HSK 3.0: what changed at each level

Published 2026-10-31 · sources last checked 31 October 2026 · counts read from the official HSK 3.0 syllabus data

Free self-study material — not an official HSK study guide. Using this site or its learning material does not guarantee that you will pass any exam. We are not responsible for any error in a translation, definition, word list, practice test or other study material, or for any exam result, including a failed exam. Check the official syllabus and format with your test center before you sit it. See Terms of Service §9.4.

Short answer: HSK 3.0 lists 11,000 words over nine levels, against 4,995 in the six HSK 2.0 lists. Through level 6 it lists 5,400. Every level also gets its own characters and grammar points.

The table below compares the two standards level by level. Each figure is counted from the official syllabus and the HSK 2.0 lists each time this page is built.

Words at each level

"Same level" means the word was at the same level in HSK 2.0. "From an easier level" means it was at a lower HSK 2.0 level and now sits higher; "from a harder level" means the opposite. HSK 2.0 stopped at level 6, so every older word at levels 7–9 comes from an easier level.

HSK 3.0 New words Total New to HSK Same level From an easier level From a harder level
Level 1 300 300 83 146 0 71
Level 2 200 500 86 75 3 36
Level 3 500 1,000 196 240 10 54
Level 4 1,000 2,000 386 514 11 89
Level 5 1,600 3,600 581 864 29 126
Level 6 1,800 5,400 844 709 247 0
Levels 7–9 5,600 11,000 3,906 0 1,694 0

Counted by headword as written, so a word whose related form moved can look as if it moved itself. Over both standards, 143 HSK 2.0 words are not in the new syllabus as written.

Characters and grammar

Besides words, the 2025 syllabus gives every level two character lists and a list of grammar points:

HSK 3.0 Characters to recognize (total) Characters to write (total) Grammar points (total)
Level 1 246 0 70
Level 2 371 100 148
Level 3 655 250 244
Level 4 1,096 400 339
Level 5 1,527 550 409
Level 6 1,940 700 459
Levels 7–9 3,088 1,200 593

The handwriting list is smaller than the reading list at every level; the handwriting list article explains the difference.

Check yourself: 5 questions

Pick an answer to see the explanation. Nothing is saved or sent.

  1. In HSK 2.0 this word was at HSK 2. Where is it in HSK 3.0?
    要
  2. In HSK 2.0 this word was at HSK 4. Where is it in HSK 3.0?
    方法
  3. In HSK 2.0 this word was at HSK 5. Where is it in HSK 3.0?
    资料
  4. In HSK 2.0 this word was at HSK 6. Where is it in HSK 3.0?
    执行
  5. In HSK 2.0 this word was at HSK 5. Where is it in HSK 3.0?
    匆忙

Next step

Open the HSK 3.0 Level 1 word list: every word with pinyin, English and audio, plus that level's characters and grammar points.

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Level 6 Levels 7–9

Studied for HSK 2.0? Paste your word list into the HSK 3.0 level checker to see which words moved up, moved down or left the syllabus.

More on HSK 3.0

Sources

Word, character and grammar counts are read from our copy of the syllabus data every time this page is built. Explanations are our own. ThePureLanguage is an independent learning site, not affiliated with or endorsed by CLEC, CTI or any exam body; HSK is a trademark of its owner.

Every HSK page on this site

The new HSK 3.0 standard, the HSK 2.0 lists, practice tests and study tools, all free.

HSK 3.0 (new standard)

HSK 3.0 guides

HSK 2.0 (HSK 1–6)

Practice tests

Study tools

Where to go next

Graded Chinese Readers Chinese Dictionary Text-to-Speech Reader Chinese Reading Speed Test Branching Chinese Stories Chinese Grammar Library