Intermediate
HSK 4 (I1) — Chinese proficiency level 4
HSK 4 sits in the Intermediate stage of the HSK 3.0 ladder and is roughly B1 on the CEFR scale. It assumes 3,245 words and 1,200 characters.
HSK 4 at a glance
3,245Vocabulary
1,200Characters
286Grammar points
B1CEFR
100Questions
180/300Pass mark
100 minDuration
675Study hours
HSK 4 exam structure
Part by part, with the number of items and the working time for each section. The paper-based exam also grants extra time to transfer answers to the answer sheet.
The spoken component is HSKK Intermediate, a separate exam registered together with the written paper. It is marked by an examiner and reported on its own certificate, so it does not count towards the 300 points above.
| Part | Task | Items | Duration | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | 45 | 30 min | 100 | |
| Part 1 | Judge the printed sentence | 10 | ||
| Part 2 | Dialogue plus a question | 15 | ||
| Part 3 | Passage plus questions | 20 | ||
| Reading | 40 | 40 min | 100 | |
| Part 1 | Choose the word for each gap | 10 | ||
| Part 2 | Put the sentences in order | 10 | ||
| Part 3 | Reading comprehension | 20 | ||
| Writing | 15 | 25 min | 100 | |
| Part 1 | Put the words in order | 10 | ||
| Part 2 | Write a sentence from a picture | 5 | ||
| Speakingcertified separately | 14 | 11 min | 100 | |
| Part 1 | Listen and repeat | 10 | ||
| Part 2 | Talk about the picture | 2 | ||
| Part 3 | Answer the question | 2 | ||
HSK 4 vocabulary
HSK 4 assumes 3,245 words in total, of which 1,000 are introduced at this level, written with 1,200 characters across 724 syllables. The exam also draws on 286 grammar points.
Under HSK 3.0 the spoken component is compulsory from level 3, so HSK 4 includes speaking. It is recorded, marked by an examiner rather than automatically, and certified separately from the written paper.
Handwritten characters are assessed from level 5, so at HSK 4 the writing tasks are typed or assembled from words the paper supplies.
How to prepare for HSK 4
- Work from the official vocabulary list for the level and revisit it in short daily sessions.
- Practise one exam part at a time, then sit a full paper against the clock.
- Review every wrong answer against its transcript instead of moving straight on.
- Read and listen to material slightly above your level to build tolerance for unknown words.
- Book the exam once your mock scores sit consistently above the pass mark.
Questions, answered
3,245 in total, of which 1,000 are new at this level. They are written with 1,200 characters, and the exam draws on 286 grammar points.
100 minutes of working time across 100 questions. The paper-based exam also grants extra time to transfer answers to the answer sheet.
180 out of 300, which is 60%. Each section is reported out of 100, so a weak section can be carried by a strong one as long as the total clears the bar.
Yes. Under HSK 3.0 the spoken component is compulsory from level 3, so HSK 4 includes speaking. It is recorded, marked by an examiner and certified separately from the written paper.
Roughly B1. The mapping is approximate — HSK measures Chinese specifically, including character knowledge, which the CEFR scale does not describe.
Yes. Every HSK 4 exam part can be practised on its own with instant marking, and there are full mock tests with audio, transcripts and section scores. It is free.