HSKK: the HSK Speaking Test
The HSKK (汉语水平口语考试), called the HSK Speaking Test in CTI’s English pages, tests spoken Chinese at three levels: elementary, intermediate and advanced. You answer through headphones and a microphone, and your answers are recorded and marked. Each level is scored out of 100.
HSKK elementary 初级
about 20 (including 7 minutes of preparation). 27 questions. Pass mark 60 out of 100. CTI describes this paper for people who know about 200 of the most common words.
| Part | Questions | Time | What you do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listen and repeat | 15 | 6 min | You hear a sentence and say it back once. |
| Listen and answer | 10 | 4 min | You hear a short question and give a brief spoken answer. |
| Answer questions | 2 | 3 min | Two printed questions with pinyin. Say at least five sentences for each. |
HSKK intermediate 中级
about 23 (including 10 minutes of preparation). 14 questions. Pass mark 60 out of 100. CTI describes this paper for people who know about 900 common words.
| Part | Questions | Time | What you do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listen and repeat | 10 | 3–5 min | You hear a sentence and say it back once. |
| Picture talk | 2 | 4 min | You see a picture and speak a short connected description. |
| Answer questions | 2 | 4 min | Two printed questions with pinyin. Speak in connected sentences. |
HSKK advanced 高级
about 25 (including 10 minutes of preparation). 6 questions. Pass mark 60 out of 100. CTI describes this paper for people who know about 3,000 common words.
| Part | Questions | Time | What you do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listen and retell | 3 | 7–8 min | You hear a short passage and retell it in your own Chinese. |
| Read aloud | 1 | 2 min | You read a printed passage aloud. |
| Answer questions | 2 | 5 min | Two spoken prompts. Give a longer, organized answer. |
Which HSKK level matches which HSK level?
HSKK elementary has been taken alongside HSK 1–3, intermediate alongside HSK 3–4, and advanced alongside HSK 5–6. The levels are separate registrations, so you choose the one that fits your speaking, not your written level.
How to prepare
- Repeat-after-me tasks test listening memory as much as speaking. Practise shadowing: listen to a sentence, then say it back immediately, matching tones and rhythm.
- Retelling (advanced) rewards structure. Keep the order of the original and use its key words.
- Answering questions: use the preparation time to note three points, not to write a script. Speak until the time ends.
- Record yourself with the real timings, then listen back. Long pauses and unfinished sentences are the most common problems.
Register for the HSKK on chinesetest.cn, the same way as for the HSK. Results have their own date on CTI’s calendar, usually a few days after the computer-based HSK results.
Sources
CTI, HSK Speaking Test page and 2026 test calendar. Checked 2026-10-20.