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What HSK level do I need? CEFR equivalence and what scholarships, universities and jobs ask for
Maca Laoshi, Mandarin Chinese teacher
Updated October 20, 2026 · 10 min read
It depends on your purpose. As a common reference: HSK 3 for a Chinese-taught bachelor's scholarship, HSK 4 for postgraduate study or as a first CV filter, and HSK 5 for working in Chinese. On the CEFR equivalence there are two positions: according to Hanban (2010), HSK 4 equals B2; according to Germany's association of Chinese teachers, it equals A2. So always check what the specific institution asks for.
The levels of HSK 3.0
The new HSK, whose syllabus was published in November 2025, has nine levels in three stages. Levels 1 to 6 have their own exams; levels 7, 8 and 9 share a single advanced exam. According to the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, it will be held worldwide from December 13, 2026. Before that date, sessions use the previous format. The exam also changes in content: level 1 alone grows from 150 to 300 words (see the HSK 1 vocabulary).
| Stage | Level | Cumulative words | CEFR per Hanban (2010) | CEFR per Fachverband Chinesisch (2010) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | HSK 1 | 300 | A1 | — |
| HSK 2 | 500 | A2 | — | |
| HSK 3 | 1,000 | B1 | A1 | |
| Intermediate | HSK 4 | 2,000 | B2 | A2 |
| HSK 5 | 3,600 | C1 | B1 | |
| HSK 6 | 5,400 | C2 | B2 | |
| Advanced | HSK 7 to 9 | 11,000 | — | — |
Two important notes. First, both equivalences were published in 2010 for HSK 2.0, which had six levels, and there is no official CEFR table for HSK 3.0; the ones circulating online disagree with each other. Second, the Fachverband table compares only receptive skills (listening and reading), because of how the exam is designed.
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See the appTwo positions on the CEFR equivalence
The official one. In 2010, Hanban, then the exam's organiser, published that the six HSK levels match the six CEFR levels: HSK 1 = A1, and so on up to HSK 6 = C2. By that table HSK 4 would be B2 and HSK 5 C1.
The Fachverband Chinesisch one. The association of Chinese teachers in German-speaking countries rejected that table in 2010 and proposed another: HSK 3 = A1, HSK 4 = A2, HSK 5 = B1 and HSK 6 = B2. Its argument is vocabulary and skills: a real B2 needs much more oral and written command than those levels ask. The French teachers' association also places HSK 6 below C2.
Who is right? There is no single referee. If you need a certificate for a European institution, ask which table it uses; if you want to know your real level, the prudent reading is the middle one: HSK 4 is a functional level for everyday situations, but not that of someone who works in Chinese every day.
What level is usually asked for
| Goal | Reference level | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese government scholarship: Chinese-taught bachelor's | HSK 3 | Minimum in embassy notices; some universities ask for HSK 4 |
| Chinese government scholarship: Chinese-taught master's or doctorate | HSK 4 | Some universities ask for HSK 5 |
| Sinology at German universities | HSK 5 (or B1) | A 2021 survey: most ask roughly for this; others ask for HSK 4 |
| CV, first filter | HSK 4 | Common reference, not a rule |
| Working in Chinese | HSK 5 | Common reference, not a rule |
| Travel or daily life | HSK 2 or 3 | Depends more on your ear than on the certificate |
The scholarship figures come from embassy notices for the Chinese government program (for example the Embassy in Indonesia's 2024/2025 notice and Pakistan's HEC requirements). They were written for HSK 2.0, and minimum scores may change with HSK 3.0, so always confirm with the university and the embassy. For jobs and CVs, the levels we give are common references among employers, not rules: no official standard we found sets them.
How to set your target
- Ask first which exam, which level and which score the specific institution requires. That overrides any table.
- Count the vocabulary. Each level asks for more words: from HSK 1 to HSK 4 it is 2,000 cumulative. See how many characters you need in how many Chinese characters you need.
- Count the time. It depends on how much you study; find estimates in how long it takes to learn Chinese.
- Start from the beginning. Begin with the 300 words of level 1 and build up from there.
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Frequently asked questions
How many HSK levels are there?
The new HSK 3.0 has 9 levels in 3 stages: elementary (1 to 3), intermediate (4 to 6) and advanced (7 to 9). Levels 1 to 6 have their own exams, and levels 7, 8 and 9 share a single one.
Is HSK 4 equal to B2?
It depends on whom you ask. Hanban (the organiser at the time) published in 2010 that HSK 4 equals B2. Germany's association of Chinese teachers (Fachverband Chinesisch) places it at A2 and rejects the official equivalence. Both tables are for HSK 2.0; there is no official table for HSK 3.0.
What HSK level do Chinese government scholarships require?
The most common figures in embassy notices: HSK 3 for a Chinese-taught bachelor's degree and HSK 4 for a Chinese-taught master's or doctorate. Some universities ask for more, so confirm with the university and the embassy.
What HSK level is good enough to work?
As a common reference: HSK 4 often works as a first filter on a CV, and HSK 5 for working in Chinese. These are not rules: each employer decides, and many value conversation over the certificate.
When does the new HSK 3.0 exam start?
It will be held worldwide from December 13, 2026, according to the notice reported by the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission. Earlier sessions use the previous format.
How long does it take to reach HSK 4?
It depends on how much you study. HSK 4 in the new syllabus means 2,000 cumulative words; for a time estimate, read our guide on how long it takes to learn Chinese.
Maca Laoshi, born in Beijing, has taught Mandarin Chinese for more than 22 years and has had over 1,500 students. Together with her son Manu Shi, who has more than 93,000 subscribers on YouTube, she created Macalaoshi, an app that challenges you to push yourself one character at a time. Few Chinese teachers can show both: their own app and a channel like that.
Sources
- CLEC (China): new HSK syllabus, November 2025; 9 levels in 3 stages and cumulative vocabulary per level.
- Shanghai Municipal Education Commission: the new HSK will be held worldwide from December 13, 2026.
- HSK: Hanban's 2010 equivalence (HSK 1 = A1 ... HSK 6 = C2) and the German association of Chinese teachers' alternative.
- Fachverband Chinesisch: 2010 statement rejecting the official equivalence; HSK 3 = A1, HSK 4 = A2, HSK 5 = B1, HSK 6 = B2, for receptive skills only (listening and reading).
- Embassy of China in Indonesia (2024/2025 Chinese Government Scholarship notice): HSK 3 for bachelor's and HSK 4 for master's and doctorate in Chinese-taught programs.
- HEC Pakistan: CGSP scholarship requirements, HSK 4 for Chinese-taught master's and doctorate.
- CHUN 36/2021: survey of German universities; most ask roughly for HSK 5 or B1 at entry to Chinese studies.
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