The HSK Scoring System

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The HSK Scoring System

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Scoring System of HSK Basic

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HSK (Basic) is a standardized test designed for beginners. It is most appropriate

for those who have acquired 400-3000 basic Chinese words (referring to level A
and B in the Outline of HSK Grammar).

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1. Function of the Certificate of HSK Basic:

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The Certificate of HSK Basic includes three levels, i. e. level A, B and C. (level A
is the highest, equivalent to level C of the Certificates will be awarded to those
who have secured the minimum required scores.
The certificate of HSK Basic serves:

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(1) As a requirement to enter a college or university in China as an undergraduate

student in the field of science, engineering, agriculture or Western medicine
(Level A only).
(2) To exempt students from taking certain language courses in China.
(3) As an exemption of language testing for hiring decisions for positions
requiring basic competence in Chinese.
2. HSK (Basic) scoring system:

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(1) A sub score of HSK Basic is a graduated score ranging from 0 to 100 with 50
as the mean and 20 as the standard deviation. The total score, which is the sum of
graduated scores for subs cores, is a graduated score ranging from 0 to 300. The
scale subscores show the relative position of a candidate in a standard HSK Basic
sample group. Table 1.1 gives the percentile of graduated subs cores. The second
row indicates the percentage occupied by those whose scores are lower than the
corresponding scores in the standard HSK Basic reference group.
Table 1.1

Subs core 100 76 67 60 55 50 45 40 33 24

Percentage 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10
Table 1.1 Percentile of subs cores of HSK Basic
Table 1.1 Percentile of subs cores of HSK Basic
Table 1.2

Types and Grade

Types

Basic
Level

Grade
Level

Score Range

Level 1

100-154

Level2

155-209

Level3

210-300

Grade

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Table 1.2 HSK Types and Grades of the Basic Certificate

(2)The type and grade of HSK Basic is based on the total score. Table 1.2 explains
the type and grade of the certificate.
(3) Requirements to obtain HSK Basic certificate
The candidate must secure the total minimum score required for the
corresponding level.
3. Description of the level scoring system of HSK Basic:
HSK Basic has three score level ranging from 1 to 3:
Level 1 Has basic competence (Low) in Chinese. Able to handle simple,
elementary needs in very familiar situations. Any person having mastery of 600
Chinese words and certain rules of grammar can reach this standard which is also
the standard for obtaining the certificate of HSK Basic Grade C.
Level 2 Has basic (Mid) in Chinese. Able to partially satisfy the requirements of
basic communicative exchanges. Level 2 is the standard for obtaining the
certificate of HSK Basic Grade B.
Level 3 Has basic competence (High) in Chinese. Level 3 is the minimum level in
Chinese proficiency for a candidate to be admitted to a college or university in
China as an undergraduate student in the field of science, engineering, agriculture,
or Western medicine as well as the standard for obtaining the certificate of HSK
Basic Grade A, which is equivalent to Grade C of HSK Elementary.
4. Components and test length of HSK(Basic):
HSK Basic is a 140-item, 135-minute test. HSK Basic is divided into three
subtests: Listening, sentence structure and reading. All item are multiple-choice.
During the time allowed for each section, examinees must work on that section
only and are not permitted to work beyond the time limit for the section.
Examinees are also not permitted to turn to a section that has not been announced
or go back to an earlier section. The test is taken in this order:

First SectionListening50 itemsapproximately 35 minutes

Second Section Sentence Structure 40 items 40 minutes
Third Section Reading50items 60 minutes

Scoring System of HSK Elementary-Intermediate

HSK Elementary-Intermediate is suitable for persons who have mastery of
2000-5000 Chinese words (referring to level A, B and C in the outline of HSK
Vocabulary) and certain rules of grammar (referring to lever A, B and C in the
outline of HSK Grammar).
1. Function of the Certificate of HSK Elementary-Intermediate:
(1) to be a requirement to enter a college or university in China as an
undergraduate student.
(2) to exempt the holder from taking certain language courses in China.
(3) as a basis for employers to evaluate job applicants' Chinese language
proficiency.
2HSK Elementary-Intermediate scoring system:
(1) Interpretation of the scores of HSK Elementary-Intermediate:
A sub score of HSK Elementary-Intermediate is a scale sore with 50 as the mean
and 15 as the standard deviation. The total score is a scale score with 200 as the
mean and 60 as the standard deviation. These scores show the relative position of
the candidate in a standard HSK sample group. In table 2.1, it indicates the

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relative position of a candidate in the whole group. The column on the right gives
the percentage of those whose scores are lower than the corresponding scores in
the standard HSK reference group. The total score is not equal to the sum of all
the subscores.
HSK score Percentage (Table 2.1)

HSK score

Percentage

Total score

Sub score

400

100

100

277

69

90

250

63

80

231

58

70

215

54

60

200

50

50

185

46

40

169

42

30

150

37

20

123

31

10

(2) Table 2.2 shows the subscores of HSK Elementary-Intermediate as well as the
types and grades of the certificate of HSK Elementary-Intermediate.
In table 2.2, HSK Elementary has a bottom line below level C, which is
established for the convenience of setting the standards for the HSK Elementary
certificate. Thus, the bottom line cannot be used for measuring a beginner's level.
The candidate cannot fain the certificate of HSK Elementary if any score falls
below the minimum elementary subs core requirements.
Table 2.2
Types and Grades

Grade
Level

Types
Grades
Elementary

Level

B
A

Intermediate

Level

B
A

Bottom
Line
Level
3
Level
4
Level
5
Level
6
Level
7
Level
8

Score Range

Listening

Grammar

Reading

Cloze

29-37

28-36

30-38

28-36

Score
Range
115-151

38-46

37-45

39-47

37-45

152-188

47-55

46-54

48-57

46-54

189-225

56-64

55-63

57-65

55-63

226-262

65-73

64-72

66-74

64-72

263-299

74-82

73-81

75-83

73-81

300-336

83-100

82-100

84-100

82-100

82-100

3Description of the level scoring system:

HSK has eleven score levels, amongst which levels 1-3 are the beginning level,
levels 3-5 are the elementary level, levels 6-8 are the intermediate level, and levels
9-11 are the advanced level. The following is the description of level 3-level 8.
Level 3 Has basic (low) competence in Chinese. A person reaching this level can
gain the certificate of HSK Elementary Grade C. Level 3 is the minimum level in
Chinese proficiency for a candidate to be admitted to a college or university in
China as an undergraduate student in the field of science, engineering, agriculture
or western medicine.
Level 4 Has basic (mid) competence in Chinese. Can gain the certificate of HSK
Elementary Grade B.

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Level 5 Has basic (high) competence in Chinese. Can gain the certificate of HSK
Elementary Grade A.
Level 6 is proficient in Chinese at the intermediate (low) level. Can gain the
certificate of HSK Intermediate Grade C. Level 6 is the minimum level required
by the Ministry of Education for a candidate to enter college or university in
China as an undergraduate student in the field of literature, history and traditional
Chinese medicine.
Level 7 is proficient in Chinese at the intermediate (mid) level. Can gain the
certificate of HSK Intermediate Grade B.
Level 8 is proficient in Chinese at the intermediate (high) level. Can gain the
certificate of HSK Intermediate Grade A.
4Requirements for obtaining the certificate of Elementary-Intermediate HSK:
(1)The candidate must secure the total scores required for the corresponding
grade.
(2)The candidate must secure three of the four required subscores for the
corresponding grade.
(3)Only one of the four subscores is allowed to be lower than the required
minimum grade, but not lower than the minimum scores of the next lower grade.
In such case, the candidate can only be awarded the certificate of a lower grade.
The above three requirements aim at encouraging the candidate to develop various
skills in Chinese uniformly. Thus, the irregular development of any particular
skill will affect level of the HSK certificate obtained by the candidate.
5. Components and test length of HSK Elementary-Intermediate:
HSK Elementary-Intermediate is a 170-item, 145 minutes test which is divided
into four subtests; listening, sentence structure, reading and cloze. Items from
1-154 are multiple-choice. Items 155-170 are a test of comprehension in which
blank spaces at regular intervals in a text must be filled in with appropriate
Chinese characters. During the time allowed for each section, examinees must
work on that section only and are not permitted to work beyond the time limit for
the section. Examinees are also not permitted to turn to a section that has not been
announced or turn to a previous section.
The test is taken in this order:
First Section
Listening
50 items
approximately 35 minutes
Second Section Sentence Structure 30 items
20 minutes
Third Section
Reading
50 items
60 minutes
Fourth Section Cloze
40 items
30 minutes

Scoring System of HSK Advanced

HSK Advanced applies to those who have mastery of 5000-8000 Chinese words
(referring to level A, B, C and D in the Outline of HSK Vocabulary) and the
corresponding rules of grammar (referring to level A, B, C and D in the Outline
of HSK Grammar).
1. Function of the Certificate of HSK Advanced:
(1) to be a requirement in Chinese proficiency for a candidate to enter a university
in China as a graduate student.
(2) to exempt the holder from taking certain Chinese courses.
(3) to certify the holder as being qualified to undertake ordinary work by using
Chinese as a communicative tool.
2. HSK Advanced scoring system:
(1) Interpretation of the scores of HSK Advanced:
A subscore of HSK Advanced is a scale score with 50 as the mean and 15 as the

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standard deviation. These scores show the relative position of the candidate in a
standard sample group. Table 3.1 helps to locate the relative position of a
candidate in the whole group. The second line indicates the percentage occupied
by those whose scores are lower than the corresponding scores in the standard
HSK reference group.
Table 3.1

subscore

100 69 63 58 54 50 46 42 37 31

percentage

100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10

Table 3.1 Percentile of subscores of HSK Advanced

(2) Table 3.2 shows the types and grades of the certificate of HSK Advanced
Types and Grades Scores Level Score Range
Table 3.2
Types and
Grades
Types

Scores Score Range

Level

Grades

Advanced
Level

Listening Reading Cloze

Composition Oral

Total
score

Bottom
Line

46-57

42-53

42-53

46-57

44-55 220-279

58-69

54-65

54-65

58-69

56-67 280-339

10

70-81

66-77

66-77

70-81

68-79 340-399

11

82-100

78-100 78-100

82-100

80-100 400-500

Table 3.2 Types and grades of the certificate of HSK Advanced

In table 3.2, HSK Advanced has a bottom line, which is established for the
convenience of setting the standards for the certificate of HSK Advanced. Thus,
the bottom Line is only relevant for ranking levels in HSK elementary and
intermediate when the score of a candidate reaches the bottom line.
In table 3.2, HSK Advanced has a bottom line, which is established for the
convenience of setting the standards for the certificate of HSK Advanced. Thus,
the bottom Line is only relevant for ranking HSK Advanced levels. It cannot be
used for ranking levels in HSK elementary and intermediate when the score of a
candidate reaches the bottom line.
3. Description of the level scoring system for HSK Advanced:
HSK has eleven score levels, among which levels 9-11 are the advanced level.
Level 9 is proficient in Chinese at the advanced (low) level. Level 9 is the
standard to obtain the certificate of HSK Advanced Grade C. This is also the
requirement for a candidate to use Chinese as a communicative tool in ordinary
work.
Level 10 is proficient in Chinese at the advanced (mid) level. Level 10 is the
standard to obtain the certificate of HSK Advanced Grade B. This is also the
requirement for a candidate to use Chinese as a communicative tool in ordinary
work.
Level 11 is proficient in Chinese at the advanced (high) level. Examinees reaching
level 11 can be regarded as qualified as an intermediate-level translator. Level 11
is the standard to obtain the certificate of HSK Advanced Grade A.
4. Requirement for obtaining the certificate of HSK Advanced:
(1) The candidate must secure the total score required for the corresponding grade
of the certificate.
(2) In the five subtests, the candidate must secure three of the four subscores for
listening, reading, composition and oral tests required for the corresponding
grade.

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(3) Two of the five subscores may be lower than the required minimum, (for the
four subtests of listening, reading, composition and oral, only one subscore may
be lower than the required minimum for the corresponding grade), but not lower
than the required minimum scores for the next lower grade. In such case, the
candidate can only be awarded a certificate of a lower grade.
(4) None of the five subscores are allowed to be lower than the bottom line under
Grade C.
5. Components and test length of HSK Advanced:
The total test length is 2 hours and 35minutes.
HSK Advanced consists of three separately-timed subtests: 120-item written test
(objective), composition and oral test. The 120-item test is organized into three
subtests: listening, reading and cloze. A variety of objective question types will be
used including multiple-choice, matching, gap-filling and writing Chinese
characters. The oral test takes the form of an interview. During the time allowed
for each section, examinees must work on that section only, and are nor permitted
to work beyond the time limit for the section. Examinees are also not permitted to
turn to a section that has not been announced or go back to a previous section.
The test is taken in this order and timed as follows:
(1) Written test (objective) 120 items 105 minutes
(a) Listening
40 items approximately 25 minutes
(b) Reading
first section
15 items 15 minutes
second section
25 items 25 minutes
(c) Cloze
40 items 40 minutes
After the 120-item written test, there is a 10 minute test break. Then a
composition and oral test follow.
(2) Composition
30 minutes
(3) Oral test
20 minutes
first stage preparation
10 minutes
second stage talk (recorded) 10 minutes
(China.org.cn August 30, 2004)

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