How many levels does HSK have now?

Since the 2021 HSK 3.0 reform the exam has nine levels grouped into three bands: elementary (1-3), intermediate (4-6), and advanced (7-9). The older HSK 2.0 had only six levels, so a level number alone no longer tells you which standard is meant.

How many words does each HSK level require?

The cumulative vocabulary targets under HSK 3.0 are roughly 500 at level 1, 1,272 at level 2, 2,245 at level 3, 3,245 at level 4, 4,316 at level 5, 5,456 at level 6, and a combined 11,092 across the advanced 7-9 band. Each level builds on the words below it.

How does HSK map to CEFR?

There is no official one-to-one mapping, but a common guide aligns HSK 1-2 with CEFR A1, HSK 3 with A2, HSK 4 with B1, HSK 5 with B2, HSK 6 with C1, and HSK 7-9 with C1 to C2. Treat these as approximate because the exams test different skills.

Is vocabulary count enough to set my real level?

No. Vocabulary size is a strong predictor but the HSK exam also tests grammar, listening, reading, and from level 4 upward writing and speaking. This checker estimates a level from word count alone, so use it as a study guide rather than a substitute for a mock exam.

Which standard does this tool use?

It uses the 2021 HSK 3.0 nine-level vocabulary bands. If you trained on older HSK 2.0 word lists your level number will differ because the thresholds and structure changed substantially in the reform.

HSK Chinese Proficiency Level Checker

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The HSK, or Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi, is the standard Chinese proficiency exam, and since the 2021 reform it spans nine levels instead of six. Vocabulary size is the clearest single indicator of where a learner sits on this scale, so this checker turns a word count into an HSK level estimate.

How it works

The 2021 HSK 3.0 standard defines a cumulative vocabulary target for each level. The tool compares your estimated word count against these published thresholds and reports the highest level whose target you have met. The bands are 500 words for level 1, 1,272 for level 2, 2,245 for level 3, 3,245 for level 4, 4,316 for level 5, 5,456 for level 6, and 11,092 words across the advanced 7-to-9 band. Each level subsumes the words of the levels below it, so the count is always cumulative.

Alongside the level the tool shows an approximate CEFR alignment. CEFR is the European framework used by universities and employers, and although no official conversion exists, a widely used guide places HSK 4 near B1, HSK 5 near B2, and HSK 6 near C1.

Tips and notes

Be honest about what counts as a known word: recognition in reading is easier than recall in conversation, and the HSK tests both. Because the exam also measures grammar, listening, and from level 4 productive writing and speaking, a vocabulary-based estimate is a starting point, not a guaranteed pass mark. If your count sits just over a threshold, plan to consolidate before taking that level rather than reaching for the next one.