 months is typical. From zero, 8–14 months. The word list doubles from 500 to 1,000.

Common mistakes

• Arriving as a pinyin reader. Without pinyin on the paper, reading takes much longer.
• Forgetting the speaking test. It is a separate test with its own date and result.
• Writing ambitious sentences in the writing section and making mistakes. Short and correct scores better.

New HSK 3 vs old HSK 3

The old HSK 3 had 600 words, 80 questions and about 90 minutes, with writing tasks that asked you to reorder words. The new HSK 3 has 1,000 words, 70 questions and about 83 minutes, writing asks for a missing character or your own sentence, and there is a separate speaking test.

CTI has not yet published the score scale or pass mark for the new HSK 1–6. Under the old format, the pass mark was 60% of the total score. We will update this page when CTI publishes the new rules.