The Newly Revised HSK (2026): What You Need to Know

The HSK exam (汉语水平考试 Hànyǔ Shuǐpíng Kǎoshì) has reached its most significant milestone in a generation. After a multi-year transition, 2026 marks the first large-scale implementation phase of the HSK 3.0 framework.

It’s essential to note, however, that many test centers still administer legacy-style HSK 1-6 through at least mid-2026. When signing up for the exam, be sure to ask which version the center administers.

The New HSK at a glance

As we enter the first half of 2026, the “transition” is accelerating and the new standards are becoming the global default. Read on to learn how the HSK is composed today and how recent refinements may affect your study plan.

In 2026, the HSK is no longer a simple six-level ladder. It is a comprehensive “Three Stages, Nine Levels” framework:

• Elementary (Levels 1-3): Focused on daily survival and basic social needs (think basics like “yes” in Chinese, “no” in Chinese, and common greetings).
• Intermediate (Levels 4-6): Focused on professional communication, news, and complex social topics.
• Advanced (Levels 7-9): A single integrated exam for academic research and near-native professional work.
• Combined Testing: For most levels, you can no longer skip the speaking portion. Written and oral exams are now bundled.
• Recognition-First: Beginners are no longer forced to master handwriting characters to pass early levels.

Read the rest of our article to discover more details about the new HSK exam.

The new HSK has a total of nine different levels, making it more challenging than the previous iteration.

Why the Change? From HSK 2.0 to 3.0

For years, the “Old HSK 6” was criticized for not being truly “advanced.” A student who passed HSK 6 often still struggled with native-level academic papers or professional translation.

The New HSK (3.0) was created to fix this. By expanding to nine levels and introducing translation and advanced oral defense skills, the HSK now aligns more closely with the highest tiers of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

If you’re rebuilding fundamentals for the newer standards, it helps to strengthen core systems that show up everywhere on the exam: grammar, measure words, tone sandhi, and character literacy (including stroke order and types of Chinese characters).

The first version of the HSK, released in 1992, consisted of 11 levels and was primarily aimed at students from Asia.

The July 2026 Update

In late 2025, Chinese Testing International (CTI) issued a final adjustment to the 3.0 standards.

Initially, the 2021 proposal suggested a massive jump for Level 1 (from 150 words to 500 words). Following global feedback, the July 2026 syllabus settled on a more balanced approach: Level 1 now requires 300 words. This makes the entry point more accessible while maintaining a much steeper climb in the Intermediate and Advanced stages.

The 2025 HSK 3.0 update eased the entry point by setting Level 1 at 300 words instead of 500, while preserving a much steeper progression at higher levels.

Mandatory Speaking: The HSK + HSKK Bundle

First, let’s clarify the difference between the HSK and HSKK:

• HSK (Hànyǔ Shuǐpíng Kǎoshì) is the standard written Chinese proficiency exam. It primarily assesses listening comprehension, reading ability, and (at higher levels) written expression.
• HSKK (Hànyǔ Shuǐpíng Kǎoshì Kǒuyǔ) is the official spoken Chinese proficiency exam. It evaluates a candidate’s ability to produce spoken Mandarin, including pronunciation, fluency, sentence formation, and the ability to respond orally under time constraints. The HSKK is conducted as a recorded speaking test and is graded separately from the written HSK.

For many years, the HSKK was technically optional and often treated as a supplementary credential. Strong readers and test-takers could advance academically with limited speaking ability, creating a persistent gap between “on-paper” proficiency and real-world communicative competence.

As of late 2025, in many regions and for many institutional uses, simultaneous HSKK registration is now required, particularly at the intermediate and advanced levels.

Under the new system, institutions increasingly evaluate HSK and HSKK results together as a single Chinese proficiency profile, incorporating both written and oral scores.

Just obtaining the lowest level of the HSK is set to become substantially more challenging.

The Advanced Stage: Levels 7, 8, and 9

The HSK 7-9 is the “Final Boss” of Chinese exams. It is a single, 210-minute integrated test.

• Who is it for? PhD students, professional translators, and those seeking top-tier roles in Chinese multinational corporations.
• What is tested? In addition to high-level Listening, Reading, and Writing, it includes a Translation section and an Oral Defense section where you must argue a complex viewpoint in Mandarin.
• How is it scored? Your total score determines which level (7, 8, or 9) you receive.

2026 Vocabulary & Character Requirements

The current standards use a cumulative model. Following the 2026 syllabus updates, the targets are as follows:

If you’re actively building character competence for the new requirements, you’ll usually progress faster by combining frequency + structure:

• Start with the most common characters (high-frequency payoff early).
• Learn the main types of Chinese characters to understand how meaning and sound patterns work.
• Use consistent stroke order to improve recognition, writing, and dictionary lookup.

Handwriting vs. Recognition: The Digital Shift

Perhaps the most welcome change in the 2026 syllabus is the official policy on handwriting:

• Levels 1-4: The focus is on Character Recognition (认读). Students are expected to read characters and type them using Pinyin input (use our Pinyin chart or the printable PDF if you want something you can keep open while studying).
• Levels 5-6: Students must master handwriting for a few hundred “Core Characters.” This ensures you can write basic notes and formal signatures by hand (you’ll want to be comfortable with both Simplified and Traditional character contexts, depending on region and materials).
• Levels 7-9: Full handwriting proficiency for academic and professional purposes is required.

The new HSK is more suitable for students of all levels, from beginner to highly advanced.

Test Format, Scoring, and Delivery in 2026

Beyond content, the way the HSK is delivered and scored has also evolved under the 3.0 system.

Internet-Based Testing Is Now the Default

By 2026, the vast majority of HSK exams—especially Levels 4 and above—are computer-based. Typing via Pinyin input is standard, audio is delivered via headset, and timing is strictly enforced digitally. Paper-based exams still exist in limited locations but are no longer the norm.

Adaptive Scoring at the Advanced Level

HSK 7-9 uses Item Response Theory (IRT) rather than raw-point scoring. This means question difficulty is weighted, and your final level (7, 8, or 9) reflects overall proficiency—not just how many questions you answered correctly.

The HSK exam is based on the Chinese Proficiency Standards, which underwent significant revision.

What a “Pass” Means Now

Lower levels (1-6) still issue pass/fail-style certificates, but with sub-scores by skill. At the Advanced Stage, there is no simple “pass”—your certificate explicitly states your assigned level, which carries significant academic and professional signaling power.

The Chinese Ministry of Education has already released detailed information on the new Chinese Proficiency Standards, which are meant as a guide for Chinese teachers.

How to Study Strategically for the New HSK

With broader skill coverage and higher expectations, test preparation in 2026 requires a more intentional approach.

Stop Studying “for the Test” Too Early

Especially under HSK 3.0, test-specific drilling too early is counterproductive. Vocabulary, listening speed, and active sentence production matter far more than memorizing question formats—particularly from Level 4 upward.

Build Skills Horizontally, Not Just Level-by-Level

Because the new HSK emphasizes real-world tasks, students should study across skills simultaneously:

• Listening + shadowing (tone accuracy matters—review tone changes early, not late)
• Reading + summarization (reinforce with frequency lists like common characters)
• Speaking + argument-building (solidify sentence patterns with core grammar)
• Writing + structured feedback (reduce “mechanical errors” with measure words and consistent stroke order)

This mirrors how the exam now evaluates proficiency.

Plan Backward From Your Use Case

Your preparation should depend on why you need the HSK:

• University admissions: prioritize reading speed, academic vocabulary, and formal writing
• Visas or employment: emphasize speaking, professional topics, and translation accuracy
• Personal mastery: aim beyond the minimum requirements—especially at Levels 5-6, where the gap between “passing” and “functionally fluent” is still significant

If you’re choosing materials, start with a clear textbook path and reliable references (see our guides to Chinese textbooks and online Chinese dictionaries).

At CLI, we design study plans backward from your target exam and your real-world goals—so your HSK certificate reflects usable Chinese, not just test performance. If you’re considering immersive prep, see our Chinese immersion options and what it’s like to study in Guilin.

The new HSK will provide Chinese language students with renewed motivation to achieve higher levels of language proficiency.

What This Means for You

If you have a certificate from the “Legacy HSK” (the 2010-2021 version), it remains valid for two years from your test date. However, the world is moving to the 3.0 standard.

If you are applying to a Chinese university or a “Talent Visa” program in 2026, the new bundled HSK/HSKK results are increasingly the preferred (and sometimes mandatory) benchmark. The new system is more rigorous, but a Level 6 or Level 9 certificate now carries significant prestige in the world of Chinese language learning.

Ready to start? Whether you’re preparing for the new “recognition-only” beginner levels or the marathon Advanced Stage, the Chinese Language Institute (CLI) is here to help you master the 2026 standards.

Legacy HSK certificates stay valid for two years, but as universities and visa programs shift to the more rigorous HSK 3.0, CLI can help you prepare for the new 2026 standards—from beginner recognition levels to the advanced exam.

Test-related Vocabulary

Anne Meredith

Anne Meredith holds an MA in International Politics and Chinese Studies from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). As part of the graduation requirements for the program, Anne wrote and defended a 70-page Master's thesis entirely in 汉字 (hànzì; Chinese characters). Anne lives in Shanghai, China and is fluent in Chinese.