2009 HSK Test Timetable in China

2009 HSK (Chinese Proficiency Test) Exam Arrangement in China
HSK [Basic]: 2 times; HSK [Elementary/Medium]: 4 times; HSK [Advanced]: 2 times
(The exam rooms for HSK [Elementary/Medium] this year will be arranged at the rooms for the HSK [Advanced] before.)

Frequently Asked Question about HSK

  Q: What is HSK ?

A:  Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) or the Chinese Proficiency Test is a standard examination for evaluating the proficiency of one’s modern Chinese language. HSK is designed specially for those people–including foreigners, overseas Chinese and students from ethnic Chinese whose first language is not Chinese.

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  Q: Who Designs HSK Tests ?

A:  All HSK tests are designed by the HSK Center at Beijing Language and Culture University located in Beijing, China. The Center’s entire work, from making tests to issuing certificates, is supervised by the National Commission of Chinese Proficiency Test under the Ministry of Education of China.

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  Q: How Long Has HSK Been in Existence?

A:  HSK was first offered in 1990. Since then, many test centers have been established in China and in nearly twenty foreign countries, and HSK has been held regularly in each test center every year.

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  Q: Is HSK in Simplified or Origional Chinese?

A: Both simplified and origional Chinese version of HSK tests are available to test takers. Please specify your perference when filling out your registration form.

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  Q: Who Issues HSK Certificates?

A:  All HSK certificates are issued by the National Commission of Chinese Proficiency Test, which is under the Ministry of Education of China.

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  Q: How Useful Are HSK Certificates?

A:  Your HSK certificate(s) can serve the following purposes:

1) To certify that you have obtained the required Chinese proficiency to enter a college or university in China as an undergraduate or graduate student;

2) To certify that you have obtained the required Chinese proficiency and thus, you may be exempted from taking certain Chinese language courses in your institution (if your institution agrees to grant you the permission). At UBC, HSK scores can be used to waive foreign language requirements. A minimum passing score, which is irrelevant to HSK certification, is to be set by the Department of Asian Studies to satisfy this specific local demand.

3) According to the regulations set forth by British Columbia Ministry of Education, External Language Assessment credits can be granted upon obtaining certain HSK score / certification. For detailed information, please visit: http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/graduation/courseinfo/cid.pdf (Page 92-97).

4)  To serve as reference when you apply for a job position that requires a certain level of Chinese competency.

5) To win scholarships to study in China .

6) To test your Chinese proficiency if you are learning the language.

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  Q: Will My HSK Certificate Expire?

A:  Your HSK certificate is like a “diploma”: once you receive it, it becomes your property and it is  valid permanently. However, if you wish to use your HSK scores to apply for admission to a college or university in China, your scores are good for two years only (from the date you take the test).

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  Q: How Many Categories and Levels Are There?

A:  HSK is divided into three categories: Basic; Elementary-Intermediate; and Advanced.

There are altogether eleven score levels:

Basic includes Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3.

Elementary-Intermediate includes Elementary Level 3 (this level overlaps Basic Level 3), Level 4 and Level 5; Intermediate Level 6, Level 7 and Level 8.

Advanced includes Level 9, Level 10 and Level 11.

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  Q: Which Level Do I Need to Achieve?

A:  If you intend to study in a college or university in China, and you plan to apply for an undergraduate program in arts (e.g. Chinese literature, history, philosophy and traditional medicine), an ” Intermediate Level C ” certificate (representing Language Level 6) is required. If you wish to apply for an undergraduate program in other majors, an ” Elementary Level C ” or ” Basic Level A ” certificate (representing Language Level 3) is a must. You should hold an ” Advanced Level C ” certificate (representing Language Level 9) if you plan to apply for a graduate program. Without proper HSK certificate, you will have to take Chinese language courses at the relevant institutions in China before you are allowed to be enrolled in an academic program.

If you wish to use your HSK scores as evidence to be exempted from taking Chinese language courses in the United States, you should contact the specific institution about the possibility of doing so.

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  Q: What Is the HSK Scholarship?

The Chinese HSK Authorities have established the HSK Winner Scholarship to financially aid outstanding test-takers to study Chinese language, culture, history and philosophy at a Chinese university. Scholarship recipients enjoy free tuition, free accommodation and free textbooks. They will also receive the same living allowance as Chinese graduate students on the Chinese Government Scholarship Program. However, international-traveling expenses remain responsibility of the award recipient. /p>

Qualifications of an HSK Winner Scholarship applicant are as follows:

      a) non-Chinese citizen; b) native language not being Chinese; c) age below 45,d) having earned HSK certificate.

Every year, Hanban will grant each test center a certain number of HSK Winner Scholarship based on the number of test takers and their achievement. Test takers that qualify for the Scholarship will need to apply for it following procedures and regulations set out by Hanban.

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  Q: How Many Sections Are There in HSK Tests?

A:  HSK Basic is composed of three sections: listening comprehension; sentence structure; and reading comprehension. HSK Elementary-Intermediate is composed of four sections: listening comprehension; sentence structure; reading comprehension and filling in blanks. HSK Advance has three sections: written examination (including listening comprehension; reading comprehension; and filling in blanks); composition; and oral examination.

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  Q: How Long does a HSK Test Last?

A:  HSK Basic lasts altogether 135 minutes. Elementary-Intermediate lasts 145 minutes, and Advanced is 155 minutes.

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  Q: How Many Items/Questions Are There in HSK Tests?

A:  HSK Basic has altogether 140 individual items or questions; Elementary-Intermediate has 170; and Advanced has 240 (not including composition and oral test).

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  Q: What Is the Format of a HSK Test?

A:  The format of HSK Basic and Elementary-Intermediate is multiple-choice, similar to that of SAT (verbal), TOEFL or GRE.

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  Q: What Is HSK Scoring System?

A: 1) The scoring system for HSK Basic is as follows:

a sub score of HSK Basic is a scale score ranging from “0″ to “100″ with 50 as the mean and 20 as the standard deviation. The total score, which is the sum of scale scores for sub scores, is a scale score ranging from “0″ to “300.” The scale sub scores show the relative position of an examinee in a standard HSK Basic sample group. The type and grade of HSK Basic is based on the total score.

2) The scoring system for Elementary-Intermediate as well as Advanced are as follows:

a sub score of Elementary-Intermediate and Advanced is a scale with 50 as the mean and 15 as the standard deviation. The total score is a scaled score with 200 as the mean score and 60 as the standard deviation.

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  Q: Where Can I Take HSK?

A:  You don’t need to go to China or elsewhere to take HSK! From now on, you can take it right here at BCIT HSK Center in Vancouver.

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  Q: Who Will Administer HSK Test at the Confucius Institute at BCIT?

A: The Confucius Institute at BCIT , authorized by HANBAN(the Office of Chinese Language Council International) will administer the test together with HSK staff from Beijing . All the examinations will be delivered directly from Beijing before the tests are offered.

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  Q: When Will HSK Tests Be Offered at BCIT?

A: From 2008, HSK will be offered at BCIT HSK Center in May and October every year. You will be informed of the exact scheduled date when you receive your application form.

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  Q: How Often Will HSK Be Offered at BCIT?

A:  From 2008, BCIT HSK Center plans to administer HSK twice a year . Those who are interested in knowing the schedule may visit our web page for updated information.

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  Q: Which Category’s Test Will Be Offered at BCIT?

A: HSK Basic, Elementary-Intermediate and Advanced are all available at BCIT HSK Center.

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  Q: Who Will Grade My Test?

A:  After the test, your answer sheets will be sealed and taken back to Beijing immediately to be graded by the HSK Headquarters. BCIT HSK Center will not be responsible for grading any examinations.

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  Q: How Soon Can I Know My Scores?

A:  Usually, your results will be mailed out within 60 days after the date of the test.

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  Q: How Can I Get My Score Report and Certificate ?

A: Once you achieve the required minimum score for a certain level, the National Commission of Chinese Proficiency Test will issue you an official HSK Certificate, describing in detail what kind of test you have taken and which level you have achieved. However, your score report and certificate will be mailed to BCIT HSK Center rather than directly to yourself. Thus, as soon as we receive them from Beijing , we will make an announcement at BCIT HSK Center web page, and tell you our office hours. You can pick up your score report and certificate at BCIT HSK Center during our office hours.

We recommend that you pick up your in person. However, you can pay a fee of $12 (domestic registered mail) or $20 (international registered mail), so we can mail your score report and test result to you as soon as receive them. Fwe receive them. For your benefit, we won’t give your score report and certificate to a third party unless you authorize us to do so. Your HSK test certificates will be kept in BCIT Chinese Language Test Center for 60 days after the first scheduled pick up date. You are required to contact us to make arrangement in advance if you want us to keep your certificates beyond the 60 day period.

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  Q: Can I Re-Take a Same Category Test?

A:  Yes. In case you fail, you can take the same category test again. There is no waiting period, nor limit of how many times you are allowed to take the test. All you need to do is to apply again, and be better prepared next time.

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  Q: Am I Eligible to Apply for HSK Tests?

A: The application is open to all interested people, without discrimination of gender, age, race, or religion.

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  Q: Which Category’s Test Should I Apply to Take?

A: We recommend that you take into consideration two main factors: a) your purpose of taking the test (e.g. what kind of certificate you need); b) your current Chinese competence level.

•     The HSK (Basic) is appropriate for learners who have had 100 to 800 hours of formal education in modern Chinese, master 400 to 3,000 Chinese characters at the A and B levels of HSK Vocabulary , and understand corresponding Chinese grammar structures.

•     The HSK (Elementary-Intermediate) is appropriate for learners who have had 400 to 2,000 hours of formal education in modern Chinese, master 2,000 to 5,000 Chinese characters at the A, B, and C levels of HSK Vocabulary , and understand corresponding Chinese grammar structures.

•     The HSK (Advanced) is appropriate for learners who had 3,000 or more hours of formal education in modern Chinese, master 5,000 or more Chinese characters at A, B, C, and D levels of HSK Vocabulary , and understand corresponding Chinese grammar structures.

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  Q: When Should I Decide to Take Which Category’s Test?

A: You must decide by the time you fill out your registration form. Once you have made your choice, you can not change from one category to another afterwards. Your Chinese level in the category that you have applied will be decided by the total scores that you obtain in the test. You can view sample test or www.hanban.edu.cn to evaluate your level.

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  Q: How Much Is the Fee ?

A: HSK rates vary from country to country outside China. The BCIT HSK Site is non-profit. All fees, except for the part going to the Chinese HSK authorities, are for cost recovery.

      Testing    Test Score Delivery Fee (Choose one)

HSK BASIC    $30        $0 (Pick up score in person) or

$12 (Domestic Registered Mail) or

$20 (International Registered Mail)

HSK Ele.-Int.  $40       

HSK Advanced       $50       

- The registration fee is NOT refundable.

- The testing fee for registrations withdrawn before the Registration Deadline will be refunded in fall.

- The testing fee for registrations withdrawn after the Registration Deadline will NOT be refunded.

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  Q: How Can I Get a Registration Form?

A:  Please Click Here.

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  Q: What Do I Need to Register?

Please refer to Test Registration Section.

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  Q: How Can I Register?

Please refer to Test Registration Section.

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  Q: How Can I Prepare for HSK?

A: HSK is a general language examination, it is not based on any particular textbook or subject. Thus you may use any textbooks you prefer to prepare for the test.

BCIT HSK Center will organize preparation courses in future. Sample tests are available at www.hanban.edu.cn

Some private education agencies, however, offer courses helping you know more about the test. You may register these courses at your own cost.

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  Q: What Should I Bring When Taking HSK Test?

A: On the date of the test, all applicants should bring the Test Admission Card, a picture ID, 2B pencils and an eraser. When taking the test, you should have nothing on your desk except the Test Admission Card, Photo ID, test booklet, answer sheet, pencils and erasers. You are not allowed to use any tape-recorders, cameras, dictionaries, notebooks, textbooks or papers.

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  Q: What if I Am Late for the Test?

A: It is your responsibility to come to the testing room on time. If you are less than five minutes late (counted from the start of the Listening Comprehension section), you will be permitted to enter the testing room. If you are five to thirty-five minutes late, you may be allowed to enter the room when the Listening Comprehension section is finished, however, NO make-up will be granted to you for the part you have missed. If you are late for more than thirty-five minutes, you will be automatically lose the opportunity to take the test, with NO make-up test whatsoever.

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  Q: Who Should I Contact if I Have further Questions?

A: The easiest way is to visit our web page for any further and upcoming information. You may also email us at confucius_info@bcit.ca

The functions of HSK Certificates

（1）to certify that the holder has acquired the required Chinese Proficiency to enter a college or university as an undergraduate or graduate student.

（2）to certify that the holder can be exempt from taking the Chinese language course depending on the level of certification.

（3）as a basis for the employers to evaluate the Chinese proficiency of the job applicants.

The Issuing of HSK Certificates and Test Report Form

The HSK certificate and test report form will be mailed to the HSK test centers by the organizer within two months after the test. Candidates may obtain certificates and test report forms either by collecting them in person at the test center or by mail from the test center.

The retention period of the certificate and the test report form is 2 years. If the candidate does still not claim them after 2 years, the organizer will not keep them any longer.

Regulations on reissuing test report forms

Candidates may come to the HSK Center of BLCU and can require a reissue of the test report form for the purpose of employment or application for study in a university within the valid period of the test result. There are handling and cost charges for it.

Period of Validity for HSK Certificates

The HSK certificate has a permanent validity, whereas the accompanying test report will only be valid for two years (beginning from the date of the test session) as the certification for foreign students to enter a college or university in China.

HSK Registration Procedures

1, Candidates shall bring two recent 30 x 40 mm photos without headwear when registering and present a photo-bearing identification, such as a passport or residence permit.

2, Candidates have to pay the fees for the test and registration. In China, it is ￥200 RMB for HSK Basic (including ￥70 RMB for the registration fee); ￥250 RMB for HSK Elementary-Intermediate (including ￥70 RMB for the registration fee) and ￥400 RMB for HSK Advanced (including ￥70 RMB for the registration fee) (as to fees to be paid in other countries or by students of ethnic minorities, please contact local test centers). Fees for the test and registration are non-refundable. And postage is included in the fees. When a candidate cannot take the test in time due to some insurmountable reasons and notifies in advance the test center at which he registered before the test date, with the approval of the center (with the signature and stamp of the center), one test opportunity will be retained for the candidate and he or she will only pay the registration fee if he takes the next test in the future.

3, Candidates living where there are no local test centers may register by mail. Applications must be sent to the test center by registered mail at least one week before the final registration deadline and enclose a photocopy of an official piece of identification, a resume (including the Chinese and English names, sex, nationality, date of birth), a detailed mail address and two recent 30 x 40 photos without head wear. Meanwhile fees for the test and registration shall be remitted to the registration site by post. No telephone registration will be accepted. And the admission ticket will be given to the candidate in person upon his or her arrival at the testing site.

4, Candidates will be given the admission ticket and the HSK User Handbook. Candidates shall take the exam according to the time and place specified on the admission ticket.

The Advance Chinese Proficiency Test

HSK (Advanced)

I. Test Content

HSK (Advanced) comprises the following three independent tests: a 120-minute written test, a writing test and an oral test.

There are 3 sections in the 120-minute written subtest as specified below:

A ten-minute break after the end of the written test will be taken before the writing and oral tests.

The duration of the writing test is 30 minutes, when candidates are to finish a composition of 400 to 600 words.

The oral test will take 20 minute, of which 10 minutes is set for the preparation and the other ten for the interview. In the first 2 minutes of the interview candidates will read aloud a passage and then answer two given questions, each taking about 3 minutes.

II. HSK (Advanced) Scoring System

1. About the scores of HSK (Advanced)

A section score of HSK (Advanced) is a scale score with 50 as the score mean and 15 as the standard deviation. These scores show the relative position of the candidate in a standard sample group. The table below helps to locate the relative position of a candidate in the whole group. The second line Indicates the percentage occupied by those whose scores are lower than the corresponding scores in the standard HSK reference group.

2. HSK (Advanced) Certificate Grades and Score Levels

There is a bottom line established below Level 9 for HSK (Advanced) mainly out of the need to set a criterion for awarding certificates and not to assess the basic, elementary or intermediate proficiency levels. Therefore, scores in this range is of no reference to determining the basic, elementary or intermediate Chinese proficiency levels.

3. Interpretation of the score levels of HSK (Advanced)

There are 11 score levels in HSK, of which Level 3 to 5 signifying the basic, Level 6 to 8 the elementary and intermediate and Level 9 to 11 the advanced.

Level 9 The candidate has the advanced (low) Chinese language competence, which can be acquired after 3000 hours or more of regular modern Chinese language learning (or other Chinese learning experience equivalent to this). And this is the minimal standard to be qualified for the jobs requiring using Chinese for communication and the standard by which the HSK (Advanced) Certificate Grade C is awarded.

Level 10 The candidate has acquired the advanced (middle) Chinese language competence. This is the moderate standard to be qualified for the jobs requiring using Chinese as the communication language and the standard by which the HSK (Advanced) Certificate Grade B is obtained.

Level 11 The candidate has possessed the advanced (high) Chinese language competence. This is the higher standard to be qualified for the jobs requiring using Chinese for communication and to be viewed as being qualified for a translator at the intermediate level. And it is the standard as well by which the HSK (Advanced) Certificate Grade A is conferred.

III. Prerequisites to be awarded the HSK Certificate

1, The total score should be higher than the minimal level in the related grade.

2, Three of the four section scores, namely, listening, reading, writing and the oral test, shall exceed the minimal level in the related grade.

3, Two of the five section scores is allowed to be less than the minimal level in the related grade (only one of the section scores in listening, reading, writing and the oral test is allowed to be lower, however), but shall not be less by more than one level. If so, one can only get a certificate of the lower grade.

4, None of the section scores should be lower than the bottom line level under Grade C.

The Elementary and Intermediate Chinese Proficiency Test

HSK (Elementary-Intermediate)

I. Test Content

There are 4 sections in HSK (Elementary-Intermediate) as shown in the table below:

II. HSK (Elementary-Intermediate) Scoring System

1. About the scores of HSK (Elementary-Intermediate)

A section score of HSK (Elementary-Intermediate) is a scale score with 50 as the score mean and 15 as the standard deviation, while the total score is a scale score with 200 as the score mean and 60 the standard deviation. These scores show the relative position of the candidate in a standard sample group. The table below helps to locate the relative position of a candidate in the whole group. The right column indicates the percentage occupied by those whose scores are lower than the corresponding scores in the standard HSK reference group. Therefore, as it shows, the total score of HSK (Elementary-Intermediate) is not simply an add-up of the section scores.

2. Score ranges for each section of HSK (Elementary-Intermediate)

*There is a bottom line set below Level 3 for HSK (Elementary) purely out of the convenience to set a criterion for awarding certificates but not to assess the basic proficiency levels. Scores within this range are not eligible for HSK Certificate (Elementary).

3. HSK (Elementary-Intermediate) Certificate Grades and Score Levels

4. Interpretation of the HSK (Elementary-Intermediate) score levels

•  Level 3: The candidate has the elementary (low) competence in Chinese. A candidate at this level can gain HSK Elementary Certificate Grade C, which is prescribed by the Ministry of Education as the minimal level in Chinese proficiency for an international student to study in a Bachelor’s Degree programme in science, engineering, agriculture and western medicine in a Chinese college or university.

Level 4: The candidate has the elementary (middle) competence in Chinese and can gain the HSK Elementary Certificate Grade B

Level 5: The candidate has the elementary (high) competence in Chinese and can be granted the HSK Elementary Certificate Grade A.

•  Level 6: The candidate has acquired the intermediate (low) competence in Chinese and can get the HSK Intermediate Certificate Grade C.

Level 7: The candidate has the intermediate (high) Chinese language competence and is eligible for the HSK Intermediate Certificate Grade B.

Level 8: The candidate has acquired the intermediate (high) Chinese language competence and can be awarded the HSK Intermediate Certificate Grade A.

III. Prerequisites to be awarded the HSK Certificate

1, The total score should be higher than the minimal level in the related grade.

2, Three of the four section scores shall exceed the minimal level in the related grade.

3, One of the four section scores is allowed to be less than the minimal level in the related grade, but shall not be less by more than one level. If so, one can only get a certificate of the lower grade.

The above three preconditions are set in an effort to encourage the all round development in all aspects of language skills, and an imbalanced development in certain language skills will affect the candidate in getting an HSK certificate.