The Basic Chinese Proficiency Test
〔 HSK 〕HSK (Basic)
I. Test Content
There are three sections for HSK (Basic) as follows:
Section
s
Questio
Duratio
n Number
1
1-50
Listening
2
n
about
35 minutes
40
51-90
Grammar
3
minutes
60
91-140
Reading
minutes
II. HSK (Basic)scoring system
1, A section score of HSK (Basic) is a scale score between 0 and 100, with 50 as the score mean and 15 as
the standard deviation. The total score ranges between 0 and 300 as the total of the section scores. The section
scores show the relative position of the candidate in a standard sample group. And the table below helps to locate
the relative position of a candidate in the whole group. The second line indicates the percentage occupied by
those whose scores are lower than the corresponding scores in the standard HSK reference group.
HSK (Basic) Section Scores and the Percentage
Section
score
00
Percenta
ge
00
1
7
6
6
5
5
4
4
3
6
7
0
5
0
5
0
3
4
1
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
1
2, Score levels and certificate grades are determined by the total score and the criterion for different grades
is as follows:
Certificate Types
and Grades
Type
s
Grad
Score Levels
Total Score
Ranges
es
Basi
c Level
C
Level 1
100-154
B
Level 2
155-209
A
Level 3
210-300
3, The precondition to be awarded a certificate is that the total score must reach the minimal within the
score range.
4, Interpretation of the score levels:
There are three score levels for HSK (Basic) and their interpretations are as follows:
Level 1: The candidate has acquired the basic (low) Chinese competence. The candidate is able to
understand simple sentences and express simple ideas and capable of simple communication in his or her daily
life and study. A Chinese learner who has mastered about 600 common Chinese characters and the
corresponding grammar can reach this standard, which is also the criterion for HSK (Basic) Certificate Grade C.
Level 2: The candidate has acquired the basic (middle) Chinese competence that can meet the demand of
basic daily life, a certain range of social communication and study to some degree. This is the criterion for HSK
(Basic) Certificate Grade B.
Level 3: The candidate has acquired the basic (higher) Chinese competence and can fulfill the minimal
requirements in Chinese proficiency to be admitted to study in Science, Engineering, Agriculture, and West
Medicine in Chinese universities for a Bachelor’s Degree. This is also the criterion to grant HSK (Basic) Certificate
Grade A, which is equivalent to HSK (Elementary) Certificate Grade C.