We checked the overlap level by level. The answer surprised us.
You passed HSK 4 — or 3, or 5, or 6. You put in the work. Then you heard the HSK is changing to a 9-level system, and you started googling.
What you found wasn’t helpful. One website says old HSK 4 roughly equals new HSK 3. Another gives vocabulary numbers that don’t match. A third references data from a 2021 document that’s already been replaced.
Nobody shows the actual data behind their claims. So we did something nobody else has done: we took the official old and new HSK word lists and cross-referenced them — word by word, level by level.
Every new level contains 30–47% vocabulary that didn’t exist in the old system. Speaking is now mandatory from Level 3. Writing requirements jump at Level 4.
But your certificate is still valid, and your study wasn’t wasted. The new system measures differently — and now you can see exactly where you stand.
Try the tool below. Select your old HSK level and see your personal coverage.
Data: Official HSK 3.0 exam syllabus (中外语言交流合作中心, Nov 2025, 330 pages) · Exam structure: 汉考国际, Dec 2025
Mandarin Zone School · Beijing · Teaching Chinese to international students since 2008
What the tool can’t tell you
You’ve seen your numbers. Here’s the context behind them.
Why is the HSK 3.0 vocabulary gap so big?
If old HSK 4 has 1,200 words and new HSK 3 requires 1,000, shouldn’t the overlap be almost complete? It would be — if they were the same 1,000 words.
They’re not. The new HSK didn’t reorganize the old word list. It rewrote it. Here’s what that looks like:
下课 class ends
书店 bookstore
一点儿 a little bit
外卖 food delivery
网购 online shopping
点赞 like (social media)
And here’s something that trips people up:
Recognizing the characters ≠ knowing the word
You know 一 and 下, but 一下 means “briefly / give it a try” — not guessable from the parts. 不用 doesn’t mean “don’t use” — it means “no need.” Each compound has its own meaning, grammar, and usage. They’re real vocabulary that must be learned individually.
Old HSK 6 holders: 61% of your vocabulary is now classified as Level 7-9 — the advanced tier that didn’t exist before. Only 27% stayed in New Level 6. Your vocabulary spans into the advanced tier, but a Level 7-9 exam would also require advanced speaking and essay writing. (The official 7-9 exam structure has not yet been published.)
HSK 3.0 transition period: old vs new in 2026
This is the most important section if you need to make a decision soon — and the part most HSK articles don’t explore in depth. HSK 3.0 launches July 2026, but both versions will coexist as test centers switch at different speeds. During this period, “HSK 4” could mean two completely different things:
No speaking test
No essay writing
Mandatory speaking
80-word essay writing
Same label, very different standards — and universities haven’t figured it out yet. Most admissions pages still say “HSK 4” without specifying which version. There is no official equivalency table.
What should you do?
Need a certificate fast + speaking is weak?
Find a test center still offering the old version. No speaking test, certificate fully valid.
Have time + spoken Chinese is solid?
Go for the new version. Institutions know it’s a more comprehensive standard.
Not sure?
Take the old version now as a safety net, then prepare for the new version later. Both certificates coexist.
Check chinesetest.cn to see which version your local test center offers.
HSK 3.0 exam structure: what’s tested at each level
The new HSK changed what skills are tested, not just how many words:
| Level | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HSK 1 | ✓ | ✓ | — | — |
| HSK 2 | ✓ | ✓ | Characters (pinyin-assisted) | — |
| HSK 3 | ✓ | ✓ | Characters + Sentences | ✓ Required |
| HSK 4 | ✓ | ✓ | Essay (80 words) | ✓ Required |
| HSK 5 | ✓ | ✓ | Essay (200 words) | ✓ Required |
| HSK 6 | ✓ | ✓ | Essay (300 words) | ✓ Required |
🗣 Speaking: mandatory from Level 3
Under the old system, the spoken test (HSKK) was separate and optional. Now it’s built in. If you passed old HSK through reading and listening alone, this is likely a bigger challenge than the vocabulary gap.
✍ Writing: big leap at Level 4
Level 2–3: write characters with pinyin help (+ simple sentences at Level 3). Level 4: sentences + 80-word essay from scratch. Level 6: 300-word argumentative piece. A fundamentally different skill.
⚠ Two common misconceptions corrected
① “Handwriting removed for Levels 1-4” — Not true. The syllabus lists writing characters (书写字) for every level: 100 for Levels 1-2, then 150 more per level. Lower levels just test writing with pinyin assistance.
② “Translation tested from Level 4” — No evidence for this in either the syllabus or exam structure document. Writing sections involve essays and sentences, not Chinese-English translation.
HSK to CEFR conversion (2026)
Applying to a European university or employer? Here’s how the new HSK maps to CEFR, based on the official 2021 Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards:
| New HSK | CEFR | Description |
|---|---|---|
| HSK 1 | A1 | Beginner — basic phrases |
| HSK 2 | A2 | Elementary — routine exchanges |
| HSK 3 | B1 | Intermediate — travel and work situations |
| HSK 4 | B2 | Upper intermediate — fluent interaction |
| HSK 5 | C1 | Advanced — complex texts, fluent expression |
| HSK 6 | C1-C2 | Proficient — near-native comprehension |
| HSK 7-9 | C2 | Mastery — professional/academic fluency |
For old HSK holders: old HSK 4 was broadly mapped to B2. If you passed old HSK 4, your vocabulary sits between new B1 and B2 — your speaking level depends on your practice history.
HSK 3.0 vocabulary: which numbers are correct?
Three sets of numbers are circulating. Most websites don’t tell you which one they’re using:
| Level | Old HSK 2.0 | 2021 Standard (outdated) | 2025 Syllabus ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 150 | 500 | 300 |
| 2 | 300 | 1,272 | 500 |
| 3 | 600 | 2,245 | 1,000 |
| 4 | 1,200 | 3,245 | 2,000 |
| 5 | 2,500 | 4,316 | 3,600 |
| 6 | 5,000 | 5,456 | 5,400 |
| 7-9 | — | 11,092 | 11,000 |
The 2021 column (《国际中文教育中文水平等级标准》) is from a framework document — not the actual test spec. The 2025 column is what you’ll actually be tested on. If a website says HSK 1 requires 500 words, they’re using outdated data. Everything on this page uses the 2025 syllabus exclusively.
University HSK requirements during the transition
Most Chinese universities still list requirements using old-system labels. Very few have updated for HSK 3.0 yet. Check your target school’s official admissions page directly.
→ HSK Requirements for China’s Top 39 Universities (2026 Guide)
Frequently asked questions about HSK 3.0
Now you know where the gap is
A gap you can see is a gap you can close.
Want a structured plan? Our teachers can map out which words to learn first, how to build speaking skills, and which exam version fits your timeline. 15 minutes, free, no strings.
Mandarin Zone School · Beijing · Since 2008
More from Mandarin Zone:
New HSK 3.0 Explained: 9 Levels & New Requirements
HSK Requirements for China’s Top 39 Universities
Methodology: 4,991 old HSK entries cross-referenced against 10,940 unique new HSK 3.0 entries (11,000 total incl. multi-reading characters) from 《汉语水平考试大纲》(中外语言交流合作中心, Nov 2025, 330 pp). Exam structure from 《新版HSK（1-6级）考试结构与样题示例》(汉考国际, Dec 2025); Levels 7-9 structure not yet published. Character matching with suffix handling. Definitions: CC-CEDICT. ~186 entries (~3.7%) pending verification; coverage may be 2–3pp higher. Analysis: Mandarin Zone School, Beijing (est. 2008), 18 years teaching Chinese to international students.
