Old HSK 3 → New HSK: what changed
If you studied for the old HSK 3, here is what is different in the new HSK, based only on official documents. Last checked: 11 November 2026.
Key facts
- First exam under the new HSK: 13 December 2026. Registration deadlines (Beijing time): paper-based test 16 November 2026, 24:00; computer-based test 3 December 2026, 24:00. CTI notice
- New exam syllabus: HSK 考试大纲 (Syllabus for the Chinese Proficiency Test), published November 2025 by CLEC, in force from July 2026. Official PDF
- Words in the new syllabus: Level 1: 300 · Level 2: 500 in total (200 new) · Level 3: 1,000 in total (500 new).
- Old HSK 3: 600 words. Old official HSK 3 introduction
Word counts side by side
| Level | Old HSK (2009 format), total words | New HSK (2025 syllabus), new at level | New HSK, total |
|---|---|---|---|
| HSK 1 | 150 | 300 | 300 |
| HSK 2 | 300 | 200 | 500 |
| HSK 3 | 600 | 500 | 1,000 |
Old figures: the old official HSK introduction. New figures: the 2025 syllabus word list (entries 1–300 are Level 1, 301–500 Level 2, 501–1000 Level 3).
Old HSK 3 in one paragraph
The old official introduction describes HSK 3 as being for learners who know 600 of the most common words. The paper had 80 questions in three parts (listening, reading, writing), took about 90 minutes, and was scored out of 300 with 180 needed to pass. Source
What the 2025 syllabus contains
The new syllabus is a single document with five parts, each given level by level (Levels 1–6, plus a combined band for Levels 7–9):
- Task syllabus: “can-do” descriptions of what candidates should be able to understand and say or write at each level.
- Topic syllabus: the topics covered at each level.
- Vocabulary syllabus: the word list (300 / 200 / 500 new words for Levels 1–3).
- Character syllabus: characters to recognise at each level, and a separate list of characters to write.
- Grammar syllabus: grammar points by level.
The syllabus does not set out the paper layout, timing, or scoring. For those, read the notices for your test session on www.chinesetest.cn.
“500 words for Level 1”? That is a different document
Many websites quote 500 words for Level 1 and 2,245 words by Level 3. Those numbers come from the 2021 national teaching standard, Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF 0025-2021). They are not the exam syllabus. The new HSK exam follows the 2025 syllabus: 300 words for Level 1 and 1,000 by Level 3.
If you passed or studied old HSK 3
We matched the two lists word by word. About 550 of the 595 distinct old HSK 1–3 entries also appear in the new Level 1–3 list. The new list adds roughly 440 entries the old one did not have. This is our own count from open datasets (complete-hsk-vocabulary, MIT; hsk3-vocabulary, CC BY 4.0), matched by exact spelling, so treat it as approximate.
- Go through the HSK 3 flashcards. The words you already know will move out of the way quickly.
- Use the quiz to find the gaps, then review those words daily.
- For dates, the paper format and registration, use only the official notices on www.chinesetest.cn.
Starting from Level 1?
Coming soon: Practice for New HSK 1, a printable workbook built on the 2025 syllabus. See what's inside →
This page is independent study help, not official guidance.