The HSK Chinese Proficiency Test Explained

Chinese Language Exams

From 2023 CIE (Cambridge Assessment) will end its Pre-U Mandarin exam, a qualification that has been popular among non-native speaker students.  In addition, the Chinese A level currently only offered by Pearson Edexcel, has become increasingly more difficult since its reform in 2018, and as a result most schools only recommend A level to their Chinese native speaker students. 

So is there another feasible post-Chinese GCSE route for our brilliant linguistic students who are not native speakers? Well, you may already see a trend in schools to announce the HSK syllabus in their Sixth Form curriculum. Therefore, since I have been teaching a post-GCSE HSK course since 2018, this article will give you an introduction to the HSK qualification.

What is the HSK Chinese Proficiency Test?

HSK, which is the abbreviation of its Chinese name Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi, is a certified international standardised Chinese proficiency test, equivalent to the English IELTS or TOEFL test. In the UK, currently there are 19 HSK test centres. Since the pandemic, most centres offer both online and paper-based HSK tests. 

HSK tests are for non-native Chinese speakers including foreigners, overseas Chinese and Chinese minority candidates. UK GCSE would match the HSK level 2-3, and therefore Sixth Form pupils who have done GCSE should continue to HSK level 3 and 4 depending on the teaching hours (typically 2 hours a week for 3 terms with pre-requisite knowledge).

What does the HSK look like?

From 2024 a new HSK test will have three “stages” (Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced). Each stage will be divided into 3 different levels, making for a total of 9 levels. For comparison, the current HSK has 6 levels.

What are the benefits of having a HSK certificate?

There are a number of benefits to HSK:

• HSK is a written test composed of listening, reading and writing questions. Oral skills will be tested and certified separately. In this way, it allows for a more accurate evaluation of a student’s overall language proficiency to ensure that students are not penalised for weaknesses, in speaking for example
• HSK tests take place several times a year, which provides flexibility and pupils can take the test when they feel ready
• The HSK certificate is a valuable credential to enhance employment opportunities.
• The HSK certificate can open doors to academic scholarships and studying at top Chinese universities
• Although in the UK the HSK certificate does not count toward UCAS points, pupils find it is helpful in their university application, for example supporting personal statements and interviews