If you have looked at more than one HSK word list, you have probably noticed they don't agree. One says HSK 1 is 150 words, another says 500. That's because there are two versions of the HSK syllabus in use: the six-level HSK 2.0 and the nine-level HSK 3.0. This guide explains the difference and how to pick the right one.
The short version
| HSK 2.0 | HSK 3.0 | |
|---|---|---|
| Levels | 6 | 9, in three bands |
| Words | 5,000 | 11,092 |
| Characters | no official list | 3,000 |
| Syllables | not specified | 1,110 |
| Grammar points | not specified | 572 |
HSK 3.0 is the current standard. HSK 2.0 is older, but many textbooks, courses and apps are still built around its levels.
HSK 2.0: six levels, defined by words
HSK 2.0 has run since 2010. Each level is defined by a cumulative word list: 150 words for level 1, then 300, 600, 1,200, 2,500 and 5,000 for level 6.
There is no official character list. The characters you need at each level are simply the ones its words use. That's how the HSK 2.0 character decks on this site are built: each character belongs to the first level whose words contain it, which works out to roughly 180 characters at level 1 and about 2,600 by level 6.
HSK 3.0: nine levels, three bands
HSK 3.0 comes from the Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (国际中文教育中文水平等级标准), published in 2021. It defines four things at every level: syllables, characters, words and grammar. The nine levels are grouped into three bands:
- Elementary (初等): levels 1–3
- Intermediate (中等): levels 4–6
- Advanced (高等): levels 7–9, which share one list and one exam
The character list grows by 300 at each of the first six levels, then by 1,200 for the advanced band:
| Level | New characters | Total characters | Total words |
|---|---|---|---|
| HSK 1 | 300 | 300 | 500 |
| HSK 2 | 300 | 600 | 1,272 |
| HSK 3 | 300 | 900 | 2,245 |
| HSK 4 | 300 | 1,200 | 3,245 |
| HSK 5 | 300 | 1,500 | 4,316 |
| HSK 6 | 300 | 1,800 | 5,456 |
| HSK 7–9 | 1,200 | 3,000 | 11,092 |
The standard also has a smaller list of characters you are expected to be able to write by hand, as opposed to recognise: 300 in the elementary band, 400 more in the intermediate band and 500 more in the advanced band.
What actually changed
Everything moves earlier. HSK 3.0 level 1 asks for 500 words, more than HSK 2.0 level 2. By HSK 3.0 level 4 (3,245 words) you are already past the old level 5 (2,500). If you passed an HSK 2.0 level, expect the HSK 3.0 level with the same number to be harder.
Characters are first-class. Under HSK 2.0 you could pass the lower levels while barely reading characters, because the papers for levels 1 and 2 print pinyin alongside them. HSK 3.0 makes characters an explicit part of every level and lists them officially.
The top is much higher. The old HSK 6 ends at 5,000 words, close to where the new HSK 6 sits (5,456). The advanced band then more than doubles that, into academic, professional and literary Chinese.
Which list should you study?
- Booking an exam? Check with your test centre which version you'll sit, and study that list. The exam has been moving to the new standard in stages, so this varies by level and by country.
- Following a textbook? Many popular courses are organised around HSK 2.0 levels. Use the HSK 2.0 decks so your flashcards line up with your lessons.
- Neither? Use HSK 3.0. Its official character list is a well-chosen order for learning the 3,000 most useful characters, whether or not you ever take the test.
The good news is that the two lists overlap heavily, especially at the start. Nothing you learn from one is wasted on the other.
Studying with Xuehao
Every deck on this site comes in both versions. Use the Standard switch in the character flashcards or vocabulary flashcards to move between them, and the level buttons to pick where to start. Each level also has a full word list, a stroke order chart and printable practice sheets.