Comments on: The New HSK (2024): An Overview and What’s Changed

By: UptoWish

UptoWish — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 16:43:01 +0000

I’m excited for the new HSK! I hope it will help more people learn Chinese.

By: Sal

Sal — Fri, 15 Jul 2022 17:11:47 +0000

In reply to thomas. Hahaha I was right to start learning characters and stroke order right from the start, many people kept saying stroker order was useless and here we are now

By: alexander surkov

alexander surkov — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 05:44:45 +0000

good thing they changed it- because the previous HSK 5 was like b1 European maximum. Dunno how smb can spend years on HSK 1-4 when it’s literally just 1200 words- only nuff for very primitive communication.

But it’s super stupid they made handwriting mandatory. The last time I took a pen in my hand was 8 years ago. Reached advanced level in Japanese without actually learning how to write. i just don’t need it.

By: John Wick

John Wick — Thu, 24 Jun 2021 07:29:07 +0000

In reply to Lacey. Who said the HSK was an immigration test? It is a language test. People do not need to write by hand nowadays, rarely anyone does. China almost exclusively uses digital money, yet you cling to writing by hand which nobody needs to do anymore?

By: John Wick

John Wick — Thu, 24 Jun 2021 07:26:59 +0000

In reply to Fabrice. Complete rubbish from a practical standpoint. You can admire the character's stroke order all you want, but this is (as evidenced above) just going to deter people from taking the test. This is a language test ffs, it is not a presentation of the beauty of a language. You do not need to admire a language to learn it, and the goal should be to get as many people to learn Chinese as possible.

By: Daniela

Daniela — Thu, 27 May 2021 06:16:36 +0000

The new rules are insane! The level was difficulty used to increase even in previous type of exam, as I considered real tests from past, they were harder each year. I got more than 190 points in 2019 in hsk 6 and it was the hardest exam I ever did! How are they going to consider translation part? F.e., I’m not a native in English and not sure if someone did hsk 6 in my country, except of me. If it’s in English or other “big” languages only, the difficulty will increase even more for people speaking different languages. How many Chinese would be able to make it? Not too many, I guess, because of translation, so even the native Chinese teaching their own language for years won’t be able to pass ithe higher levels without strong English skills. What’s the point?

By: Crystal

Crystal — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 19:36:43 +0000

In reply to Fabrice. Hi Fabrice, You really see the beauty of the language and I could see your respect for the language. I totally agree on you as a native speaker. Wish you good luck of your study.

By: Walter De Vos

Walter De Vos — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 17:15:45 +0000

I am happy that the new HSK is in line with the practice of learning other languages as spelled out in the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).
The former HSK 2.0 was too optimistic and claimed that learners would reach the level of “Threshold” with an active vocabulary of much less than 1400 words. This has now been increased to 2245 words, which corresponds to international standards.
I learned many languages in my life, I am seventy now.
When you reach the level of “threshold”, you have a certain degree of fluency which allows you to travel in the country of your study choice and communicate in a pleasant way. I recommend this threshold to everyone, it corresponds to band 3 in the new HSK 3.0. It will take me a few more years to reach this level in Chinese. Given the importance of China in the world, and the size of the country, it is worthwhile to pursue this objective.

By: zhi geng

zhi geng — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 09:42:32 +0000

From my understanding, the HSK 2.0 version was mainly adapted from European’s CEFR standards, with 6 levels (A1-C2) whilst this HSK 3.0 version uses the American’s ACTFL standards, with 9 levels (Novice-Intermediate-Advanced 3 bands with Low Middle High 3 levels in each bands). The HSK test centre (2017) conducted a study of contrasting these two standards (https://www.sohu.com/a/123567579_589047), and after years of study, decided to use a more nuanced way to descript the true performance of Chinese learners.

ACTFL_____________ CEFR
Novice (Low/Mid/High) A1
Intermediate (Low/Mid/High) A2
Advanced Low B1
Advanced Mid B2
Advanced High C1

By: Lacey

Lacey — Sun, 25 Apr 2021 15:03:34 +0000

In reply to Tanya.

Tanya – Did you have to learn how to write in your native language? Do you think foreigners coming into your country should be able to write in the predominant language of that country? My guess- purely conjecture here – is that the answer to both questions is yes.

You do not have to learn Mandarin nor do you have to take the HSKs. “Rapidly increasing digitized world” should not mean “rapidly increasing illiteracy”. It makes sense that they would expect people taking a standardized literacy test to actually BE literate in the language.