Prepare for your HSK Chinese exam with full-length mock tests
AI-graded mock exams in the exact 汉语水平考试 (HSK) format — Listening (听力), Reading (阅读), and Writing (书写) for levels HSK 4, 5, and 6. Native Mandarin audio. Instant feedback. Practice from anywhere in India.
₹499 single mock · ₹1,799 for full-level pack · vs ~₹2,500–5,500 official HSK attempt fee
Pick Your HSK Level
HSK 4 → 5 → 6 is the practical Indian-candidate ladder. We don't offer HSK 1–3 mocks because those bands have no real visa, scholarship, or employer recognition value in the Indian context.
HSK Level 4
Issued by Chinese Testing International (CTI) · CEFR B1–B2
Intermediate. ~1,200 active vocabulary. Discuss a wide range of everyday topics, read short newspaper-style passages, and write a short personal essay. The most popular HSK entry point for Indian students applying for Chinese university scholarships.
View live pricing →
UNIVERSITY / WORKHSK Level 5
Issued by Chinese Testing International (CTI) · CEFR B2–C1
Upper-intermediate. ~2,500 vocabulary. Read Chinese newspapers and magazines, watch native Chinese TV, and deliver structured presentations. The level Chinese embassies, state-owned enterprises, and most Chinese university bachelor programmes expect.
View live pricing →
HIGHEST LEVELHSK Level 6
Issued by Chinese Testing International (CTI) · CEFR C1
Advanced. ~5,000+ vocabulary. The highest HSK level. Read Chinese classical texts and technical/legal documents, write argumentative essays, and interpret complex spoken Mandarin. Required for Chinese-medium Masters and PhD admissions and senior-level Mandarin business roles.
View live pricing →
HSK Ladder — What Each Level Unlocks
HSK certificates have a 2-year validity for scholarship and visa applications. Pick the lowest level that opens the door you need — then climb only if the salary, scholarship, or admission upgrade justifies it.
Absolute beginner
150 vocabulary. Hello, my name, basic greetings. Pinyin foundation. Not offered as a mock on this platform — we focus on test-of-record levels HSK 4–6.
Survival Mandarin
300 vocabulary, ~300 characters. Familiar daily topics. CEFR A2 broadly. Useful for tourists and very-early heritage learners.
Conversational
600 vocabulary, ~600 characters. Handle most routine daily conversations. CEFR A2–B1. Entry-level threshold for Chinese workplace internships.
Scholarship minimum
1,200 vocabulary. Confucius Institute Chinese Bridge winners and most CSC (Chinese government) bachelor scholarships ask for HSK 4 as the minimum admission floor.
University & embassy
2,500 vocabulary. Chinese university bachelor programmes taught in Mandarin, Chinese embassy / consulate roles, BPO Mandarin tier-2 hiring, senior translator positions.
Masters, PhD, senior business
5,000+ vocabulary. Mandarin-medium Masters and PhD programmes, senior trade and diplomacy roles, simultaneous interpreter tracks. The highest HSK band — equivalent to upper CEFR C1.
Practice All HSK Skills
The main HSK exam has no speaking section — speaking is tested in a separate exam called the HSKK (口试). Total HSK score is 300 (100 + 100 + 100). You need 180 / 300 to pass at each level.
听力 (Listening)
Native Mandarin audio. Dialogues, news-style monologues, and longer interviews. Tests global understanding, key-detail extraction, and inference. Scored 0–100.
阅读 (Reading)
Short signs, ads, articles, and longer informational passages. Tests sentence-level grammar, vocabulary range, and reading speed. Scored 0–100.
书写 (Writing)
From HSK 4 onward: sentence reordering, character writing from pinyin (HSK 4–5), and short essay writing (HSK 5–6). Scored 0–100. AI-graded for structure, character accuracy, and coherence.
HSK 4 / 5 / 6 scoring: each section scaled to 100, total 0–300, pass mark 180. Listening sections use native Mandarin audio at standard Mainland speed.
Who Should Take HSK?
The four highest-volume Indian audiences targeting HSK certification
Chinese for University
Targeting a CSC scholarship or Chinese-medium degree? HSK 4 unlocks bachelor admissions; HSK 5–6 is expected for Masters / PhD programmes in mainland universities.
Chinese for Tech Jobs
Indian engineers servicing Chinese OEMs (Xiaomi, OPPO, Vivo, BYD, CATL), and IT support roles for Chinese-language users. HSK 4–5 is the practical hiring floor.
Chinese for China Work Visa
The Z work visa pathway. Most employers expect HSK 4 or above for the language declaration. Senior corporate and academic roles require HSK 5–6.
Chinese for Heritage Learners
Indians of Chinese heritage (and ethnic Tibetan, Hakka, and Sino-Indian community members) re-formalising their Mandarin. HSK 4 is the natural certification target.
HSK Vocabulary & CEFR Mapping
The official vocabulary count at each HSK level and its rough Common European Framework of Reference equivalent
| HSK Band | Vocabulary | Characters | CEFR (rough) | Practical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HSK 1 | 150 | 150 | A1 | Survival greetings |
| HSK 2 | 300 | 300 | A2 | Tourist phrases |
| HSK 3 | 600 | 600 | A2–B1 | Daily conversations |
| HSK 4 | 1,200 | 1,200 | B1–B2 | Scholarship floor |
| HSK 5 | 2,500 | 1,700+ | B2–C1 | University / work |
| HSK 6 | 5,000+ | 2,600+ | C1 | Masters, senior business |
Note: a HSK 3.0 (new HSK) reform is being rolled out by CLEC in stages. Most exam centres in India still administer the established HSK 2.0 structure shown here; we will update when the rollout reaches India.
How HSK is scored
A clean 300-point scale with three equal sections — no obscure weighting tricks, but a single sectional minimum can sink the whole attempt.
100
Listening (听力)
Native Mandarin audio
100
Reading (阅读)
Sign / article / passage
100
Writing (书写)
Sentence + essay (HSK 5–6)
Pass mark
180 / 300 total — and you must score at least the sectional minimum (~60/100 per skill).
Result turnaround
Roughly 4 weeks after the test date; results downloaded from chinesetest.cn.
Validity
2 years for scholarship and visa applications. Lifetime certificate, but recency matters.
HSK Exam Prep by City
City-specific Confucius Institute / examination centre info and local prep guidance
Guides & Deep-Dives
Everything you need before booking your HSK exam in India
HSK vs TOCFL — Which Chinese Exam Should You Take?
HSK is the mainland-China standard (Hanban / CTI); TOCFL is the Taiwan standard. Side-by-side comparison: recognition in India, traditional vs simplified characters, scholarship acceptance, and which suits your goal.
Read guideHSK Levels Explained — From HSK 1 to HSK 6
Plain-English guide to every HSK band — vocabulary counts, character counts, sample sentences, CEFR mapping, and exactly which scholarship, visa, or job each level unlocks.
Read guideHSK Exam Fees in India 2026 — Confucius Institutes & Online
Actual fee ranges for HSK 4, 5, and 6 — Confucius Institute centres in Mumbai, Delhi, Vellore and Kolkata, plus the online HSK option run by Chinese Testing International. Includes retake costs and how to budget.
Read guideWhy prepare HSK with us?
Built specifically for Indian candidates targeting Chinese university scholarships, Z work visas, and Mandarin-speaking tech / interpretation careers. Mocks mirror the published Hanban / CTI specification — same section count, same time pressure, same MCQ + 写作 task types. Listening audio is in native Mandarin at the same speed and register as the official 听力 sections.
HSK 4–6
The three Indian-relevant bands
Native 听力
Authentic Mandarin listening audio
180 / 300
Clear sectional + total pass rules
Free HSK study guides
In-depth, no-signup guides to the exam itself — read first, mock second
HSK for University Admission: What Level Do You Need?
Programme-by-programme HSK floors for Chinese universities and CSC scholarships.
HSK Registration: Step-by-Step for International Candidates
Creating your CTI account, picking a centre or HSK iBT, and paying fees.
Staying Motivated Through Long-Term HSK Study
How to keep momentum across the 9–12 months a serious HSK level takes.
Common questions
Is LanguageTest.in affiliated with Hanban or CTI?
No. We are an independent exam-preparation platform — not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially recognised by Hanban, Chinese Testing International (CTI), the Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC), the Confucius Institute network, or any official Chinese-language certification body. "HSK" and "汉语水平考试" remain trademarks of their respective owners; we use these names only to describe the exams candidates prepare for.
Which HSK level do I need for a Chinese government (CSC) scholarship?
Most CSC bachelor scholarships in Mandarin-medium programmes require HSK 4 as the minimum admission floor. Top-tier universities (Tsinghua, Peking, Fudan) often expect HSK 5. CSC Masters and PhD programmes taught in Chinese typically require HSK 5 or 6. Programmes taught in English may waive HSK entirely — but a HSK 4 attached to your application materially strengthens it.
Do HSK certificates expire?
The certificate itself is a lifetime credential, but for scholarship, visa, and admission purposes most authorities ask that your HSK result be within the last 2 years. If your existing HSK is older than 2 years and you are about to apply, plan a retake into your timeline.
When and where can I take HSK in India?
HSK is administered roughly 8–12 times a year by Confucius Institute / Confucius Classroom centres across India — current centres include Mumbai University, Vellore Institute of Technology, Lovely Professional University, and Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi. Internet-based HSK (HSK iBT) is also available — you can sit it from home with a webcam and quiet room.
What is the difference between HSK and HSKK?
HSK is the written exam (Listening, Reading, Writing). HSKK is the separate spoken exam (口试 — Kǒushì) recorded into a microphone. They are billed and registered separately. If your scholarship or employer requires a complete language profile, plan to sit both HSK and HSKK at matching levels.
How long does it take to prepare for HSK 4 from zero?
Most adult Indian learners reach HSK 4 in 9–12 months of structured study (4–6 hours per week), assuming exposure to native audio. HSK 5 adds another 8–12 months on top of HSK 4. HSK 6 typically requires a further 12–18 months, including immersion. Mock-driven preparation in the final 6–8 weeks before the exam date is what separates pass from fail.
Practise Chinese speaking with an AI examiner
A spoken interview graded on fluency, range and pronunciation — with a detailed feedback report. Separate from the written mocks.
Just talk — Chinese conversation practice
A relaxed chat with an AI partner who speaks at your level, on the topics your exam covers. Nobody interrupts to correct you; your feedback comes at the end.