HSK Exam Guide HSKK Intermediate: questions, timing and the vocabulary it assumes
HSKK Intermediate has three sections and 14 questions. The official page calls it HSK Speaking (Intermediate). The examination duration is 23 minutes, including 10 minutes of preparation time.
This is an unofficial summary. It takes no registrations and shows no results.
Who the test is for
The official page says the test is mainly designed for candidates who have been learning Chinese at a pace of 2-3 lessons per week for one to two academic years and have mastered around 900 commonly used words.
The three sections
The table below uses the figures from the official page.
| Section | Items | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Section 1 Listen and Repeat | 10 items | 5 minutes |
| Section 2 Picture Description | 2 items | 4 minutes |
| Section 3 Answer the Questions | 2 items | 4 minutes |
| Total | 14 items | 13 minutes |
The table lists 13 minutes for the 14 items. The summary sentence on the same page gives the examination duration as 23 minutes, including 10 minutes of preparation time.
Test time, score and validity
The page gives two test times. Both are local time at the test centre. The time is 11:25 in areas where HSK and HSK Speaking are combined. The time is 16:30 in other areas.
The score sentence on the page names a full score of 100 points. It says a cumulative score of 60 or above qualifies as a passing mark.
The page says HSK Speaking scores are valid for two years, starting from the test date.
The vocabulary sentence
The page mentions around 900 words in two places. The sentence about who the test is for says candidates have mastered around 900 commonly used words. The vocabulary sentence says HSK Speaking (Intermediate) focuses on assessing around 900 commonly used words.
Sources
- HSK Speaking (Intermediate), 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.