HSK Exam Guide HSK 6 test format: 101 questions in about 140 minutes
HSK 6 has 101 questions in listening, reading and writing, and the exam takes about 140 minutes including 5 minutes to fill in personal information. The Level 6 page on chinesetest.cn lays out the sections and their times.
Sections and questions
The Level 6 page lists the test content by section, with the number of items and the minutes for each skill.
| Test content | Items | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Listening, Section 1 | 15 | |
| Listening, Section 2 | 15 | |
| Listening, Section 3 | 20 | |
| Listening total | 50 | about 35 |
| Filling in the answer sheet | 5 | |
| Reading, Section 1 | 10 | |
| Reading, Section 2 | 10 | |
| Reading, Section 3 | 10 | |
| Reading, Section 4 | 20 | |
| Reading total | 50 | 50 |
| Writing | 1 | 45 |
| Total | 101 | about 135 |
The summary sentence on the Level 6 page gives the whole exam time as about 140 minutes, including 5 minutes for candidates to fill in personal information. The Total row of the table gives about 135 minutes, which is the test time without those 5 minutes. Both figures are on the page.
Scores on the report
The HSK (Level 6) score report provides four scores: Listening, Reading, Writing and Total. Achieving a full score entails earning 300 points. The score sentence on the Level 6 page names no pass mark.
The HSK scores are valid for two years, starting from the exam date.
Start time
The Level 6 page prints the start time as 09:00, with all times given as local times.
Two rules that bear on the sections
The test regulations state two rules that affect the sections.
Cross-section answering is not allowed for the listening, reading and writing sections. For computer-based online exams, the rule reads: cross-section answering is not allowed for the listening, reading and writing sections (i.e., no answering of listening or writing questions during the reading section). For paper-based exams, cross-section answering is not allowed for the listening, reading and writing sections after the exam starts (i.e., no reviewing or answering of listening or writing questions during the reading section).
Candidates must arrive at the test center 30 minutes before the exam start time indicated on the admission ticket. For HSK/YCT/BCT written exams: if a candidate arrives after the exam start time (indicated on the admission ticket) but before the end of the listening section, the candidate may only enter the exam room after the listening section ends, and the missed time will not be compensated. Candidates arriving after the start of the reading section will not be admitted.
Questions people ask
What is the full score for HSK 6?
The HSK (Level 6) score report says achieving a full score entails earning 300 points. The score sentence on the Level 6 page names no pass mark.
How long are HSK 6 scores valid?
The HSK scores are valid for two years, starting from the exam date.
Sources
- HSK (Level 6) page — Chinese Testing International (CTI), Chinese Tests Service Website chinesetest.cn
- Exams information for candidates (test regulations) — Chinese Testing International (CTI), Chinese Tests Service Website chinesetest.cn
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.