The HSK 4 Speaking Test, Decoded(2026 New HSK 3.0).
Five questions. Three sections. Twenty minutes. Here’s exactly what you’ll be asked, what graders score, and the four-step framework that lifts answers from passing to fluent.
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Taking the exam before July 2026? You’re sitting the old HSKK Intermediate — read our HSKK guide instead. This article covers the new HSK 4 Speaking Test under the 2026 HSK 3.0 syllabus. |
The HSK 4 Speaking Test (HSK 四级口语) is the speaking component of HSK 4 under the new HSK 3.0 syllabus. Five questions, three sections, ~20 minutes including 10 minutes of prep. If you’ve passed HSK 3, four focused weeks is enough. If not, plan for eight.
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SECTION 1
Listen & Retell
听后复述
2 questions · 40 sec each
Memory & summary |
SECTION 2
Tell a Story
看图说话
1 question · 2 min
Three-image narrative |
SECTION 3
Express Opinion
回答问题
2 questions · 2 min each
Open response |
The biggest jump from old HSKK Intermediate: Section 2 used to be read a passage aloud — now it’s narrate a three-image story. From decoding text to constructing it. This is where most students lose points.
| 01What changed in HSK 3.0 |
| 02Format, timing & scoring |
| 03A-R-E-C: the answer skeleton |
| 04Three mistakes that cost points |
| 05Your 4-week study plan |
| 06Frequently asked questions |
HSK 3.0 changed the speaking exam in three ways.
If you trained for the old HSKK Intermediate, here’s what’s different — and what’s familiar.
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01
Reading replaced by retelling
Section 1 used to be “read aloud” — text on screen, you decode it. Now it’s “listen and retell”: you hear a passage and reproduce it in 40 seconds. Different skill entirely.
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02
Story replaces single picture
Section 2 now shows three sequential images. You narrate cause & effect across two minutes — no more describing a still scene.
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03
Wider topic range
Section 3 prompts now include workplace adaptation and intercultural themes, up from purely lifestyle topics.
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| HSKK Intermediate (old) | HSK 4 Speaking (new) | |
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| Total time | ~23 min | ~20 min |
| Prep window | 10 min | 10 min |
| Questions | 14 | 5 |
| Section 1 | Listen & repeat (short sentences) | Listen & retell (paragraphs) |
| Section 2 | Read passage aloud | Three-image story narration |
| Section 3 topics | Daily life, opinions | + Work, intercultural, modern issues |
| Vocabulary | ~900 words | ~1,200 words (Level 4) |
How the 20 minutes are spent.
The exam is computer-delivered in a quiet booth. You hear instructions in Mandarin, prep silently, then record.
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1
FIRST 10 MIN Prep window
Section 2 and Section 3 prompts appear on screen. You can take notes on scratch paper. No speaking yet — and no audio for Section 1 in this window.
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2
NEXT 9 MIN Recording
Each section starts with a beep. You speak; the system stops you at the time limit.
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3
LAST 1 MIN Submit
Confirm submission. No retakes within the session. Results in 4–6 weeks.
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| Want to see the real exam? The official HSK 4 Speaking sample paper from CLEC is free to download — three sections, five questions, exactly what you’ll see on test day. ↓ Get the PDF |
Two human raters score every recording independently. They award points across four criteria — and you don’t need to be perfect in all four to pass.
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PRONUNCIATION · 25 PTS
Tones, initials, finals. Most-cut category for non-native speakers.
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FLUENCY · 25 PTS
Pace, pauses, restarts. Smooth > fast.
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VOCABULARY · 25 PTS
Range and accuracy at HSK 3.0 Level 4 (~1,200 words).
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CONTENT · 25 PTS
Did you answer the question completely and on-topic? In Section 1, did you capture the key points of what you heard?
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A-R-E-C: the answer skeleton.
Every Section 3 answer should hit four beats. Memorize the order, not the words. Once it’s automatic, you can speak for two minutes on anything.
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A
ANSWER
State your position in one sentence. No throat-clearing.
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R
REASON
Give two reasons. Use 第一…第二… to signal structure.
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E
EXAMPLE
One personal example. Specific names, places, times.
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C
CLOSE
Restate your view in different words. Signals you’re done.
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Prompt: “刚到一个新公司工作时，为了使自己更快适应环境，你会怎么做？” (“How would you adapt quickly when starting at a new company?”) — adapted from the official HSK 4 Speaking sample paper.
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SCORE 60 · PASS
Bare minimum
我会努力工作。我也会跟同事说话。这样就能适应。我觉得这样很好。
Answers the question. No example. Repeats vocabulary.
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SCORE 80 · STRONG
A-R-E-C applied
为了更快适应新公司，我会做两件事。第一，主动跟同事打招呼，了解大家的工作方式；第二，认真观察公司的文化和规则。比如说，我去年刚加入现在的公司时，第一周就请同事一起吃午饭，很快就熟悉了团队。所以，主动和观察是适应新环境的关键。
Stance, two reasons, personal example, restated close.
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SCORE 95 · FLUENT
A-R-E-C + nuance
适应一个新公司，我觉得最重要的不是急着表现，而是先听、先看。第一周我会少说多问，了解团队的沟通习惯和不成文的规则。比如我上一份工作刚开始时，发现同事们更习惯用微信沟通，而不是邮件，我很快就调整了自己的方式，融入得更顺利。
Counterintuitive framing, specific example, cultural awareness.
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Three mistakes that cost real points.
From scoring thousands of recordings, these are the patterns we see in candidates who narrowly fail.
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01
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Memorized templates that don’t fit the prompt.
If your “environment” answer surfaces in a “hobby” question, graders catch it instantly. Practice patterns, not scripts.
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02
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Speaking too fast to hide errors.
Speed without clarity reads as panic. Two slow correct sentences beat four rushed muddled ones.
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03
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Wasting the 10-minute prep window.
You get a full 10 minutes of silent prep for Sections 2 and 3 (Section 1 audio plays later — you can’t prep for it). A 4-bullet outline per question scores noticeably higher than staring at the screen.
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Four weeks to test-ready.
Assumes you’ve passed HSK 3 and can study one focused hour per day. Add weeks 5–8 if you’re below HSK 3.
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W1
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Listen & retell base | Tone-pair drills daily. Listen to 30–40 second passages, then retell in your own words within 40 seconds. Record yourself; check what you missed. |
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W2
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Story arc | Master the connector words. Practice the 3-act story on 10 different image sets within the 2-minute limit. |
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W3
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A-R-E-C drills | Random-prompt drills. 30 seconds prep, 2 minutes answer. 5 prompts per day. |
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W4
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Mock exams | Two full mock exams under timed conditions. Review recordings with a teacher. |
Common questions, straight answers.
All answers based on the official HSK (四级) 口语 sample paper released by CLEC.
How long is the HSK 4 Speaking Test?
About 20 minutes total. That breaks down into 10 minutes of silent prep, roughly 9 minutes of recording across three sections, and a 1-minute submission window.
How many questions are on the HSK 4 Speaking Test?
Five questions across three sections: 2 listen-and-retell items (40 seconds each), 1 three-image story (2 minutes), and 2 open-response questions (2 minutes each).
What’s the passing score for HSK 4 Speaking?
60 out of 100. Scoring is split across pronunciation, fluency, vocabulary, and content (25 points each). You don’t need to be strong in all four — a balanced 60+ across them passes.
How is the new HSK 4 Speaking Test different from the old HSKK Intermediate?
Three big shifts. First, fewer questions (5 vs 14) but longer answers. Second, “Read aloud” is gone — Section 1 is now “listen and retell.” Third, Section 2 is a three-image narrative instead of reading a passage. The old test rewarded clean pronunciation; the new test rewards structured thinking.
Is the HSK 4 Speaking Test mandatory under HSK 3.0?
Yes. Under the new HSK 3.0 framework launching July 2026, the speaking test is mandatory from Level 3 onward and registered together with the written HSK 4. This is a major change from the old system, where speaking (HSKK) was optional for most candidates.
What can I do during the 10-minute prep window?
You can read all prompts for Section 2 and Section 3, take written notes on scratch paper, and plan structure. You cannot speak, and Section 1 audio doesn’t play yet — those passages are heard live during the recording phase, so prep there is impossible. Use the full 10 minutes; most failing candidates leave them empty.
How long does it take to prepare for the HSK 4 Speaking Test?
Four focused weeks if you’ve already passed HSK 3 and can study one hour daily. Eight weeks if you’re still building Level 3 vocabulary. Speaking gains plateau slowly — stretching prep beyond 10 weeks rarely improves scores unless you’re also leveling up overall Chinese.
When will I get my HSK 4 Speaking results?
Approximately one month after the test date for paper-based exams; internet-based results are usually faster (around 2 weeks). The certificate is valid for two years from the test date.
Practice with the actual exam.
Download the official HSK 4 Speaking sample paper. Then, if you’d like a personalized study plan or a free trial lesson with our HSK teachers, get in touch — we’ve prepared students for the HSK since 2008.
