HSK 4 Scoring Guide
How scores are calculated, what they mean, and how to reach your goal score.
Scoring Overview
HSK 4: 300 points total (100 per section). Pass: 180 points overall with at least a passing contribution from each section. Scores valid for life. Certificate can be used for university applications in China.
Score Scale
| Section | Duration | Max Score |
|---|---|---|
| 听力 Listening | 30 min | 100 |
| 阅读 Reading | 40 min | 100 |
| 书写 Writing | 25 min | 100 |
Section Breakdown
listening
Listening — 45 questions, ~30 minutes.
Dialogues (short and extended)MonologuesIdentifying true/false statementsMultiple choice comprehension
reading
Reading — 40 questions, 40 minutes.
Fill in the blanksSentence ordering (re-arrange)Passage comprehension with multiple choice
writing
Writing — 15 questions, 25 minutes.
Fill in blanks with provided wordsWrite a sentence from given words (ordering)Guided writing (HSK 5/6 level)
Key Facts
- Levels
- HSK 1–6 (old) / HSK 1–9 (new 3.0)
- HSK 4 questions
- 100 (listening + reading + writing)
- Duration
- 105 minutes (HSK 4)
- Passing score
- 180/300 (60%)
- Cost
- ~$50–$80 USD
- Valid
- Lifetime (no expiry)
Study Tips
- 1.Master the official HSK vocabulary lists — HSK 4 requires ~1,200 words total (cumulative).
- 2.Use Anki with the HSK deck — spaced repetition is the most efficient way to learn characters.
- 3.Listen to Chinese daily: HSK-level podcasts (ChinesePod, HSK Online), dramas with subtitles.
- 4.Writing practice: type characters, not just recognize them — typing on a phone builds recall.
- 5.Grammar points: study 把, 被, 虽然...但是, 只有...才... — they're tested directly.
- 6.Take official practice tests from Hanban at chinesetest.cn.