Chinese qualifications

Prior to coming to China I had very little idea about Chinese language qualifications outside of those which you would obtain at university. Only after coming here did I hear people talk about the HSK, though I was never really sure what it was, what purpose it served or how you could get it. I have given a rough outline her of some of the basic information regarding the HSK for those who may be interested in taking it.

What

The HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi) is a standardised test of Chinese language ability for non-native speakers, of which it is the only one recognised by the Chinese authorities. In recent years the format of the test has changed, and there are now 6 levels. These levels are usually put into three bands; basic (levels 1 and 2), intermediate (levels 3 and 4) and advanced (levels 5 and 6). Level 1 is described (by Wikipedia) as ‘Designed for learners who can understand and use some simple Chinese characters and sentences to communicate, and prepares them for continuing their Chinese studies.’ Whilst level 6 is ‘Designed for learners who can easily understand any information communicated in Chinese and are capable of smoothly expressing themselves in written or oral form.’ Above level 2 learners are required to have learned a number of Chinese characters, so for those who wish to reach the higher levels then a sound basis in Chinese characters is imperative. As can be seen in the two descriptions the levels represent a very broad spectrum, so even for absolute beginners there is something to aim for.

Why

In a most basic sense the HSK provides a good yardstick for Chinese learners to gauge their progress. For many people, having a goal is also an excellent motivation to work hard at their reading, writing and speaking. For students who achieve excellent marks in the HSK (usually levels 3 or 4) they may also be able to gain a scholarship for long or short term study at a Chinese university. For those who may wish to gain employment in a company in China, good marks in the HSK may be a prerequisite for the job. In this case most employers would expect the applicant to have achieved a level 4 in the HSK if not higher.

How

There are now test centres for the HSK around the globe, which has made it very convenient for people who wish to sit the exam. There are typically a few different times in the year when you can sit an exam for any given level, however this varies between different test centres so be sure to check with your local test centre in advance. In terms of signing up to take the HSK, registration typically needs to be completed no later than one month in advance and a fee of £60 (approx.) must also be paid in order to take the test. With regards to preparing for the HSK there are numerous online sources providing the official vocabulary list for each level as well as a number of practice tests for learners to take.

 

The HSK is administered by the Hanban institute, so for those wishing to find more information about the HSK, their website is http://english.hanban.org/