Chinese Proeficiency Test

HSK - Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (汉语水平考试 ）

The Chinese Proficiency Test, also known as HSK or Chinese TOFEL, is the national standardized test designed and developed by the HSK Center of Beijing Language and Culture University to evaluate the Chinese proficiency of non-native Chinese speakers (including foreigners, overseas Chinese and people from Chinese national minorities).

HSK is divided into three categories:

•  Beginning level - HSK Basic (Level 1, 2, 3)
•  Elementary to intermediate level - Elementary (Level 3 - overlaps Basic Level 3, Level 4, 5); Intermediate (Level 6, 7, 8)
•  Advanced level - HSK Advanced (Level 9, 10, 11)

HSK is held regularly in China and in other countries each year and HSK certificates are issued to those who have successfully demonstrated mastery of HSK standards of Chinese proficiency.

All tests are designed by experts at HSK headquarters located in Beijing, China and all tests are scored at the HSK office in Beijing.

The final results will then be sent back to the PCC/HSK test centers, where they will be distributed to examinees within 90 days of the test date. After this period, score reports and certificates will be available for pick-up or mailed directly to examinees.

More Information about HSK Test

Official HSK Site:

• Beijing Language and Culture University
• China National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language

Suitable Candidates:

• HSK Basic is appropriate for those who have 100 - 800 hours of formal classroom or equivalent study in Chinese language.

• HSK Elementary - Intermediate is suitable for individuals who have 400 - 2000 hours of classroom or equivalent study in Chinese language.

• HSK Advanced is best suited to individuals with over 3000 hours of classroom or equivalent study in Chinese language.

Benefit of HSK Certificate.

HSK certificate will help you in the following aspects:

• To certify that you have obtained the required Chinese proficiency to be eligible to enter a college or university in China as an undergraduate or graduate student.

• To seek for HSK scholarships provided by the Ministry of Education of China and the NOCFL; Examinees granted scholarships will be invited to China for an academic program in the following year with all major academic and boarding fees covered.

• To certify that you have obtained the required Chinese proficiency, you may be exempted from taking certain Chinese language courses in your institution in China or your own country.

• To serve as a qualification when you apply for a job position that requires a certain level of Chinese competency.

How Many People Have Taken the HSK Test?

By the end of 2003, over 300,000 people from 120 countries and regions have taken the HSK test.

Suggested Requirements for HSK Test

Content and Duration of HSK Test

Registration Procedure

• Candidates should proceed to the nearest test center to register.

• Registrants must provide two recent photos without head wear and present a piece of photo identification such as a passport, driving license or residence permit.

• Payment must be made at the time of registration.

HSK Fees

• HSK fees vary from country to country outside China. Other fees may be charged by a testing site for services such as pre-test tutoring and mock tests. Contact your local test center for details.

• Test and registration fees will not be refunded under any circumstances.

Will HSK Certificate Expire?

The HSK certificate is valid permanently. However, if you plan to use your HSK scores to apply for admission to a college or university in China, your score is valid for two years.

HSK Exam Samples

HSK Test Centers:

More than 84 HSK centres have been setup in 33 countries including U.S.A, Canada, Japan, Singapore, Australia, Korea, Germany, France, Italy, Russia, Philippine, Malaysia, Thailand, England, Vietnam, U.K., New Zealand, Austria, Finland, Switzerland, Denmark, Belgium, Hungary, Burma, Indonesia, Mongolia, Spain.

• Some US Locations

  • The National Standardized Chinese Proficiency Test at Pasadena City College
    Languages Division
    Pasadena City College
    1570 E. Colorado Blvd., C247
    Pasadena, CA 91106
    Tel: (626) 585-3191; Fax: (626) 585-3197
    Email: HSK@pasadena.edu

  • Chinese Program Seattle University
    901 12th Avenue, P.O. Box 222000 Seattle, WA 98122-1090
    Tel: (206) 296-6000 Toll-free: (800) 426-7123

  • New York University
    715 Broadway, 3rd Floor
    

• Canada Locations


• Simon Fraser University
  Chinese Program-HSK, SFU Harbour Centre,
  Room 2600, 515 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 5K3
  Fax: (604) 291-5112.
• Kamloops, Canada's newest HSK testing centre
  University College of the Cariboo
  UCC International
  900 McGill Rd, Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada V2C 5N3
  Contact: Diana Ning, International Student Advisor
  Tel: (250) 828-5183
  Fax: (250) 828-5140
  E-mail: dning@cariboo.bc.ca

• Toronto, Ontario
  Bond International College
  5 Queenslea Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M9N 3X9
  Contact: Victor Lu.
  Tel: (416) 248-8191 ext. 289
  Fax: (416) 248-8980
  E-mail: education@bondcollege.com

• Edmonton, Alberta
  Department of East Asian Studies, University of Alberta
  400 Arts Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E6
  Dr. Laifong Leung.
  Tel: (780) 492-1589 or (780) 492-2836
  Fax: (780) 492-7440
  E-mail: leunglai@ualberta.ca
  
  
• London, Ontario
  Huron College, University of Western Ontario
  1349 Western Road, London, Ontario, Canada N6G 1H3
  Contact: Daniel Xu.
  Tel: (519) 438-7224 ext. 296 or (519) 474-0107
  Fax: (519) 438-3938
  E-mail: xv2@sscl.uwo.ca
  
  
• Montreal, Quebec
  McGill University - Dept. of East Asian Studies
  3434 McTavish Street, Montrea, PQ H3A 1X9
  Contact: Bill Wang
  Tel/Fax: (514) 398-6742 ext 6743
  Fax: (514) 398-1882

• Italy Location
• Hong Kong Location

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