HSK Exam Guide HSK 6: test structure, pass mark and word count
HSK 6 is for intermediate-level Chinese learners and proficient users who have developed listening, reading and writing skills in Chinese. The test has 101 questions across listening, reading and writing, and the whole exam takes about 140 minutes including 5 minutes to fill in personal information. The HSK (Level 6) score report gives a full score of 300 and the level page names no pass mark.
Test structure and scores
The HSK (Level 6) summary says the test has a total of 101 questions, divided into listening, reading and writing sections. Test start time (all local times) is 09:00.
The score report sentence on the HSK (Level 6) page provides four scores and says achieving a full score entails earning 300 points. It names no pass mark.
| Score on the report | Note |
|---|---|
| Listening | one of the four scores |
| Reading | one of the four scores |
| Writing | one of the four scores |
| Total | full score 300 |
The HSK (Level 6) score report says the HSK scores are valid for two years, starting from the exam date.
Vocabulary on the level page
HSK (Level 6) assesses listening, reading and writing abilities, covering corresponding topics, tasks, grammar, and a comprehensive vocabulary of 5000 or more Chinese words. It also explores Chinese culture and the national context of China.
HSK 3.0 syllabus counts for level 6
The HSK 3.0 syllabus is a different document from the level page. The counts below were counted by this site from the serial numbers in the syllabus's numbered lists, not printed as totals in the syllabus.
- Vocabulary: by our count, level 6 runs from serial number 3601 to 5400 — 1,800 new words, 5,400 cumulative.
- Recognition characters 认读字: 413 in the level 6 list. Each level's list is numbered from 1 and is not cumulative.
- Writing characters 书写字: 150 in the level 6 list.
These figures come from the syllabus's numbered lists and are kept apart from the level-page figure of 5000 or more words. The two documents are not the same, and this page does not say which one applies to a given test date.
Questions people ask
Does the HSK 6 page state a pass mark?
The score report sentence on the HSK (Level 6) page gives a full score of 300 and names no pass mark.
How long are HSK 6 scores valid?
The HSK (Level 6) score report says the HSK scores are valid for two years, starting from the exam date.
Is the 5000-word figure the same as the syllabus count?
No. The level page states a comprehensive vocabulary of 5000 or more Chinese words. The level 6 syllabus count of 5,400 cumulative words was counted by this site from the syllabus's numbered list. The two are different documents.
Sources
- HSK (Level 6) page — Chinese Testing International (CTI), Chinese Tests Service Website chinesetest.cn
- HSK 考试大纲 / Syllabus for the Chinese Proficiency Test — 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.