HSK 3.0 · HSK 5 · Speaking · Part 3

HSK 5 Speaking Part 3: Answer the Question

This part tests whether you can talk at length on an everyday topic. 2 questions — answer format: speak for the set time, which is recorded.

2Questions in this part
Part 3 of 3Speaking section
~14 minWhole Speaking section
By an examinerMarking
Not printedPinyin

How HSK 5 Speaking Part 3 works

A question is printed on a familiar topic — your day, your hobbies, your views on something. After a short preparation you speak on it for a set time, often one to two minutes.

Markers look at content, fluency, range and accuracy. An organised answer — an opening, two or three points with examples, a close — beats a stream of disconnected sentences.

The instruction on the paper

回答问题。

Answer the question. You have preparation time first.

At HSK 5 the speaking section is taken as the separate HSKK exam (HSKK Advanced) and certified on its own.

HSK 5 Speaking Part 3 sample questions with answers

4 questions from our practice bank, in the format of the real paper. Try each one before opening the answer.

Sample 1
  1. 有人认为失败比成功更有价值。请谈谈你的看法。

    yǒu rén rèn wéi shī bài bǐ chéng gōng gèng yǒu jià zhí 。 qǐng tán tán nǐ de kàn fǎ 。

    Is failure more valuable than success?

    Answer time 2.5 min

    Show a model answer

    我基本同意这种看法,但要看是什么样的失败……

Sample 2
  1. 请谈谈科技的发展对人们生活方式的影响。

    qǐng tán tán kē jì de fā zhǎn duì rén men shēng huó fāng shì de yǐng xiǎng 。

    How has technology changed the way we live?

    Answer time 2.5 min

    Show a model answer

    科技改变了我们的生活方式,最明显的是……

Sample 3From the HSK 4 paper
  1. 请谈谈你学习汉语的原因。

    qǐng tán tán nǐ xué xí hàn yǔ de yuán yīn 。

    Why did you start learning Chinese?

    Answer time 2 min

    Show a model answer

    我学汉语主要有两个原因,第一是工作需要……

Sample 4From the HSK 4 paper
  1. 你觉得住在大城市好还是小城市好?为什么?

    nǐ jué de zhù zài dà chéng shì hǎo hái shì xiǎo chéng shì hǎo ? wèi shén me ?

    Big city or small city, and why?

    Answer time 2 min

    Show a model answer

    我觉得各有各的好处。大城市机会多……

How to approach it

  1. Use the preparation time to plan three points.
  2. Open by answering the question in one sentence.
  3. Develop each point with an example.
  4. Close with a summary, and keep talking until the time is up.

Common mistakes

  • Stopping early.
  • Wandering off topic.
  • Using only very simple sentences at the higher levels.

Frequently asked questions

How many questions are in HSK 5 Speaking Part 3?

2. It is part 3 of 3 in the HSK 5 Speaking section, which has 6 questions and lasts about 14 minutes, for 100 points.

How is HSK 5 Speaking Part 3 marked?

By trained examiners, not automatically. Your answer is marked against set criteria: whether the task is done, how accurate and varied the language is, and how well it is organised. At HSK 5 the speaking section is the separate HSKK exam (HSKK Advanced), with a certificate of its own.

Is pinyin printed at HSK 5?

No. At HSK 5 the paper is printed in characters only, so you need to recognise the characters themselves.

How long should I speak?

Use the full time shown on the paper.

Is there preparation time?

Yes, a short preparation time is given before you record.

Can I practise HSK 5 Speaking Part 3 online?

Yes. HSK Test has practice sets for this part, built like the real paper. Create a free account to start; your answers and scores are saved, so you can see how you are improving.

Every part of HSK 5

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