HSK 3.0 Syllabus: Topics, Tasks, and Grammar by Level
HSK 3.0 is not just vocabulary lists. The official syllabus defines what you can discuss, what tasks you can perform, and what grammar you need — from survival Chinese at HSK 1 to academic research at 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 (what the exam framework expects you to do with the language), 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.
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 — Answer basic personal questions
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 — Discuss daily routines and diet
Grammar: 比较句1 — comparisons
HSK 3
B1The intermediate plateau — office talk, health opinions, environment, and where most learners stall.
Task: 谈论就医探病、健康观念 — Talk about health, office life, and social topics
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 — Handle everyday affairs and discuss education
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, management, and science
Grammar: 被动句3 — conditional clauses
HSK 6
C2Formal Chinese — infrastructure, investment, disasters, AI, classical poetry, and public debate.
Task: 谈论环境问题 — Discuss environmental and economic 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 tech issues, draft documents, conduct research
Grammar: 宁可/宁愿……，也不…… — complex multi-clause reasoning
See these topics in real stories
HSKStory has 100+ graded stories across HSK 1-9, each calibrated to your level. Read about the topics the syllabus defines — in context, not in isolation.
Browse stories by levelHow to Use This Syllabus
- Find your level — use the overview table above to see what each band covers and where your current ability fits.
- Read at your level — browse graded stories that use vocabulary and topics from your band.
- Check your vocabulary — compare your known words against the complete HSK 3.0 word list.
- Practice tasks— the exam tests tasks, not just comprehension. Each level's syllabus page includes the official task expectations.
Related Resources
- Complete HSK 3.0 Word List — all 10,896 words 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 — level-by-level study plan for July 2026
- 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/grammar syllabus to HSK 7-9. The levels differ in reading and listening complexity, not in syllabus scope.
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?
HSK 1 has 30 topics, 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 topics.
Where does this syllabus data come from?
All topic, task, and grammar data is extracted from the official HSK 3.0 syllabus documents published as part of the 2025 HSK framework. Examples shown are curated selections, not exhaustive lists.