New HSK (3.0) · study plan
HSK 6 in 48 weeks
HSK 6 adds 1,800 words, for 5,400 in total. Listening asks which statement matches long recordings, reading has word and sentence gap fills plus long texts, and writing is a practical text of at least 150 characters and an argument essay of at least 300.
At this level, progress comes mostly from reading and listening to real Chinese. The plan runs for about a year and treats the word list as support for that, not the main activity.
- Start from
- HSK 5 passed or comfortable, and reading Chinese most days.
- Time
- about 90 minutes, 6 days a week (about 432 hours in total)
- New words
- 1,800 (5,400 in total up to HSK 6), about 50 a week
- Grammar points
- 15, one or two a week
Weeks 1–4
Real material
Find texts and audio you will keep up with for a year.
- Find two or three regular sources: a news site, a magazine, a podcast. Check them in the text level checker.
- Take the HSK 5 practice test in exam mode to confirm your base.
- Start a vocabulary notebook of phrases from your reading, not only single words.
Weeks 5–40
New words, grammar and real reading
The 1,800 new HSK 6 words and the HSK 6 grammar points.
- Learn the week’s new words, preferably the ones you also meet in your reading.
- Study the week’s grammar points; at this level many are formal written forms, so look for them in news and essays.
- Read 30 minutes a day, including one longer piece of opinion or analysis a week.
- Listen to 20 minutes a day of real Chinese: news, interviews, talks.
- Write one practical text or argument essay a fortnight, and compare it with the sample answers.
| Week | New words | Grammar points |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 50 | Review earlier points |
| 6 | 50 | Review earlier points |
| 7 | 50 | 要么…要么… |
| 8 | 50 | Review earlier points |
| 9 | 50 | 凡是…都… |
| 10 | 50 | Review earlier points |
| 11 | 50 | Review earlier points |
| 12 | 50 | 除非…才… / 除非…否则… |
| 13 | 50 | Review earlier points |
| 14 | 50 | 就算…也… |
| 15 | 50 | Review earlier points |
| 16 | 50 | 不料 / 至于 |
| 17 | 50 | Review earlier points |
| 18 | 50 | Review earlier points |
| 19 | 50 | 所 / 为…所… |
| 20 | 50 | Review earlier points |
| 21 | 50 | 于 |
| 22 | 50 | Review earlier points |
| 23 | 50 | Review earlier points |
| 24 | 50 | 干脆 / 总算 / 明明 / 倒是 |
| 25 | 50 | Review earlier points |
| 26 | 50 | 未必 |
| 27 | 50 | Review earlier points |
| 28 | 50 | 一向 / 依旧 / 一时 / 一再 |
| 29 | 50 | Review earlier points |
| 30 | 50 | Review earlier points |
| 31 | 50 | 不禁 / 特意 / 赶忙 / 偷偷 |
| 32 | 50 | Review earlier points |
| 33 | 50 | —化 / —性 / —式 / —型 |
| 34 | 50 | Review earlier points |
| 35 | 50 | Review earlier points |
| 36 | 50 | 人家 |
| 37 | 50 | Review earlier points |
| 38 | 50 | 透了 / 好(不)容易 |
| 39 | 50 | Review earlier points |
| 40 | 50 | X归X / 算了 / 到…为止 |
Weeks 41–44
Timed sections and speaking
Long texts at test speed.
- Do each section of the HSK 6 practice test timed.
- Practise the speaking tasks: retell, describe, argue. Record and listen back for structure.
- Write an argument essay in 30 minutes.
Weeks 45–48
Full practice and review
Test conditions.
- Take the full HSK 6 practice test in exam mode.
- Review your mistakes and essays. Fix structure first, then vocabulary.
- Keep your reading habit going through test week.
What you will use
- HSK 6 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 6 grammar points, each with examples, audio and a quiz.
- HSK 6 stories (3) with audio and questions.
- Writing practice with sample answers.
- HSK 6 practice test in the new format, and your mistake list.
- The HSK 6 guide for the test format, topics and timings.
If you fall behind
- At HSK 6, an extra two or three months is normal. Move the test date rather than cutting reading.
- If the word list feels endless, focus on the words you meet in your own reading first; the rest can wait.