HSK 3.0 Level 4: format, timing and vocabulary

Can communicate in Chinese completely and coherently in everyday-life, study and work situations. (official ability description)

Unofficial study site · every figure links to an official source

Items

Total time

~85′

Words (cumulative)

2,000

Paper structure

Section	Items	Time
Listening	32	about 20 min
Reading	32	30 min
Writing	6	25 min

Paper sittings add 5 minutes after listening to fill in the answer sheet. About 85 minutes in all, including 5 minutes for personal details.

Part by part

Items	Task
Listening 1–14	Listening part 1: choose the correct answer (4 options)
Listening 15–32	Listening part 2: choose the correct answer
Reading 33–42	Reading part 1: fill blanks from a word list; each list has one distractor (two sets: 33–37, 38–42)
Reading 43–57	Reading part 2: choose the correct answer
Reading 58–64	Reading part 3: fill sentences into a passage
Writing 65–69	Writing part 1: look at the picture, make a sentence with the given word
Writing 70	Writing part 2: a short text of at least 80 characters (the sample: your most memorable trip)

Task types are taken from the instructions printed on the official sample paper. Where the sample prints no instruction, we list only the item range rather than guess.

Speaking

The official sample pack includes a Level 4 speaking paper: 5 items, about 20 minutes including 10 minutes of preparation.

Listen and retell	2 items	40 s each
Describe a picture	1 items	3 min prep, 2 min answer
Answer questions	2 items	3.5 min prep, 2 min answer (sample item 4)

Words and characters (official syllabus)

	New at this level	Cumulative
Words	1,000	2,000
Recognition characters	441	1,096
Handwriting characters	150 (400 cumulative)

All levels’ word counts and how to study them →

Compared with HSK 2.0

Old HSK 4: 100 items · about 105 min · 300 points, pass 180 (current level page on chinesetest.cn). Level-by-level comparison →

How to prepare (our advice)

The written paper drops from 100 items (2.0) to 70, but writing becomes 25 minutes with an 80-character text at the end — budget at least 12 minutes for item 70.
Reading part 1 has a distractor in each word list: cross out words as you use them.
Level 4 adds 1,000 new words (2,000 in total), twice the 500 added at Level 3: start vocabulary first.

HSK 4 written paper, part by part, in more detail → · Original sample questions →

← HSK 3 · HSK 5 →

Frequently asked

How many questions are on HSK 3.0 Level 4?

The official sample paper has 70 items: listening 32 (about 20 min), reading 32 (30 min), writing 6 (25 min). The whole test takes about 85 minutes including 5 minutes for personal details.

How many words do I need for new HSK 4?

The official syllabus word list adds 1,000 words at Level 4, 2,000 in total; 441 new recognition characters (1,096 cumulative) and 150 (400 cumulative) handwriting characters.

What is the pass mark for HSK 3.0 Level 4?

As of 2026-11-13 the level pages on chinesetest.cn still describe the 2.0 format and we found no official HSK 3.0 pass mark for this level. The old version: 100 items · about 105 min · 300 points, pass 180. Check the official score rules for your sitting.

Test yourself on an original mock

Our HSK 4 papers are original and follow the HSK 3.0 Level 4 written structure (70 items). Instant mock score, section drills, a mistake bank and an 8-item daily set. Not past papers, never recalled papers.

Open the mock exams Daily 8 items Pricing · from $6.99

Keep reading

Official sources

Checked 2026-11-13. HSK Sprint is an independent study service, not affiliated with or endorsed by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC / 语合中心), Chinese Testing International or the official HSK. All papers and audio are original. Always confirm details with chinesetest.cn and your test centre.