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THE HSK EXAM

HSK Exam in Chinese is Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (汉语水平考试) literally meaning “Mandarin Level Test”.

The HSK exam is an official examination designed to assess the Chinese language proficiency of non-native speakers from beginners to advanced Level. It is an internationally recognized standard in assessing your Chinese language level and the result can be used to apply for the International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship. It is also accepted by universities in China as proof of Chinese proficiency. It is organized by Hanban (汉办) the part of the Chinese Ministry of Education also in charge of the Confucius Institutes (孔子学院).

The HSK Exam is administered by testing centres around the world, including private language schools, universities and Confucius institutes. Exam questions and dates are the same everywhere in the world, however not all testing centres choose to offer the HSK test every month.

Many students wish to take a HSK Exam for a number of reasons which range from finding their current level of Chinese, achieving a personal goal, or for future career progression.

The ABCI is a registered and authorised HSK Testing Centre for all HSK Levels.

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The Current HSK Exam 2.0 (Edition 2.0/2010)

In late 2009, the HSK underwent huge revisions to conform to the Chinese Proficiency Standards released in 2007: new test patterns were introduced, vocabulary requirement was substantially lowered, grading system was re-designed, and writing started to have a much heavier weighting. The test was released as the “HSK 2.0” in 2010, which is the version of the exam still being used today.

In the current HSK system, the test taker’s mastery of Chinese is measured through six levels (six independent tests), from HSK 1 (basic) to HSK 6 (advanced).

HSK 2.0 gained great success for its lowered requirements and gentle learning curve. According to the test organizer, in 2019 alone, over 800,000 people took the HSK test from 1229 testing centres across the globe.

The New HSK Exam 3.0 (Edition 3.0/2021)

In 2020 it was announced it would get its second big overhaul. On March 31, 2021, China’s Ministry of Education announced the new HSK 3.0 levels details. These changes on the new HSK levels will go into effect from July 1, 2021.

The New HSK 3.0 will adopt the “Three Stages and Nine Levels” test grading system, aiming to describe learners’ Chinese abilities more accurately. In this new system, Levels 1-3 are categorized into the Beginner stage, Levels 4-6 are categorized into the Intermediate stage and for advanced learners to acquire native-level proficiency certifications, the highest classification (Advanced Stage) will be further divided into three distinct levels (7-9).

2021 NEW HSK 3.0

Stage

Level NumberDetails

Beginner

Levels 1, 2 & 3

From levels 1-6, each has a corresponding threshold for the number of syllables, characters, words and grammatical structures the test taker should be able to comprehend and use.

Intermediate

Levels 4, 5 & 6

From levels 1-6, each has a corresponding threshold for the number of syllables, characters, words and grammatical structures the test taker should be able to comprehend and use.

Advanced

Levels 7, 8 & 9

For levels 7-9 there is no evaluation quota as of yet.

The biggest change in the 2021 NEW HSK 3.0 is the three new levels: Level 7 to Level 9. These are meant to be a better gauge for students who major in Chinese language and literature or sinologists. The student will only need to take one exam for this range, and based on the score a certificate of HSK 7, HSK 8 or HSK 9 will be given. Besides the original requirements of abilities of listening, reading and writing, the ability of translation will also be tested.

2021 New HSK 3.0

Overview of Quantitative Indicators (Set) for Three Stages and Nine Levels

Stage

Level Number

SyllablesChinese CharactersVocabulary

Grammar Points

Beginner

Level 1

269

300 500 48
Level 2 +199/468 +300/600 +772/1272 +81/129
Level 3 +140/608 +300/900 +973/2245 +81/210

Intermediate

Level 4

+116/724

+300/1200 +1000/3245 +76/286
Level 5 +98/822 +300/1500 +1071/4316 +71/357
Level 6 +86/908 +300/1800 +1140/5456 +67/424

Advanced

Level 7

.+202/1100

1200/3000 +5636/11092 +148/572
Level 8
Level 9
TOTAL   1100 3000 11092 572

The number before the slash means the new vocabulary within that level, the number after the slash means the accumulated vocabulary. For HSK 6, students will now be required to learn 5,456 words and for HSK 9 students will be expected to know over 11,000 words!

Comparison between the Old 2010 HSK 2.0 and the New 2021 HSK 3.0

2010 Old HSK 2.0

2010 Old HSK 2.0

Vocabulary required

2021 New HSK 3.0

Vocabulary Required

Difference from

2010 Old HSK 2.0

2021 New HSK 3.0
HSK 1

150

500

 +350 Level 1
HSK 2

150/300

772/1272

 +972 Level 2
HSK 3

300/600

973/2245

 +1645 Level 3
HSK 4 600/1200 1000/3245 +2045 Level 4
HSK 5 1300/2500 1071/4316 +1816 Level 5
HSK 6 2500/5000 1140/5456 +456 Level 6
n/a n/a 5636/11092 n/a Levels 7-9

NEW 2021 HSK 3.0 TEST STAGES AND LEVELS

From July 2021, a brand new 3-stage-9-level scale, aiming to describe learners’ Chinese abilities more accurately will be incorporated. In this new system, Levels 1-3 are categorized into the Beginner stage, Levels 4-6 are categorized into the Intermediate stage and Levels 7-9 are categorized into the Advanced stage.

New 2021 HSK 3.0 Beginner Stage (Level 1-3)

Learners will be able to:

  • Understand simple Chinese texts
  • Make daily conversations on limited topics
  • Use simple communication strategies to help
  • Have some knowledge of Chinese culture and cross-cultural communication skills

Chinese characters are required right away from the very beginning, while the old HSK1 and HSK2 only required Pinyin on exams

Culture and cross-cultural communication are included.

BEGINNER STAGE (Level 1,2,3)

Skills

New HSK Level 1

New HSK Level 2

New HSK Level 3

Language topics
Personal information, daily routine, food, transportation, hobbies, etc. Students should be able to complete related communication tasks such as: Know how to use polite words and phrases in different situations; Get information needed in a public environment.
Basic social life, family life, school life, shopping, dining, personal feelings, etc. Students should be able to do tasks like smoothly order food in Chinese restaurants while having nice conversations with Chinese friends over the meal; fill in a personal information form. Travelling, school/work description, entertainment activities, festivals, education, occupations, etc. Example tasks are talking about your plan over the Chinese Spring Festival; send out a formal either written or oral invitation for an activity.

Listening 

Understand words, phrases and single sentences (with 80 words); Understand standard, clear and slow Chinese Mandarin, but the speed shall no slower than 100 characters per minute. Understand some more complicated sentences with the help of pictures or real objects.
Understand simple dialogues of daily simple topics (within 150 words), and understand standard, clear and slow Chinese Mandarin, but the speed will be no slower than 140 characters per minute. Also, students need to understand more complicated dialogues with the help of gestures or facial expressions. Understand long sentences, short paragraphs, and simple speeches (within 300 words).
Students must be able to understand standard Putonghua or slightly accented, clear and normal speed Chinese Mandarin, which means the speed shall be around 180 characters per minute. Understand more complicated situations via the changes of tones, speed and emotions in the speakers.

Speaking 

Pronounce 269 pinyin syllabus correctly (example: ài, hèn, rén, shì), and students must be able to ask simple and answer questions.
Pronounce 468 pinyin syllabus correctly (example:ān, chūn, liáng, yú). Students must be able to hold short conversations or monologue, and be able to make appropriate small talks in different social situations. Pronounce 608 pinyin syllabus correctly (example: chǎn, móu, quē, shuāng). Students must be comfortable in daily conversations, and be able to hold some discussions.

Reading 

Recognize 269 pinyin syllabus, 300 Chinese characters, and 500 vocabularies. With the help of pictures or pinyin, be able to read simple texts (with 100 Chinese characters) at a speed of no less than 80 Chinese characters per minute.
Recognize basic popular symbols from street signs, notes, forms and maps.
Recognize 468 pinyin syllabus, 600 Chinese characters and 1272 vocabulary. With the help of pictures, pinyin or dictionary, be able to read texts (with 200 Chinese characters) at a speed no less than 100 Chinese characters per minute. Be able to get information from more formal materials like announcements and emails. Recognize 608 pinyin syllabus, 900 Chinese characters, and 2245 vocabulary. Be able to read texts (with 300 Chinese characters) at a speed no less than 120 Chinese characters per minute.
Be able to get information from narrative or explanatory texts
Get the meaning of new words with a dictionary. Have the reading skills of skimming and skipping reading.

Writing 

Know how: to handwrite from memory 100 basic characters. Example: 三(sān three), 鸡 (jī chicken); understand the basic strokes, stroke orders and common punctuations; copy more complex characters at a speed of no slower than 10 characters per minute; to fill in personal information forms and leave a simple note to their friends. Know how: to handwrite 200 basic characters from memory. Example: 肉(ròu meat), 慢(màn slow); be familiar with strokes, stroke orders, and common punctuations; be able to copy characters correctly at a speed of no slower than 15 characters per minute; to compose a paragraph of no less than 100 characters on familiar topics. Know how: to handwrite 300 basic characters from memory. Example: 喜(xǐ to like), 影(yǐng, shadow); be comfortable with strokes, stroke orders, and all the punctuations; to copy characters correctly at a speed of no slower than 20 characters per minute; to compose emails, announcements or compositions of no less than 200 characters within the required time limit.

New HSK 3.0 Intermediate Stage (Level 4-6)

Learners will be able to:

  • Talk about things outside of their personal sphere; to communicate about general topics, about the society
  • Understand language context, culture, sarcasm, humour, etc. This sounds vague but here’s an example: “你真是细心极了!” (Nǐ zhēnshi xìxīn jíle!)
  • Compose long articles to express their opinions or comments well, appropriate for different situations even with some literacy skills
  • To translate, as this is added in intermediate HSK levels. The test will involve mostly casual or informal occasions
  • To study and work in China using Mandarin Chinese. In the past, a lot of companies required the old HSK5 for applying for a job; in the future, it probably will be ‘intermediate level’, which is more difficult to achieve.

INTERMEDIATE STAGE (Level 4,5,6)

Skills

New HSK Level 4

New HSK Level 5

New HSK Level 6

Language topics
Topics include community life, health, school life, daily office communication, animals, plants, etc. An example of a task would be going to see a doctor with effective communication, or to be able to write a recruitment advertisement and answer candidates’ inquiries.
Topics include interpersonal relationships, lifestyle, learning methods, environment, society, etc. Learners are expected to completed tasks like expressing their own thoughts on some social events, and to be able to give constructive suggestions and reply to work-related emails appropriately. Topics are going from more general life to specific work- and study-related fields, such as business social interaction, corporate affairs, problem and conflict solving, and culture comparisons. Learners should be able to read Chinese news and make comments about it, and be able to hold discussions on Chinese history, culture, and other cultures in different situations. 

Listening 

Understand casual or formal dialogues and texts of familiar topics easily (within 400 characters). Have no difficulty getting the meaning of natural Mandarin (180 to 200 characters per minute) even with accents. Understand that there are redundancies or an unnecessary pause in someone’s speaking. Students should not be bothered by these and still get the main meaning. Realize the culture-loaded meanings in conversations or speeches, for example, they must understand Chinese sarcasm or sense of humour.
Understand casual or formal dialogues and texts of family topics easily (within 500 characters). Have no difficulty in getting the meaning of natural Mandarin (200 to 220 characters per minute) even with accents. Able to get full and detailed meanings when someone speaks with unnecessary pauses or keep repeating themselves or in a noisy environment. Understand the culture-loaded meanings in conversations or speeches. Understand casual or formal dialogues and texts of familiar topics easily (within 600 characters). Have no difficulty understanding the speaking from native speakers even at a fast speed (220 to 240 characters per minute) and with accents. Able to avoid the influence of factors such as language disorders and corrections when in others speech, and understand the true intentions of the speaker. Fully understand the culture-loaded meanings in conversations or speeches.

Speaking 

Pronounce 724 pinyin syllabus correctly and naturally. Able to do monologues or speeches in paragraphs. Able to narrate an event, describe a complicated situation, express opinions or feelings smoothly and accurately.
Pronounce 822 pinyin syllabus correctly and naturally. Able to do monologues or speeches in paragraphs with complicated sentences. Able to describe events in details, express your full opinions in good logics with precise words. Pronounce 908 pinyin syllabus correctly and naturally. Able to do monologues or speeches in paragraphs with complicated sentences correctly. Able to describe events and situations in details, express your full opinions and feelings hold discussions and negotiations in great logics with precise, appropriate, and smooth language.

Reading 

Recognize 724 pinyin syllabus, 1200 Chinese characters, and 3245 vocabularies. Be able to read texts (within 500 Chinese characters) at a speed no slower than 140 Chinese characters per minute. Be able to get main information from narrative, explanatory and argumentative texts. Get the true meanings between lines. Have good reading skills including skimming and skipping reading, guessing and associating. Recognize 822 pinyin syllabus, 1500 Chinese characters, and 4316 vocabularies. Be able to read texts (within 700 Chinese characters) at a speed no slower than 160 Chinese characters per minute. Be able to summarize main points from narrative, explanatory and argumentative texts, and make your own comments. Can make your own logical reasoning and get the true meanings between lines. Have good reading skills including skimming and skipping reading, guessing and associating, and information searching. Recognize 908 pinyin syllabus, 1800 Chinese characters, and 5456 vocabularies. Be able to read texts (within 900 Chinese characters) at a speed no slower than 180 Chinese characters per minute. Be able to correctly summarize the structure, logic, and main points from any texts. Fully understand the real contextual and cultural meanings between lines. Have excellent reading skills including skimming and skipping reading, guessing and associating, information searching, and summarizing.

Writing 

Know how to handwrite extra 100 intermediate level characters on top of the 300 basic characters. Example: 赞(zàn to praise),  疑(yí to suspect). Be familiar with compound characters’ structures. Be able to correctly compose an article of narration or explanatory texts of no less than 300 characters within the required time limit. Know how to handwrite extra 250 intermediate level characters on top of the 300 basic characters. Example: 碍(ài to block),  鬼(guǐ, ghost). Be able to analyse the structures of different characters and correctly compose an article of narration, explanatory and simple argumentation texts of no less than 450 characters within the required time limit. Understand basic writing styles. Know how to handwrite extra 400 intermediate level characters on top of the 300 basic characters. Example: 傲(ào arrogant),  蹲(dūn, squat). Be able to comfortably analyse the structures of different characters and correctly compose a complicated article of narration, explanatory, and argumentation texts of no less than 600 characters within the required time limit. Understand a variety of writing styles and know how to use some common rhetoric like metaphors.

Translation

Have some basic translation ability (English to Chinese and vice versa). Be able: to translate the main ideas and the cultural factors, to do basic interpretation during casual occasions, to translate written Chinese correctly. Have some translation ability (English to Chinese and vice versa). Be able: to translate the full ideas and deal with cultural factors appropriately, to do basic consecutive interpretation during casual occasions, to translate written Chinese in a relatively accurate way. Have general translation ability (English to Chinese and vice versa). Be able: to translate the full ideas and handle cultural factors in a nice way, to do smooth interpretation during casual occasions, to translate different styles of written Chinese accurately.

New HSK 3.0 Advanced Stage (Level 7-9)

The New HSK 3.0 高等 (Advanced Stage) Levels 7, 8 and 9 are learning goals for students who are (or will be):

  • Planning to get a university or above degree in China or other countries in a program that is taught in Chinese
  • Professional translators or Chinese language educators, sinologists, academic researchers
  • Involved in international politics, affairs and international trade
  • Lawyers or policy/regulation analysts

Overall requirements:

  • Speak and write correctly and elegantly
  • Fully understand Chinese culture and associated implicit meaning, similar to the way Chinese people think
  • Understand complex texts on a variety of subjects, in a variety of styles, conduct smooth communication on complex topics include social life, academic research, and other fields, with great logic, structure, and coherent text organization
  • Hold in-depth discussions
  • Have an international perspective and great cross-cultural communication skills

Just one HSK exam:

There’ll be only one HSK written exam and your HSK level (7 or 8 or 9) will be decided based on your score. For the Advanced Stage, learners are required to know 1.110 pinyin syllabus, 3.000 Chinese characters (know how to handwrite from memory 1.200 characters), and 11.092 vocabulary words.

ADVANCED STAGE (Level 7,8,9)

Skills

New HSK Level 7

New HSK Level 8

New HSK Level 9

Language topics
Topics include social etiquette, science and technology, arts, physical education, psychology, and other professional fields. Example tasks for students are exchanging ideas with participants on formal academic conferences, or to read course materials from specific majors.
Topics include linguistics, politics, economics, laws, philosophy, history, etcetera. Learners are required to be able to discuss political affairs, philosophy and religions in proper language. Learners should be able to express opinions, raise questions and appeals when encountering disputes. Be prepared to encounter topics like academic research, policies, and regulations. These topics can apply to business and trading, or international affairs. Learners are supposed to be able to formal business negotiations, and to be able to read formal documents of regulations and academic papers.

Listening 

Understand lectures on general topics and social news (within 800 characters) at a normal or even fast speed; get the main facts and key opinions accurately and not be disturbed by any environmental factors; able to basically understand the social and cultural connotations involved.
Understand lectures on professional topics and specific social news (within 800 characters) at a normal or even fast speed; get the main facts, key opinions, and details accurately and not be disturbed by any environmental factors; able to understand and deal with the social and cultural connotations involved. Understand any texts at a normal or even fast speed; able to analyse and get information when it is not fully presented; able to understand and deal with the social and cultural connotations involved well.

Speaking 

Express opinions, hold conversations or debates well with a variety of sentences and paragraphs; speak with standard and natural pronunciation and in different styles based on the situations; enhance the oral expressions with rhetorical methods such as metaphors; have the basic sense of cross-cultural communication.
Be able to do speeches and simultaneous debates well with a variety of sentences and paragraphs; standard and natural pronunciations, smooth language flows; enhance the oral expressions with a variety of rhetorical methods; have a good sense of cross-cultural communication. Have excellent ability to speak on different topics in paragraphs/speeches; standard and natural pronunciations, smooth language flow; enhance oral expressions with a variety of rhetorical methods properly; have an excellent sense of cross-cultural communication.

Reading 

Read complicated texts on selected topics at a speed no slower than 200 characters per minute; have some understanding of Chinese ways of thinking and expression habits understand the culture involved; have great reading skills including information searching. Read complicated texts on related topics at a speed no slower than 220 characters per minute; have a good understanding of Chinese ways of thinking and expression habits; understand the cultural and social backgrounds involved; have great reading skills including information searching; be able to spot language problems and logical flaws in the texts. Read complicated texts on related topics at a speed no slower than 240 characters per minute; have a great understanding of Chinese ways of thinking and expression habits; fully understand the cultural and social backgrounds involved.

Writing 

Be able to handwrite 500 advanced characters, write argumentative, explanatory, and general essays, as well as professional papers of a certain length with basically clear points of view and structures, correct sentences and format, good and logical expressions; apply multiply rhetoric methods correctly. Be able to handwrite 500 advanced characters, write argumentative, explanatory, and general essays, as well as professional papers of a great length, clear points of view and structures, correct sentences and format, good and logical expressions; apply multiply rhetoric methods and idioms correctly. Be able to handwrite 500 advanced characters and a graduate thesis, write with clear points of view and structures, correct sentences and format, great and logical expressions; apply multiply rhetoric methods correctly.

Translation

Have basic professional translation skills. Be able to conduct consecutive and accompanying interpretations on formal occasions and translate general, argumentative, and explanatory essays correctly. Have professional translation skills. Be able to conduct consecutive and accompanying interpretations on formal occasions smoothly and  translate general, argumentative, and explanatory essays of great length correctly. Have good professional translation skills Be able to conduct simultaneous interpretations on formal occasions smoothly and quickly and translate a variety of articles correctly and elegantly.

HSK EXAMINATION TEST DATES

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Examination Date

Payment and Registration
Start Date-End Date

Online Results

Sunday, April 21, 2024

February 25, 2024 – March 25, 2024

Μay 28, 2024

Sunday, July 21, 2024

May 24, 2024 - June 24, 2024

August 21, 2024

Sunday, December 8, 2024

October 11, 2024 - November 11, 2024

January 8, 2025

The exam dates are always either on a Saturday or a Sunday. For HSK levels 2, 4 and 6 the exam starts at 9am and for HSK levels 1, 3 and 5 at 1:30pm. HSK exam hours for levels 7, 8 and 9 are yet to be confirmed.

HSK EXAMINATION FEES

HSK Exam Level

Fee (€)

Level 1

50,00

Level 2

60,00

Level 3

80,00

Level 4

100,00

Level 5

120,00

Level 6

130,00

Levels 7-9

TBA

For direct deposit and web/mobile banking:

Bank Name:                            National Bank of Greece

Account holder:                     OPA / ELKE / Business Confucius Institute of Athens

Account Number:                  110/4 8015 124

IBAN:                                      GR20 0110 1100 0000 1104 8015 124

 

Transaction Purpose: The name of the examinee & HSK Level

HSK TEST Registration and Payment

Ι. To successfully register for the test, please follow the steps

01

Log into the website

02

User Registration

Register as a Test Taker. If you don’t have an account, click on ‘New User’ to create one. Remember your Username and Password. Complete the gaps as required (name, date of birth, native language etc)
03

Test Registration

Select the test level, form (paper-based), test center and date.
04

Fill in your personal information

Fill in your name, nationality, information of your identity certificate etc.
05

Upload a photo

Upload a standard, 2-inch identification photo in a JPG format not larger than 100KB. Photo upload is required for HSK 4, 5 & 6. For Levels 1, 2 & 3 upload is optional.
06

Confirm the registration information

Select “Confirm and Submit”.
07

Pay the test fee

After registering online, pay the test fee before the registration deadline by direct deposit to the Athens Business Confucius Institute account at National Bank of Greece. You can do this at any National Bank branch, via an ATM or via web/mobile banking through your own bank. If there is no evidence of a money transfer before the registration deadline , then your registration is unfortunately invalid and you cannot take part in the examination. After you have paid, the test cannot be cancelled.

The name of the examinee should appear in the ‘Αιτιολογία’ field on the bank deposit slip or web/mobile banking transaction form.

You will need the following information for direct deposit and web banking:

Bank Name:  

Account holder: 

Account Number: 

IBAN:    

Transaction Purpose:   

National Bank of Greece

OPA / ELKE / Business Confucius Institute of Athens

110 / 4 8015 124

GR20 0110 1100 0000 1104 8015 124

The name of the examinee & HSK Level

08

Collect/Print the test Admission Ticket

Ten days before the exam date, log into www.chinesetest.cn and print your test admission ticket (Personal Information Center->Test Taker Information->Print). On the test date, you must bring and present your printed test admission ticket and identity certificate.

Click here to download a Reference Admission Ticket Sample.

II. Requirements for test takers’ photo 

Requirements for the photo are applicable mainly to HSK Levels 4‐6, HSKK, BCT and YCT oral test, and the test score report for other levels does not carry a photo.

Preparation for the photo and its usage should meet the following requirements:

Format requirements for the photo:

‐ Test takers’ recent photo for identification (in a standard, two‐inch form), and photos of daily life or landscape will not be accepted;

‐ No hat, scarf, headband or sunglasses are allowed to appear (except for special religious reasons);

‐ Both black‐and‐white and color photos are acceptable, and a white background is preferred.

To submit the photo, test takers may either log into the Chinese testing service website and upload the electronic photo in line with guidance from the website or bring the photo to teachers at the test center responsible for the registration and ask them to assist with the uploading.

 

III. Test admission ticket 

Information on the test admission ticket includes test takers’ name, nationality, gender, type and number of the identity certificate, test subject, test time, test center, test location and test rules, etc. After receiving the test admission ticket, test takers shall carefully check the accuracy of the information on it item by item. Such information as test takers’ name, gender, date of birth and identification number must be identical with that on his/her valid identity certificate; otherwise he/she will not be allowed to take the test.

If any incorrect information is found, please contact the test center to make appropriate modification; otherwise test takers’ test results will become invalid.

The test admission ticket is an important proof that test takers have got the admission to the test, and those who do not carry a test admission ticket will not be admitted to the test room to take the test.

After the test, test takers shall still keep their test admission ticket, which will be required before the receipt of the score report. To view the test results online or enjoying such value‐added service as applying for an additional score report, test takers also need to provide the number of his/her test admission ticket no.

Click here  to download a Reference Admission Ticket Sample. 

 

IV. How to change the test date 

After the registration and payment, test takers can apply to change the test date within the stipulated time, but cannot cancel the registered test; neither can the registered test center nor test level be changed.

To change the test date, test takers need to log into the Chinese testing service website (www.chinesetest.cn) and enter the Personal Center to make an application. The new test date shall be one at the same level and test center in the same year.

Deadline and charges for changing the test date are as follows:

  • Before the registration deadline (including the deadline): test takers can change the test date for free.
  • Between the registration deadline and 10 days before the test (including the 10th day): test takers need to pay an amount equal to 30% of the test fee before they can apply for the change during this period.
  • Within 10 days before the test (excluding the 10th day): No application for changes of this kind will be accepted.

For test takers to take the internet‐based test, the valid period for changing the test date for free is 27 days before the test, and other relevant rules are the same with the paper‐based test.

 

V. Test regulations 

 

  1. Articles Carried for the test

On the test date, test takers must bring the following articles to the test room:

‐ Test admission ticket;

‐ Identity certificate (copies are invalid) which is authentic, valid, identical with the registration information and carries a photo;

‐ 2B pencils (two or more) and eraser, in the event that it is a paper‐based test.

Other personal articles of test takers cannot be carried with them during the test but shall be placed in the depository or place designated by the test examiner. Do not bring any valuables to the test room; otherwise no compensation will be made for the loss.

Test takers who are unable to present the valid identity certificate and test admission ticket will not be permitted to take the test, nor will the test fee be refunded.

 

  1. Time of admission

Test takers shall arrive at the exam room half an hour before the start of the test, so as to avoid being late. After the admission, no test takers are allowed to leave the test room until the end of the Listening part.

Paper‐based test: Before the start of the Listening part, late test takers can enter the test room and take the test; after the Listening part has started, late test takers have to wait till its end before entering the test room to work on the Reading part, with no extra time added to make up for the delay; after the start of the Reading part, late test takers are not allowed to enter the test room to take the test.

Oral test: Before the start of the recording, late test takers can enter the test room and take the test; but after the recording has started, late test takers are not allowed to enter the test room to take the test.

 

  1. Test Methods

(1) Test takers shall take the test in line with the arrangements and instructions of the examiner(s).

(2) All the answers shall be provided by filling in the answer sheet with a 2B pencil.

(3) Answering of the oral test shall be in the form of live recording, and test takers shall complete the test with their own recording device separately in line with the instructions and arrangements by the examiner(s).

 

  1. Test regulations

(1) Test takers must sit in the assigned seats and have no right to choose seats.

(2) Test takers must follow instructions of the examiner(s), observe the test rules, and independently complete various parts of the test.

(3) No break will be set during the test. If, due to any special reason, test takers need to leave the exam room halfway, he/she shall first obtain the consent of the examiner(s) and then submit his/her test admission certificate and identity certificate to the examiner(s) before leaving the exam room. After his/her return, the examiner(s) will give back the test admission ticket and identity certificate.

(4) In the oral test, no test takers shall temporarily leave the room. If any test takers has to leave, then the departure means to withdraw from the test.

 

  1. Handling of emergencies

(1) In case of any unfair treatment of test takers due to mismanagement of the test room, such as insufficient test time and damage to the paper or test equipment, which makes test takers unable to complete the test, the Chinese Testing International will make timely arrangements for a new, free test for him/her, but it will not assume any indirect loss and the test site cannot be changed.

(2) In case of any force majeure, such as a natural disaster or accident, which makes test takers unable to complete the test, the Chinese Testing International will make timely arrangements for a new, free test for him/her or fully refund the test fee to him/her, but it will not assume any indirect loss.

 

  1. Absence from the test

If test takers fail to take the test on the test date due to certain reason that is not attributable to the test organizer, no test fee will be refunded.

 

  1. Violations and penalties

Test takers shall not open the paper in advance or write down the answer out of the right answering area, neither shall they tear, replace, copy the paper, nor take the paper or the answer sheet outside the test room. In case of any of such acts as cheat, substitution of the test taker, plagiarism, smuggled material, or disobedience to instructions of the examiner(s), the test results will be canceled.

 

VI. Test scores

 

  1. Score enquiry

One month after taking the test, test takers can log into the Chinese testing service website (www.chinesetest.cn) and enter his/her test admission ticket number as well as name to view the test scores.

  1. Score report

The printed official test score reports will be delivered to Athens Business Confucius Institute within 2 months after the test date, and test takers can get it there by presenting their test identity certificate and admission ticket.

Click here  to download a Score Report Sample. 

  1. Validity period of score report

The test result is a long term available, but the score report to be used for the application to Chinese universities and colleges is valid within two years (from the test date).

 

VII. Additional services concerning score report

 

  1. Delivery of an additional score report

For the purpose of helping test takers present their score reports of the Chinese test as a proof of their Chinese proficiency for college application, graduation, recruitment, promotion, etc., it’s available for test takers to apply for the delivery of an additional score reports via the Chinese testing service website (www.chinesetest.cn). For details of the application forms and fees, please visit the Chinese testing service website (www.chinesetest.cn).

  1. Modification of the score report

The HSK score report serves as an important proof of test takers’ Chinese proficiency. In view that some test takers may fail to carefully check the information as required during their registration online or at the test center or fail to carefully check the registration confirmation or the test admission ticket after the completion of the test registration, which may lead to discrepancy between the personal information on the score report and the real information, the Chinese testing service website (www.chinesetest.cn), in order to ensure the normal use of the report, allows test takers to apply for the modification of the score report.

Requirements for test takers’ application to modify the score report:

(1) An application to modify the information is limited to the following situations:

  • Misspelling of the name
  • Error of the nationality information
  • Error of the gender information

(2) Test takers must provide the relevant supporting certificates, such as his/her passport and identity card.

(3) The application shall be filed within the validity period of the test results report (i.e., within two years after the end of the test).

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Ιs the HSK changing?

Announced in May 2020, released via the official HSK official Twitter Account, the HSK exam will change from six (6) to nine (9) levels! In order to mark the examinees' current progress, the nine (9) levels will be sub-divided into three stages: Beginner Stage – Levels 1-3, Intermediate Stage – Levels 4-6, Advanced Stage – Levels 7-9. It has been revealed that the New HSK 3.0 will be officially launched on July 1st 2021.

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WHERE WE ARE

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46 Kefallinias str., GR-11251 Athens (1st Floor) - Classrooms

Phone: +30 210 8226 735
Email: confucius@aueb.gr

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