HSK Mandarin course

What is the HSK, and what do its levels mean?

The HSK is China's standard test of Mandarin for non-native speakers. In its six-level version, HSK 2.0, it is sat as separate levels from HSK 1 to HSK 6; the new nine-level HSK 3.0 sits its levels 1 to 6 worldwide for the first time on 13 December 2026. Here is what each level asks of you, what the test's own CEFR mapping claims (and why to take it with a pinch of salt), and one course that teaches the lists level by level.

See the levels The course

Who sits it: Non-native speakers of Chinese. Universities in China use the results for admission.
Levels: Six in HSK 2.0, from HSK 1 to HSK 6. Each is its own exam: you sit the level you want.
Who runs it: Chinese Testing International. Hanban launched this version, which is why the CEFR mapping bears Hanban's name.
Papers: Listening and reading, with writing from HSK 3. Speaking is a separate test, the HSKK.
Pass mark: 120 of 200 points at HSK 1 and 2, 180 of 300 at HSK 3 and 4. HSK 5 and 6 are marked out of 300, with no pass mark published.

The six levels, and their words

Each HSK 2.0 level has an official word list, and each list contains the one below it. The CEFR column is Hanban's own mapping, published with the test. The last three columns are this site: how many of the list's words have a Kilo Lingo page, and what the course teaches at that level.

The HSK 2.0 levels: official word counts, Hanban's CEFR mapping, and the Kilo Lingo course at each level
Level	Official words, all levels so far	Hanban's CEFR	With a Kilo Lingo page	New in the course	Chapters
HSK 1 word list	150	A1	150	150	4
HSK 2 word list	300	A2	300	150	3
HSK 3 word list	600	B1	599	299	7
HSK 4 word list	1,200	B2	1,197	598	14
HSK 5 word list	2,500	C1	1,676	479	5
HSK 6 word list	5,000+	C2	1,898	222	4

Hanban's CEFR line is disputed. It is the test's own claim, not an independent one. In 2010 the Fachverband Chinesisch, the association of Chinese teachers in German-speaking countries, rejected it and put HSK 3 to HSK 6 two CEFR levels lower: HSK 4 at A2 rather than B2, HSK 6 at B2 rather than C2. Treat Hanban's column as what the certificate says, not what the learner can do.

The upper lists are not all on the site yet: HSK 5 has 1,676 of its 2,500, HSK 6 has 1,898 of its 5,000+. The course teaches the words that have a page, so it covers those levels' lists in part, and says so.

HSK 2.0, HSK 3.0 and other tests

The HSK has been rebuilt, it has a separate speaking test, and the school exam in England is something else again. For placing them:

The HSK 2.0 compared with HSK 3.0, the HSKK and GCSE Mandarin
Test	What it is	Levels	Against HSK 2.0
HSK 2.0	The six-level HSK launched by Hanban, with an official word list per level.	HSK 1 to HSK 6.	The version this course follows.
HSK 3.0	The new HSK, built on China's 2021 Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards. Levels 7 to 9 are already sat; levels 1 to 6 first sit worldwide on 13 December 2026.	Nine levels in three stages.	The standard sets bigger vocabularies at every level (500 words at level 1, against 150 in HSK 2.0), so an HSK 2.0 level and the HSK 3.0 level of the same number are not the same test. Check which version your test centre sets.
HSKK	The HSK's speaking test, a test of its own.	Elementary, intermediate and advanced.	Not part of an HSK level.
GCSE Mandarin	The school exam in England. Most pupils take GCSEs in Year 11, at 15-16.	Foundation (grades 1-5) and Higher (grades 4-9).	No official mapping: AQA's specification makes no reference to the HSK, and its vocabulary is its own minimum core list, set out largely by theme.

The course

One course in six parts, HSK 1 to HSK 6, each teaching the words new at its level, with pinyin, audio and the grammar the level needs. Type pinyin or tap: you never need a Chinese keyboard.

HSK Mandarin
HSK 1 to 6 · HSK 2.0 word lists
Chapters
37 (1 locked)
Words
1,898
Start at a level
In the chapters
- 235 word lessons
- 20 phrase lessons
- 72 grammar lessons
- 6 exam-practice lessons
Every HSK word list, level by level
Open the course Journey map

What a learner does in a chapter

Each chapter is a themed unit. This is a real one: HSK Mandarin chapter 2, Starting out (2 of 2), lesson by lesson.

Words: Everyday verbs: eat, drink, say
Grammar: Demonstrative forms
Words: Can, do, look, listen
Words: Money, cups, food and films
Phrases: How much is it?
Phrases: I like tea
Grammar: Classifiers
Exam practice: Buying fruit
Words: When and where: weeks, weather, stations
Phrases: Where is the station?
Grammar: Possession with de

Words
Everyday verbs: eat, drink, say
A small group of the level's new words that belong together, with pinyin and audio, learnt and then drilled until they stick.
Phrases
How much is it?
Whole sentences for the topic, built from words already taught: match each to its meaning, then fill the gap.
Grammar
Demonstrative forms
A grammar point placed at the level whose words first need it, with worked examples and a practice drill.
Exam practice
Buying fruit
A short task in the style of the test, answered in pinyin or characters.

For language tutors and teachers

Run an HSK class on it

Set chapters and lessons as homework that marks itself.
See each pupil's results as they come in.
Every pupil in your class gets Plus while they are in it.

See Classrooms

Questions

What is the HSK?

The Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi, China's standard test of Mandarin for non-native speakers. In its six-level version, HSK 2.0, each level is a separate exam with its own official word list, and universities in China use the results for admission.

How many words do you need for each HSK level?

On the HSK 2.0 lists: 150 for HSK 1, 300 for HSK 2, 600 for HSK 3, 1,200 for HSK 4, 2,500 for HSK 5, 5,000 and more for HSK 6. Each list includes the levels below it, so the figure is the total, not the new words.

What CEFR level is HSK 4?

Hanban maps it to B2, and maps HSK 6 to C2. Those are the test's own claims, and they are disputed: in 2010 the Fachverband Chinesisch, the association of Chinese teachers in German-speaking countries, rejected them and placed HSK 4 at A2 and HSK 6 at B2. Use the mapping to compare HSK levels with each other, not to compare HSK with a European language exam.

Should I learn HSK 2.0 or HSK 3.0?

Whichever your test centre sets: ask before you book. HSK 3.0 levels 1 to 6 sit worldwide for the first time on 13 December 2026. This course follows HSK 2.0, the six-level version. The standard behind HSK 3.0 sets bigger vocabularies at every level, so expect more words for the same level number.

Do I need to type Chinese characters?

No. Every answer in the course accepts pinyin, with tone marks optional, as well as characters, and many questions are tapped rather than typed. You will learn to read the characters; you never need a Chinese keyboard.

Is GCSE Mandarin the same as an HSK level?

No. There is no official mapping: AQA's GCSE specification makes no reference to the HSK, and the two vocabularies follow different plans.

Sources

Official HSK, Chinese government and Fachverband Chinesisch pages, checked 18 October 2026.

Word lists from HSK 2.0, filtered to the words with a Kilo Lingo page. The grammar lessons are our own mapping of the site's Mandarin articles to levels. Kilo Lingo is not affiliated with or endorsed by Chinese Testing International or Hanban.