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Launching worldwide 13 December 2026

HSK 3.0: The Complete Guide

Nine levels, one 11,000-word syllabus. Everything we’ve published on the new HSK, in one place.

Take the HSK 3.0 level test

An estimate of which level’s words you recognize.

The ladder

Seven steps up one word list

Each level adds new words on top of the one before. Levels 7–9 share a single word list and a single paper. Word counts follow the 2025 syllabus; items and minutes are from the official sample papers.

Looking up a single word? The Chinese word dictionary has pinyin, senses and examples for list words such as 喜欢, 机会 and 不管. Higher levels lean on set phrases: the Chinese idioms dictionary starts with 不可思议 and 众所周知.

  1. Level 1

    New words
    +300
    Cumulative
    300 total

    Sample paper40 items · ~40 min

    Word list, Level 1 Level guide, Level 1

  2. Level 2

    New words
    +200
    Cumulative
    500 total

    Sample paper60 items · ~60 min

    Word list, Level 2 Level guide, Level 2

  3. Level 3

    New words
    +500
    Cumulative
    1,000 total

    Sample paper70 items · ~83 min

    Word list, Level 3 Level guide, Level 3

  4. Level 4

    New words
    +1,000
    Cumulative
    2,000 total

    Sample paper70 items · ~85 min

    Word list, Level 4 Level guide, Level 4

  5. Level 5

    New words
    +1,600
    Cumulative
    3,600 total

    Sample paper72 items · ~110 min

    Word list, Level 5 Level guide, Level 5

  6. Level 6

    New words
    +1,800
    Cumulative
    5,400 total

    Sample paper82 items · ~125 min

    Word list, Level 6 Level guide, Level 6

  7. Levels 7–9

    New words
    +5,600
    Cumulative
    11,000 total

    Sample paper91 items · ~200 min

    Word list, Levels 7–9 Level guide, Levels 7–9

Level guides

One guide per paper, from Level 1 to the combined Levels 7–9 paper.

Exam topics

Question types, timing, the speaking and writing parts, and the sample set.

Changes & data

How 3.0 differs from 2.0, the numbers behind it, and which exam to sit.

Words in the syllabus
11,000
Levels 1 through 7–9
Levels
9
“Three Stages, Nine Levels”
Skills
5
Listening, speaking, reading, writing, and translation at advanced levels
Worldwide launch
13 Dec 2026
As announced by CTI