HSK made the news again! This time, it’s not about the revised word lists (for the moment, the exams are still using the old word lists). It’s about the change in exam structure.

Starting from next year, all overseas HSK 3 to HSK 6 Written test takers should also prepare for the Spoken Test.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This change will only affect overseas HSK testing sites. Testing sites in China will not be affected.

Merging Written and Written HSK: In Short

The written and spoken part will come as a combo package 🍔🍟

HSK 3 + 初级 | Beginner Spoken Test

HSK 4 + 中级 | Intermediate Spoken Test

HSK 5 + 高级 | Advanced Spoken Test

HSK 6 + 高级 | Advanced Spoken Test

Merging Written and Written HSK: In Detail

Here’s the official notice from CTI (汉考国际):

If after seeing that letter you thought ‘subtitles please’, here’s a line-by-line breakdown:

关于HSK笔试与口试合并组织实施的通知

Guānyú HSK bǐshì yǔ kǒushì hébìng zǔzhī shíshī de tōngzhī

Notice on Merging the HSK Written and Speaking Tests

各汉语考试考点：

Gè Hànyǔ kǎoshì kǎodiǎn:

To all Chinese test sites:

为推动汉语考试发展，落实《国际中文教育中文水平等级标准》要求，促进地球国际中文教育高质量发展，经研究决定，将汉语水平考试（HSK）笔试与口试合并组织实施。具体安排如下：

Wèi tuīdòng Hànyǔ kǎoshì fāzhǎn, luòshí “guójì

Zhōngwén jiàoyù Zhōngwén shuǐpíng děngjí biāozhǔn” yāoqiú, cùjìn dìqiú guójì Zhōngwén jiàoyù gāo zhìliàng fāzhǎn, jīng yánjiū juédìng, jiāng Hànyǔ Shuǐpíng Kǎoshì (HSK) bǐshì yǔ kǒushì hébìng zǔzhī shíshī. Jùtǐ ānpái rúxià:

In order to promote the development of Chinese language exam, carry out the requirements of the “Chinese Language Level Standards of International Chinese Education” and promote the high-quality development of international Chinese language education worldwide, we’ve decided to combine the Written and Spoken parts of the Chinese Proficiency Test (HSK). The specific arrangements are as follows:

2022年1月起，HSK5、6级考生须参加口试高级；

Èr líng èr èr nián yī yuè qǐ, HSK5,6 jí kǎoshēng xū cānjiā kǒushì gāojí;

Starting from January 2022, HSK5 and HSK6 candidates must take the Advanced level Speaking test;

2022年3月起，HSK4级考生须参加口试中级，HSK3级考生须参加口试初级。

Èr líng èr èr nián sān yuè qǐ, HSK4 jí kǎoshēng xū cānjiā kǒushì zhōngjí, HSK3 jí kǎoshēng xū cānjiā kǒushì chūjí.

Starting from March 2022, HSK4 candidates must take the Intermediate level Speaking test, and HSK3 candidates must take the Beginner level Speaking test.

HSK笔试与口试成绩报告合并发放。

HSK bǐshì yǔ kǒushì chéngjī bàogào hébìng fāfàng.

HSK Written and Speaking test result reports will be issued together.

特此通知。

Tècǐ tōngzhī.

(All parties) have hereby been informed.

感谢对汉考工作的大力支持！

Gǎnxiè duì Hànkǎo gōngzuò de dàlì zhīchí!

Thank you for your strong support of our (CTI) work!

汉考国际

Hàn kǎo guójì

CTI | Chinese Testing International Co.

2021年12月3日

Èr líng èr yī nián shí’èr yuè sān rì

December 3, 2021

Further Reading

For more news about the new HSK, make sure to check these articles:

To learn more about each new HSK level and download free PDF word lists, read these posts: