Sources
The references behind our approach
Our HSK reference is the official HSK 3.0 examination syllabus. This page identifies that source, explains the supporting references, and distinguishes official materials from RealHSK's own learning content.
Sources checked: 18 September 2026.
1. Official HSK examination syllabus
Title: 中文水平考试 HSK 考试大纲 — Syllabus for the Chinese Proficiency Test
Issuing body: Center for Language Education and Cooperation (中外语言交流合作中心), as named on the cover.
Edition: The cover states publication in November 2025 and implementation in July 2026.
The document contains separate sections for tasks, topics, vocabulary, Chinese characters, and grammar. These are the primary reference areas for our HSK 3.0 reading framework.
Read the official syllabus PDF — linked from the official Chinese Tests Service website; if the direct download changes, use the Examination Syllabus link there.
The edition date identifies our reference document. For the exam version at your test centre, consult the official announcements and your centre directly.
2. Official overview of the new HSK
Publisher: Chinese Tests Service website / CTI.
The official overview explains the new HSK structure, its three stages and nine levels, and the five components of the syllabus.
3. Official syllabus browser
Publisher: Chinese Tests Service website / CTI.
The syllabus interface organises reference material by level and component; use the downloadable syllabus for the edition identified above.
Official references and RealHSK materials
The official syllabus defines the reference framework. RealHSK's stories, translations, learning notes, and reading interface are platform materials; they are not official HSK examination papers.
Our level labels guide reading selection. They do not imply that the test organisers have reviewed individual readings or certified a learner's proficiency.
The practical reading routine on our Methodology page is guidance from RealHSK. The official sources listed here establish the HSK framework; they do not constitute a study demonstrating the effectiveness of our platform or that routine.
Independence and corrections
RealHSK is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation, CTI, or Beijing Language and Culture University and its press.
If you notice an incorrect reference, a broken source link, or a language error, please email hello@realhsk.com. Include the page address and the word, sentence, or reference concerned.