What is HSK 3.0? Word count per level and how it differs from HSK 2.0
What is HSK 3.0?
HSK 3.0 is the common name for the new HSK examination syllabus (《中文水平考试 HSK考试大纲》), published in November 2025 by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation (中外语言交流合作中心). It replaces the syllabus learners know as HSK 2.0.
For every level it sets out what a learner should be able to do in Chinese, the topics, the vocabulary list, the characters to recognise, the characters to write by hand, and the grammar. HSK 3.0 has nine levels, HSK 1 to HSK 9.
When does HSK 3.0 start?
The syllabus gives July 2026 as its date of effect. Test centres may move to the new syllabus on their own schedules, so check your test centre’s notice or chinesetest.cn before you register.
HSK 3.0 vocabulary: how many words per level?
HSK 1 has 300 words, twice the old HSK 1. By HSK 5 you need 3,600 words, against 2,500 under the old syllabus.
| Level | New words | Cumulative | HSK 2.0 (cumulative) |
|---|---|---|---|
| HSK 1 | 300 | 300 | 150 |
| HSK 2 | 200 | 500 | 300 |
| HSK 3 | 500 | 1,000 | 600 |
| HSK 4 | 1,000 | 2,000 | 1,200 |
| HSK 5 | 1,600 | 3,600 | 2,500 |
The syllabus goes on to levels 6–9; this table stops at level 5.
Characters: recognising and handwriting
HSK 3.0 keeps two separate lists: characters you must be able to recognise and characters you must be able to write by hand. The handwriting list is far shorter, so a beginner does not need to write every character they can read.
| Level | Characters to recognise (new) | Characters to handwrite |
|---|---|---|
| HSK 1 | 246 | 100 (shared by levels 1–2) |
| HSK 2 | 125 | shared by levels 1–2 |
| HSK 3 | 284 | 150 |
| HSK 4 | 441 | 150 |
| HSK 5 | 431 | 150 |
HSK 3.0 vs HSK 2.0
- More words at every level. HSK 1 goes from 150 to 300 words, HSK 4 from 1,200 to 2,000.
- Nine levels instead of six.
- Separate character lists for recognition and for handwriting at each level.
- Stated tasks. Each level lists communication tasks and topics; HSK 1 has 15 tasks such as greeting, introducing yourself and asking a price.
- Grammar by level, alongside that level’s vocabulary.
If you have been studying from HSK 2.0 lists, most of what you know still counts; each level simply asks for more words, and some words sit at a different level.
HSK 1–5 test format
HSK 1 has Listening and Reading only. Writing starts at HSK 2.
| Level | Listening | Reading | Writing |
|---|---|---|---|
| HSK 1 | 12 min | 20 min | none |
| HSK 2 | 17 min | 25 min | 10 min |
| HSK 3 | 23 min | 30 min | 20 min |
| HSK 4 | 20 min | 30 min | 25 min |
| HSK 5 | 25 min | 35 min | 40 min |
Learn the HSK 3.0 syllabus with PanJia
PanJia is a Chinese learning app written to this syllabus: 600+ lessons from HSK 1 to HSK 5 that teach each level’s full word list by topic. You hear, say and write every word and use it in a sentence, then review it just before you would forget. It includes grammar for each level and HSK mock tests in the new format.
Start with the first lesson of HSK 1.
Source: HSK Examination Syllabus (新版HSK考试大纲), 中外语言交流合作中心, November 2025