Passing the HSK exam and gaining a great score is certainly possible with good preparation. This article is a guide with helpful tips on what you need to make it.
0. Are you ready?
There is not much correlation between being able to pass the exam and being able to communicate effectively with other people in Mandarin. You can pass the test without being able to pronounce a word of Chinese correctly.
Even a native speaker may fail at some grammatical questions posed in the test (I’ve had a few Chinese friends take the grammatical questions of HSK6 and they answered incorrectly).
With a good learning strategy and practice, passing the test is entirely possible. The good news is also that you can always try again. It is possible to redo the test as often as required.
1. Find a test center and register
You can take the test at authorized test centers. There are test centers available in many countries and major cities. The test can only be taken on specific dates, so you need to plan ahead.
You can search for test centers in your area using the official website: Test Center Search. With the filters you can select your country/area and search for the test you would like to take.
When selecting a test center, the choice between paper-based and digital test is important. The paper-based test will require you to be able to write Chinese characters by hand. The digital test only requires knowledge of Pinyin.
2. Preparing for the test – Study System
To nail the HSK test you will need a well-thought out study system. Good intentions alone won’t get you there.
As the author James Clear puts it “You will not rise to the level of your goals, but fall to the level of your systems.”
You will need a schedule, the right tools and a big enough why to stick to it.
2.1 Structure of the Test
HSK1 and HSK2 consist of a listening and a reading part. Next to Chinese characters you are provided with Pinyin. All other HSK levels up to level HSK6 consist of listening, reading and writing. There will be no Pinyin, only characters.
2.2 Schedule
The most important thing about scheduling is having a schedule and making it work for you. It’s easy to put something on your calendar put not follow through with it. You should favor short periods over long periods of time with low frequency.
Better study just 20 minutes every day instead of six hours during the weekend.
3 Tools
Class book for studying
The most targeted class books for studying the HSK test are the HSK Standard Course Book series. They cover all vocabulary you will need and will prepare you for the exam.
Studying vocabulary
There are a lot of spaced repetition vocabulary study tools around. All of them offer basic functionality. Pick your favorite. There is no one size fits all.
Review and exam preparation
My tool number #1 for review and practising past exams is the app HSK Online. It is purposefully built for the exam and puts everything you need at your fingertips.
The app includes vocabulary review, example phrases, mock exercises, complete HSK tests as well as actual past exams.
The app luckily is quite affordable. You will not have to break the bank.
4 Taking the test
If you have used HSK Online and have done a few mock tests, you should be well prepared for the actual exam.