HSK 1: test structure, pass mark and word count

HSK (Level 1) is for beginners in Chinese who have learned basic listening and reading skills. The test has 40 questions split into listening and reading and takes about 40 minutes, including 5 minutes to fill in personal information. The report gives listening, reading and total scores; 200 is the full score and 120 or above is the pass mark, and the level page names a vocabulary of 150 words.

Test structure, time and start time

The HSK (Level 1) page says the test has a total of 40 questions, divided into listening and reading sections. It primarily evaluates listening and reading skills. The entire exam takes about 40 minutes, including 5 minutes for candidates to fill in personal information. The test start time, in all local times, is 13:30.

Scores, pass mark and validity

The HSK (Level 1) score report provides three scores: listening, reading, and total score.

| Item | Value | | Full score | 200 points | | Pass mark | 120 or above (cumulative score) | | Validity | Two years, starting from the exam date |

Vocabulary on the level page

The HSK (Level 1) page says the level primarily evaluates listening and reading skills, covering related topics, tasks, grammar, and a fundamental vocabulary of 150 Chinese words.

HSK 3.0 syllabus: level 1 counts

The HSK 考试大纲 (Syllabus for the Chinese Proficiency Test) is a separate document from the HSK (Level 1) page. Its cover shows it was issued in November 2025 and came into force in July 2026. The counts below were made by this site from the serial numbers in the syllabus's numbered lists; they are not totals printed by the syllabus and are kept separate from the level page's 150-word figure.

For level 1:

• Vocabulary: 300 words, counted from serial numbers 1–300.
• 认读字 (recognition characters): 246 characters, counted from the list numbered 1–246.
• 书写字 (writing characters): a single joint list for levels 1–2 with 100 characters.

The two documents are different; this article does not state which one applies to a given test date.

Questions people ask

How long are HSK 1 scores valid?

The HSK (Level 1) score report says scores are valid for two years starting from the exam date.

What time does the HSK 1 test start?

The HSK (Level 1) page gives the test start time as 13:30, all local times.

Sources

• HSK (Level 1) — Chinese Testing International (CTI), Chinese Tests Service Website chinesetest.cn
• HSK 考试大纲 / Syllabus for the Chinese Proficiency Test (PDF) — Center for Language Education and Cooperation (中外语言交流合作中心)

Checked 11 October 2026

This page is an unofficial summary; it is not published by Chinese Testing International, the Center for Language Education and Cooperation or the Ministry of Education, and the official page prevails if they differ.