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New HSK (3.0) · Advanced stage · facts checked 2026-10-20

HSK 7–9: format, words and preparation

HSK 7–9 is one combined advanced test, about 200 minutes long, with listening, reading, writing, translation and speaking. Your result places you at level 7, 8 or 9, or below 7. The full word list is 11,000 words.

Stage
Advanced
Written test
91 questions · ~200 min
Words (total)
11,000
New words
5,600
Speaking test
Part of the test
HSK 7–9 word list

What HSK 7–9 means

CTI describes these levels in one line: 七级：能用中文就职场、一般专业场景、通用学术场景进行规范、流利交流。八级：……进行得体、深入交流。九级：能用中文就职业、专业、学术等各种场景进行精准、深入交流。

In English: Level 7: standard, fluent communication at work and in general professional and academic settings. Level 8: appropriate, in-depth communication in the same settings. Level 9: precise, in-depth communication in professional and academic settings of all kinds.

Test format

These numbers come from CTI’s official HSK 7–9 sample paper for the new HSK. One sitting with five parts. In 2026 it was offered as an internet-based test at test centers. There is no pinyin on the paper. Answer choices: mixed: true / false / not mentioned, multiple choice, short answers.

HSK 7–9 written test sections
Section Questions Time (minutes)
Listening 40 about 33
Reading 40 50
Writing 2 55
Translation 4 about 42
Speaking 5 about 20
Total 91 about 200

Question types, part by part

Knowing the format in advance saves time on the day. Here is what each part of the HSK 7–9 paper asks you to do, with one tip for each.

Listening

  1. Questions 1–10

    Decide whether each statement matches the recording, contradicts it, or is not mentioned.

    Tip: “Not mentioned” is a real option. Don’t choose “false” unless the recording says the opposite.

  2. Questions 11–40

    Longer recordings; choose answers or write short answers.

    Tip: Write short answers in as few characters as you can while still being exact.

Reading

  1. Questions 41–61

    Multiple-choice questions on long texts.

    Tip: Map the text first; many questions ask about the author’s purpose or attitude.

  2. Questions 62–66

    Put scrambled paragraphs into a logical order.

    Tip: Look for the paragraph that sets up the topic and the one that concludes.

  3. Questions 67–80

    Answer questions in no more than ten characters.

    Tip: Copy key phrases from the text where you can; precision matters more than style.

Writing

  1. Questions 81–82

    Two writing tasks.

    Tip: Plan structure before writing. Advanced writing is judged on organisation as well as language.

Translation

  1. Questions 83–86

    Translate two written texts into Chinese (35 minutes) and interpret two items orally.

    Tip: Practise translating news and reports from your strongest language into Chinese, then compare with a model.

Speaking

  1. Questions 87–91

    Five speaking tasks, including answering questions on recorded material.

    Tip: Practise giving structured spoken answers: point, reasons, example, conclusion.

Words and characters

The 2025 syllabus lists 5,600 new words for HSK 7–9, for a total of 11,000 counting all earlier levels. You are expected to recognise 3,088 characters by this level and be able to write 1,200 of them by hand.

A sample of the new words at this level:

See all 5,600 HSK 7–9 words

Topics and tasks in the syllabus

The syllabus lists real-life tasks you should be able to handle at HSK 7–9. Listening and reading questions are built around them, so they make a good checklist:

  • Discussing personal values, family, community and food culture
  • Geography, travel, health, sport, Chinese society and culture
  • Understanding laws and contracts; defending your rights
  • Reviewing literature and the arts; analysing news, trade, technology and global issues
  • Professional tasks: business cooperation, HR, public relations, market research, drafting documents
  • Academic tasks: courses, research, lab and internship reports, academic discussion

How to prepare

  • Work with authentic material: reports, academic articles, long-form journalism, contracts.
  • Practise translation both ways and interpreting out loud. Translation is a scored part of the test.
  • Build stamina for a 200-minute test with full-length practice sessions.
  • Use the full 11,000-word list as a reference, not a flashcard deck. At this level, words come from reading.

How long it takes

Plan in years after HSK 6 unless you already study or work in Chinese.

Common mistakes

  • Preparing only with HSK 6 materials. The skills tested are broader.
  • Looking for a pass mark. The test places you at a level rather than giving pass or fail.
  • Skipping speaking and translation practice because they are hard to self-study.

How 7–9 relates to the old HSK

There was no HSK 7–9 under the old six-level system. The combined advanced test has run since before the full HSK 3.0 launch.

Free practice for HSK 7–9

Questions

Do I choose HSK 7, 8 or 9 when I register? +

No. You register for the one combined test. Your result decides whether you reach level 7, 8 or 9.

When is HSK 7–9 held? +

In 2026, CTI listed two dates: 9 May and 22 November, internet-based at test centers. Check the CTI calendar for 2027.

Study HSK 7–9 words every day

WordSwing turns the HSK 7–9 list into short daily reviews with audio and reading practice.

Open WordSwing

Sources

  1. HSK 3.0 sample papers, answer keys and audio (levels 1–9, speaking 3–6) — Chinese Testing International (CTI). Checked 2026-10-20.
  2. HSK 3.0 考试能力描述 (competency profile) — Chinese Testing International (CTI). Checked 2026-10-20.
  3. HSK 考试大纲 (HSK Test Syllabus), released November 2025 — Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC). Checked 2026-10-20.
  4. HSK 3.0 will be officially launched worldwide on December 13, 2026! — Chinese Testing International (CTI). Checked 2026-10-20.
  5. Chinese Test Dates in 2026 — Chinese Testing International (CTI). Checked 2026-10-20.