How many levels does HSK have now?

Since the 2021 HSK 3.0 reform the exam has nine levels grouped into three bands: elementary (1-3), intermediate (4-6), and advanced (7-9). The older HSK 2.0 had only six levels, so a level number alone no longer tells you which standard is meant.

How many words does each HSK level require?

The cumulative vocabulary targets under HSK 3.0 are roughly 500 at level 1, 1,272 at level 2, 2,245 at level 3, 3,245 at level 4, 4,316 at level 5, 5,456 at level 6, and a combined 11,092 across the advanced 7-9 band. Each level builds on the words below it.

How does HSK map to CEFR?

There is no official one-to-one mapping, but a common guide aligns HSK 1-2 with CEFR A1, HSK 3 with A2, HSK 4 with B1, HSK 5 with B2, HSK 6 with C1, and HSK 7-9 with C1 to C2. Treat these as approximate because the exams test different skills.

Is vocabulary count enough to set my real level?

No. Vocabulary size is a strong predictor but the HSK exam also tests grammar, listening, reading, and from level 4 upward writing and speaking. This checker estimates a level from word count alone, so use it as a study guide rather than a substitute for a mock exam.

Which standard does this tool use?

It uses the 2021 HSK 3.0 nine-level vocabulary bands. If you trained on older HSK 2.0 word lists your level number will differ because the thresholds and structure changed substantially in the reform.

What is the HSK Chinese Proficiency Level Checker?

Enter your estimated Chinese vocabulary count to find your corresponding HSK level (1-9 under the 2021 standard, covering 500 to 11,092 words) and CEFR alignment. Runs in your browser. It runs free in your browser on Gera Tools, with nothing uploaded.

HSK Chinese Proficiency Level Checker

Name: HSK Chinese Proficiency Level Checker
Creator: Gera Tools
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The HSK, or Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi, is the standard Chinese proficiency exam, and since the 2021 reform it spans nine levels instead of six. Vocabulary size is the clearest single indicator of where a learner sits on this scale, so this checker turns a word count into an HSK level estimate.

How it works

The 2021 HSK 3.0 standard defines a cumulative vocabulary target for each level. The tool compares your estimated word count against these published thresholds and reports the highest level whose target you have met. The bands are 500 words for level 1, 1,272 for level 2, 2,245 for level 3, 3,245 for level 4, 4,316 for level 5, 5,456 for level 6, and 11,092 words across the advanced 7-to-9 band. Each level subsumes the words of the levels below it, so the count is always cumulative.

Alongside the level the tool shows an approximate CEFR alignment. CEFR is the European framework used by universities and employers, and although no official conversion exists, a widely used guide places HSK 4 near B1, HSK 5 near B2, and HSK 6 near C1.

The HSK 3.0 level structure in full

HSK Level	Cumulative vocabulary	Band	Approx. CEFR
HSK 1	500	Elementary	A1
HSK 2	1,272	Elementary	A1–A2
HSK 3	2,245	Elementary	A2
HSK 4	3,245	Intermediate	B1
HSK 5	4,316	Intermediate	B2
HSK 6	5,456	Intermediate	C1
HSK 7–9	11,092	Advanced	C1–C2

Note that HSK 7, 8, and 9 are not separate sub-exams with separate word lists — they form a single advanced band. The 11,092 figure is the combined target for all advanced learners; individual test difficulty within the band varies by the specific exam taken.

HSK 3.0 vs. HSK 2.0 — what changed

The 2021 reform substantially revised both the level structure and the vocabulary lists. Key changes:

Level count: from 6 to 9 levels, creating more granularity at both elementary and advanced ends
Vocabulary: the word lists were updated and reorganized; a word that appeared at HSK 3 under the old system may be at HSK 4 or 5 under the new one, and vice versa
Skills tested: higher levels now formally test productive skills (speaking and writing) more rigorously
Character count: HSK 3.0 also specifies character requirements separate from vocabulary (words); a character can appear in multiple vocabulary items, so the character count is always lower than the vocabulary count

If you used old HSK 2.0 word lists for your vocabulary study, your functional vocabulary in 3.0 terms may differ because the mapped levels do not correspond one-to-one.

What vocabulary count does and does not predict

Vocabulary size is a strong proxy for overall proficiency because it correlates with reading comprehension, listening scope, and the ability to express ideas. However, the HSK exam also tests:

Grammar and sentence structure: knowing 3,000 words but not the grammar patterns to combine them will not produce HSK 4 results
Listening comprehension: native-speed audio at natural pace is harder than the vocabulary count alone suggests
Handwriting (advanced levels): HSK 7–9 includes character writing by hand, which is a separate skill from recognition

Treat the vocabulary-to-level mapping as a study guide for where to focus, not a substitute for timed practice exams. If your estimated count places you solidly within a level, mock exams under real timing conditions are the best next test of readiness.

Tips and notes

Be honest about what counts as a known word: recognition in reading is easier than recall in conversation, and the HSK tests both. Because the exam also measures grammar, listening, and from level 4 productive writing and speaking, a vocabulary-based estimate is a starting point, not a guaranteed pass mark. If your count sits just over a threshold, plan to consolidate before taking that level rather than reaching for the next one.