The Chinese Proficiency Test (HSK­), leaded by China National Committee for Chinese Proficiency Test, The Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, is a national standardized test to assess the Chinese language proficiency of non-native speakers. It has been recently modified with reference to various international language tests and the evaluation and assessment by professionals from education, linguistics, psychology, and so forth on the current Chinese learning classes so as to make HSK to become more standardized and internationally recognized.

Comparison between the new HSK and Chinese Language Proficiency Scales for Speakers of Other Languages and The Common European Framework Reference for Language (CEF)

The new HSK consists of two independent parts, which are written test and oral test, with written test ranging from level 1 to level 6 whereas the oral one from HSK (Elementary), HSK (Intermediate) to HSK (Advanced). The Centre offers the written test from level 3 to level 6 this year. Please do not hesitate to take the new Chinese Proficiency Test held by the Hong Kong Putonghua Education and Assessment Centre for the internationally recognized qualification. You will obtain a "Chinese Proficiency Certificate" issued by the National Committee for the Chinese Proficiency Test if you pass the test.

The first HSK in this year will be held on 16 May 2010. Please note that the enrolment period is from 22 February to 5 March 2010.

The details of the HSK test from Level 3 to Level 6 are explained as follows:

I)              Content

The test (from level 3 to 6) is divided into 3 parts as described below:

1.      Listening [Number of Questions: 40-50]

2.      Reading Comprehension [Number of Questions: 30-50]

3.      Writing  [Number of Questions: 1-15]

II)            Duration

The duration of the test is:

       Level 3     :       About 90 minutes

       Level 4     :       About 105 minutes

       Level 5     :       About 125 minutes

       Level 6     :       About 140 minutes

III)          Grading

The passing mark is 180 out of 300.

IV)         Examination Fees

Level 3     :       HK$400

Level 4     :       HK$500

Level 5     :       HK$700

Level 6     :       HK$800

Application Methods

1.     Enrolment can be done in person at the Centre. Application form can be downloaded from our website or obtain from our Centre.

2.    Application documents include the followings:

(i)     Application form

(ii)    Examination fee - use crossed cheque (payable to "The University of Hong Kong") issued by banks in Hong Kong. Please print your name and examination title at the back of the cheque.

For applicants residing outside Hong Kong, you can pay in bank draft in Hong Kong dollars issued by your local bank. Please make sure that the bank draft issued by that bank can be drawn on Hong Kong. If not, the Centre has the right to reject your application. The applicant also needs to bear any extra charges incurred. The bank draft should be made payable to "The University of Hong Kong"

(iii)   2 photos of size 1"x 1.5". Do not staple them on the application form.

If by mailing, please send to the following address, specifying "Test Application" on the envelope.

3.     Unless the test is cancelled, fees paid are not refundable and transferred

4.     Approximately two weeks before the test, the Centre will mail the test documents to candidate according to the address printed on the application form.