HSK 3.0 Syllabus: Topics, Tasks, and Grammar by Level
Explore the official HSK 3.0 syllabus by level: topics, task areas, grammar, and vocabulary, with detailed guides for HSK 1 through HSK 7-9.
Most HSK resources focus on word lists. But the official HSK 3.0 syllabus goes further — it defines topics (what you can discuss at each level), tasks (communication areas described by the framework), and grammar(what structures each level requires). Below is a structured overview of all seven level groups, from survival Chinese at HSK 1 to academic research at HSK 7-9. The 427 topic entries across bands are leaf entries summed from overlapping level outlines, not 427 distinct cumulative topics. The PDF has 11,000 official vocabulary entries; after repeated entries are consolidated, HSKStory's word list has 10,896 cleaned distinct items.
Syllabus Overview
| Band | Topics | CEFR | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| HSK 1 | 30 | A1 | Survival Chinese for personal information, daily routines, school, work, and basic culture. |
| HSK 2 | 34 | A2 | Personal-life expansion across family, study, work, transport, simple opinions, and everyday services. |
| HSK 3 | 54 | B1 | Intermediate daily and social Chinese across office life, health views, environment, sports, and culture. |
| HSK 4 | 77 | B2 | Adult-life Chinese for services, housing, legal/police help, economics, technology, and public issues. |
| HSK 5 | 72 | C1 | Institutional and analytical Chinese for insurance, management, mental health, research, and social systems. |
| HSK 6 | 68 | C2 | Formal and public Chinese for infrastructure, investment, disasters, AI, classical culture, and public debate. |
| HSK 7-9 | 92 | C2+ | Shared advanced syllabus band for academic, professional, technical, literary, and public-domain Chinese. |
Explore Each Level
HSK 1
A1Survival Chinese — the 30 topics that let you navigate daily life with just 300 words.
Task: 问答个人基本信息 — Ask and answer basic personal information
Grammar: "是"字句1 — 'shì' sentences
HSK 2
A2Your personal world expands — family, habits, feelings, and the basics of getting around.
Task: 问答个人基本情况 — Ask and answer about basic personal circumstances
Grammar: 比较句1 — comparisons
HSK 3
B1Office talk, health views, environment, sports, and cultural life enter the picture.
Task: 谈论就医探病、健康观念 — Discuss seeking medical care, visiting the sick, and views on health
Grammar: 被动句1 — passive voice
HSK 4
B2The adult-life jump — renting apartments, police help, economics, technology, and a dramatic leap from 54 to 77 topics.
Task: 交流、处理日常事务 — Communicate about and handle everyday affairs
Grammar: 难道……吗？ — rhetorical questions
HSK 5
C1Institutions and analysis — insurance, management, mental health, and research enter the picture.
Task: 谈论医疗健康 — Discuss healthcare and health
Grammar: 被动句3 — passive sentences
HSK 6
C2Formal Chinese — infrastructure, investment, disasters, AI, classical poetry, and public debate.
Task: 谈论环境问题 — Discuss environmental issues
Grammar: "把"字句4 — 'bǎ' constructions
HSK 7-9
C2+Academic and professional Chinese — law, AI, aerospace, and academic research in one shared advanced band.
Task: 分析和评论科技问题 — Analyze and comment on science and technology issues
Grammar: 宁可/宁愿……，也不…… — would rather … than …
See these topics in real stories
HSKStory publishes graded fiction across HSK 1-9. Editors develop, closely edit, and approve every story. Mandarin audio is reviewed for pronunciation, pacing, and synchronization.
Browse stories by levelHow to Use This Syllabus
- Choose your band — use the overview table to open the detailed syllabus for the level you are studying.
- Read at your level — browse graded stories written for your band.
- Check your vocabulary — compare your known words against the complete HSK 3.0 word list.
- Practice task areas — use the official task descriptions to plan communication practice, not as a list of question types.
Related Resources
- Complete HSK 3.0 Word List — 10,896 cleaned distinct items with pinyin and definitions
- HSK 3.0 Vocabulary Analysis — word counts, character reuse, and the chengyu cliff
- 10 Most Productive Characters — the characters that build the most HSK words
- What is HSK 3.0? — the full explainer on the new 9-level exam
- HSK 3.0 vs 2.0 — side-by-side comparison of what changed
- Prepare for HSK 3.0 — current exam status and level-by-level study guidance
- HSK 7-8-9 Advanced Levels — the new advanced band explained
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the HSK 3.0 syllabus just a vocabulary list?
No. The official syllabus defines three dimensions beyond vocabulary: topics (what you can discuss), tasks (what you can do with the language), and grammar (what structures you need). This guide covers all three.
Why are HSK 7, 8, and 9 grouped together?
The official HSK 3.0 framework assigns one shared topic, task, and grammar syllabus to HSK 7-9. The combined HSK 7-9 exam reports a level result from overall performance rather than using three separate syllabus scopes.
Are the CEFR levels official?
The CEFR labels on this page are orientation — a useful comparison for learners familiar with European language levels. They are not official HSK-CEFR certifications.
How many topics does each HSK level cover?
Counting leaf-topic entries in each level outline, HSK 1 has 30, HSK 2 has 34, HSK 3 has 54, HSK 4 has 77, HSK 5 has 72, HSK 6 has 68, and HSK 7-9 share 92. These outlines overlap, so their 427-entry sum is not a count of distinct cumulative topics.
Did all HSK exams switch when the syllabus became effective in July 2026?
No. The July 2026 date on the syllabus does not itself change every scheduled exam. CTI has announced the worldwide HSK 3.0 exam launch for 13 December 2026. Check the version and arrangements named in your booking.
Where does this syllabus data come from?
The topic, task, vocabulary, character, and grammar data comes from the official 406-page HSK examination syllabus published in November 2025 and effective from July 2026. Examples shown here are curated selections, not exhaustive lists.