New HSK (3.0) · study plan
HSK 4 in 26 weeks
HSK 4 starts the intermediate stage. The word list doubles again to 2,000, questions have four choices, reading includes passages with gaps to fill, and writing ends with an essay of at least 80 characters.
Six months is a realistic pace for most part-time learners. The plan front-loads words and grammar and leaves the last six weeks for timed practice, writing and speaking.
- Start from
- HSK 3 passed or comfortable, including reading short texts without pinyin.
- Time
- 60–90 minutes, 6 days a week (about 195 hours in total)
- New words
- 1,000 (2,000 in total up to HSK 4), about 56 a week
- Grammar points
- 21, one or two a week
Weeks 1–2
Audit
Find out where you stand.
- Take the HSK 3 practice test in exam mode. Note the weakest section.
- Paste a few texts you would like to read into the text level checker to see how far HSK 4 words will take you.
- Set up a daily routine you can keep: words in the morning, reading or listening in the evening.
Weeks 3–20
New words and grammar
The 1,000 new HSK 4 words and the HSK 4 grammar points.
- Learn the week’s new words. Many are abstract (经验, 态度, 影响), so learn each with a phrase, not alone.
- Study the week’s grammar points and write two sentences of your own for each.
- Read one HSK 4 story and one short factual text a week.
- Listen to 15 minutes of HSK-level audio a day: practice test recordings, stories, grammar examples.
- From week 10: write one 80–100 character paragraph a week from the writing practice page.
| Week | New words | Grammar points |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 56 | 不管 / 无论…都… |
| 4 | 56 | 即使…也… |
| 5 | 56 | 既然…就… |
| 6 | 56 | 不仅…而且… / 不光…还… |
| 7 | 56 | 甚至 |
| 8 | 56 | 尽管…但是… · 却 |
| 9 | 56 | 竟然 / 到底 / 难道 |
| 10 | 56 | 把 |
| 11 | 56 | 让 / 叫 |
| 12 | 56 | 不如 / 跟…相比 |
| 13 | 56 | 不得不 / 没有…不 |
| 14 | 56 | 不是…而是… · 既…又… / 一方面…另一方面… |
| 15 | 56 | 首先 / 其次 / 然后 / 最后 |
| 16 | 56 | 于是 / 因此 / 由于 |
| 17 | 56 | 否则 / 要是 |
| 18 | 56 | 连…都 / 也… |
| 19 | 56 | 千万 / 只好 / 确实 / 恐怕 |
| 20 | 48 | 差（一）点儿 · 百分之 / 分之 / 倍 / 左右 |
Weeks 21–23
Timed sections
Speed in reading and stamina in listening.
- Do each section of the HSK 4 practice test separately, timed.
- Practise the gap-fill passages: read the whole passage before choosing.
- Answer two speaking questions a week out loud, timed, and play them back.
Weeks 24–26
Full practice and review
Test conditions.
- Take the full HSK 4 practice test in exam mode, including speaking.
- Work through your mistake list by cause: words, grammar or time.
- In the last week, review only. No new words.
What you will use
- HSK 4 word list: mark words as known as you go, and export to Anki if you use it.
- Vocabulary quiz for the week’s words, in reading and listening modes.
- HSK 4 grammar points, each with examples, audio and a quiz.
- HSK 4 stories (4) with audio and questions.
- Writing practice with sample answers.
- HSK 4 practice test in the new format, and your mistake list.
- The HSK 4 guide for the test format, topics and timings.
If you fall behind
- HSK 4 is where many learners stall. If you are behind, see the page on plateaus for what usually helps.
- Cut new words to 30 a week rather than skipping reading. Reading is what makes the new words stick.
- If you are more than a month behind, book a later session rather than rushing the list.