HSK 3.0 Level 5: format, timing and vocabulary

Can communicate in Chinese accurately and appropriately in work and study situations. (official ability description)

Unofficial study site · every figure links to an official source

Items

Total time

~110′

Words (cumulative)

3,600

Paper structure

Section	Items	Time
Listening	35	about 25 min
Reading	35	35 min
Writing	2	40 min

Paper sittings add 5 minutes after listening to fill in the answer sheet. About 110 minutes in all, including 5 minutes for personal details.

Part by part

Items	Task
Listening 1–19	Listening part 1: choose the correct answer
Listening 20–35	Listening part 2: choose the correct answer
Reading 36–45	Reading part 1: choose the correct answer
Reading 46–55	Reading part 2: put paragraphs in order
Reading 56–70	Reading part 3: choose the correct answer
Writing 71	Writing: a story from four pictures, at least 100 characters
Writing 72	Writing: topic essay, at least 200 characters

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 5 speaking paper: 5 items, about 23 minutes including 10 minutes of preparation.

Listen and retell	2 items	1.5 min each
Describe a picture	1 items	3 min prep, 2 min answer
Answer questions	2 items	3.5 min prep, 2.5 min answer (sample item 4)

Words and characters (official syllabus)

	New at this level	Cumulative
Words	1,600	3,600
Recognition characters	431	1,527
Handwriting characters	150 (550 cumulative)

All levels’ word counts and how to study them →

Compared with HSK 2.0

Old HSK 5: 100 items · about 125 min · 300 points (CTI’s page lists no single pass mark) (current level page on chinesetest.cn). Level-by-level comparison →

How to prepare (our advice)

Writing has two tasks in 40 minutes: a 100-character picture story and a 200-character topic essay. Practise both against a timer.
Reading part 2 is paragraph ordering — look for linking words (首先、后来、因此、然而) and pronoun references.
1,600 new words: the largest single-level addition before Level 6.

← HSK 4 · HSK 6 →

Frequently asked

How many questions are on HSK 3.0 Level 5?

The official sample paper has 72 items: listening 35 (about 25 min), reading 35 (35 min), writing 2 (40 min). The whole test takes about 110 minutes including 5 minutes for personal details.

How many words do I need for new HSK 5?

The official syllabus word list adds 1,600 words at Level 5, 3,600 in total; 431 new recognition characters (1,527 cumulative) and 150 (550 cumulative) handwriting characters.

What is the pass mark for HSK 3.0 Level 5?

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 125 min · 300 points (CTI’s page lists no single pass mark). 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.

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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.