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HSK 3.0 guide
The new HSK (HSK 3.0): what you need to know
The main points
- Nine levels instead of six. HSK 1–3 are the elementary levels, 4–6 intermediate and 7–9 advanced. Levels 7, 8 and 9 are tested in one exam.
- More words at every level. HSK 1 now has 300 words, and by HSK 6 you need 5,400. The full list, up to HSK 9, has 11,000.
- Grammar is listed level by level in the syllabus: 593 entries in all.
- HSK 3.0 officially launches worldwide on 13 December 2026.
The nine levels
Words and characters add up as you go: HSK 4 includes everything from HSK 1–3. The grammar column shows the entries added at each level.
| Level | Total words | New at this level | Old HSK | Characters | Grammar entries | Study on RealHSK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HSK 1Elementary | 300 | 300 | 150 | 246 | 70 | Word listReadingsGrammar |
| HSK 2Elementary | 500 | 200 | 300 | 371 | 78 | Word listReadingsGrammar |
| HSK 3Elementary | 1,000 | 500 | 600 | 655 | 96 | Word listReadingsGrammar |
| HSK 4Intermediate | 2,000 | 1,000 | 1,200 | 1,096 | 95 | Word listReadingsGrammar |
| HSK 5Intermediate | 3,600 | 1,600 | 2,500 | 1,527 | 70 | Word listReadingsGrammar |
| HSK 6Intermediate | 5,400 | 1,800 | 5,000 | 1,940 | 50 | Word listReadingsGrammar |
| HSK 7–9Advanced | 11,000 | 5,600 | — | — | 134 | Word listReadings |
Characters: the ones you should be able to read (listed for HSK 1–6). Old HSK: the word count for the same level in HSK 2.0.
HSK 2.0 vs HSK 3.0
| HSK 2.0 (old) | HSK 3.0 (new) | |
|---|---|---|
| Levels | 6 levels: HSK 1–6 | 9 levels in 3 stages; HSK 7–9 is one exam |
| Words, HSK 1 to HSK 6 | 150 → 5,000 | 300 → 5,400 |
| Advanced level | None above HSK 6 | HSK 7–9: 11,000 words in total |
| Status | Being replaced by HSK 3.0 | Launches worldwide on 13 December 2026 |
Here’s how many words each level asks for, old and new:
| Level | HSK 2.0 | HSK 3.0 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| HSK 1 | 150 | 300 | +100% |
| HSK 2 | 300 | 500 | +67% |
| HSK 3 | 600 | 1,000 | +67% |
| HSK 4 | 1,200 | 2,000 | +67% |
| HSK 5 | 2,500 | 3,600 | +44% |
| HSK 6 | 5,000 | 5,400 | +8% |
| HSK 7–9 | — | 11,000 | new |
What changed beyond vocabulary
HSK 3.0 isn’t just a longer word list. The syllabus now sets out five things: tasks, topics, vocabulary, grammar and characters. The tasks are what you should be able to do in Chinese, like ordering food, asking the way or talking about your work. So a level describes what you can do with the language, not only how many words you’ve memorised.
When HSK 3.0 starts
The new syllabus was published in November 2025 and took effect in July 2026. HSK 3.0 officially launches worldwide on 13 December 2026. Dates and levels vary from one test centre to another, so check yours on the official HSK site.
Study with RealHSK
A word list tells you what to learn. Reading tells you whether you can actually use it. For every level we have the official word list with audio, short stories written for that level, and a grammar course that follows the syllabus point by point. Each word list also comes as a printable PDF, free with an account.
HSK 3.0 word listsGraded readingsHSK 3.0 grammarCheck your level
Questions about HSK 3.0
When does HSK 3.0 start?
The syllabus came out in November 2025 and took effect in July 2026. HSK 3.0 officially launches worldwide on 13 December 2026. Test dates differ from one centre to another, so check yours on chinesetest.cn.
How many words do I need for each level?
HSK 1 has 300 words, HSK 2 500, HSK 3 1,000, HSK 4 2,000, HSK 5 3,600 and HSK 6 5,400. HSK 7–9 adds 5,600 more, for 11,000 in total. Each level includes the words of the levels below it.
Is HSK 7–9 one exam?
Yes. HSK 7–9 uses one advanced exam, and your result decides whether you are placed at level 7, 8 or 9.
Do RealHSK’s lists follow HSK 3.0?
Yes. Our word lists and grammar course are built from the official HSK 3.0 syllabus, and every story is written for one of the new levels.
Sources
The numbers on this page come from the official HSK syllabus (HSK考试大纲) published by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation (中外语言交流合作中心) in November 2025 (406 pages): its word, character and grammar lists. The old HSK numbers are the HSK 2.0 word list sizes. RealHSK is independent and not connected with the HSK organisers. Our sources