HSK Exam Guide HSK 2: test structure, pass mark and word count
HSK 2 is a Chinese test for learners at a beginner level that is a little more advanced. It checks basic listening and reading. The level page gives 60 questions, a full score of 200 and a passing mark of 120 on the total score. It lists the vocabulary as 300 Chinese words.
Test structure and score report
The level page says the test has 60 questions in two sections: listening and reading. It gives the exam time as about 55 minutes. That time includes 5 minutes for candidates to fill in personal information.
The page lists the test start time as 09:00, in all local times.
The score report gives three scores: Listening, Reading and Total. A full score is 200 points. A cumulative score of 120 or above is a passing mark. The page says HSK scores are valid for two years, counted from the day of the exam.
Two word counts
The level page gives one vocabulary figure: an expanded vocabulary of 300 Chinese words.
The HSK 3.0 syllabus is a separate document. It is published by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation (中外语言交流合作中心). Its cover says it was issued in November 2025 and is in force from July 2026. The syllabus is in Chinese. The figures below were counted by us from the serial numbers in its numbered lists. The syllabus does not print these totals.
| Item (HSK 3.0 syllabus, level 2) | Count by our count |
|---|---|
| New vocabulary (serial numbers 301–500) | 200 words |
| Cumulative vocabulary through level 2 | 500 words |
| Recognition characters (认读字), level 2 list | 125 characters |
| Writing characters (书写字), joint list for levels 1 and 2 | 100 characters |
The 300 words on the level page and the 200 new words in the syllabus are different counts from different documents. This article does not say which one applies to a given test date. For the test format, see the official level page.
Sources
- HSK (Level 2) page — 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.