The new HSK levels have been confirmed and there are going to be 9 levels! At first glance it looks to be more difficult, but we’re excited about this positive change. They’ve updated the words to be more useful for your everyday conversation and evened out the pace of the levels. That means you’re less likely to jump quickly from HSK 1 to 3 and then get stuck going from 4 to 5 or 6. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 9 new HSK leves are divided into three tiers: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here is a chart showing the change in cumulative words from the old exams: <\/p>\n\n\n\n As you can see, at HSK 6 the number of words is quite similar, but the distribution throughout the earlier levels is more even. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here is a look at the number of words and number of characters needed for each level of the new HSK exam: <\/p>\n\n\n\n For levels 7-9 there is just one test and depending on your score you will be given a certificate for HSK 7, 8 or 9. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Besides the words and characters there are also grammar, syllabus and handwriting portions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Beginner<\/td> HSK 1, 2, 3 <\/td><\/tr> Intermediate<\/td> HSK 4, 5, 6 <\/td><\/tr> Advanced<\/td> HSK 7, 8, 9 <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Level <\/td> OLD HSK <\/td> NEW HSK<\/td><\/tr> HSK 1<\/td> 150<\/td> 500<\/td><\/tr> HSK 2<\/td> 300<\/td> 1272<\/td><\/tr> HSK 3<\/td> 450<\/td> 2245<\/td><\/tr> HSK 4<\/td> 1200<\/td> 3245<\/td><\/tr> HSK 5<\/td> 2500<\/td> 4316<\/td><\/tr> HSK 6<\/td> 5000<\/td> 5456<\/td><\/tr> HSK 7-9<\/td> N\/A<\/td> 11092<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Level <\/td> Words (Cumulative)<\/td> Characters (Cumulative)<\/td><\/tr> HSK 1<\/td> 500<\/td> 300<\/td><\/tr> HSK 2<\/td> 722 (1272)<\/td> 300 (600)<\/td><\/tr> HSK 3<\/td> 973 (2245)<\/td> 300 (900)<\/td><\/tr> HSK 4<\/td> 1000 (3245)<\/td> 300 (1200)<\/td><\/tr> HSK 5<\/td> 1071 (4316)<\/td> 300 (1500)<\/td><\/tr> HSK 6<\/td> 1140 (5456)<\/td> 300 (1800)<\/td><\/tr> HSK 7-9<\/td> 5636 (11092)<\/td> 1200 (3000)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>