What HSK 3 is made of
| Section | Tasks | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | 30 | about 23 |
| Reading | 30 | 30 |
| Writing | 10 | 20 |
| Total | 70 | about 83 |
This is how the official sample of the new format is built, and our paper follows it. Every task uses only words of the level; the full list with audio is on the page “HSK 3 words”.
What the tasks are
Listening
| 1–10 | You hear a dialogue and match it to a picture: two blocks of six pictures. |
| 11–20 | You hear a dialogue and a question about it, and pick one of three answers. |
| 21–30 | You hear a short talk and a question about it, and pick one of three answers. |
Reading
| 31–40 | You match each line to the one that goes with it: two blocks. |
| 41–50 | You fill the gap with one of six words: first in sentences, then in dialogues. |
| 51–60 | You read a short text and answer a question: three options. |
Writing
| 61–65 | You handwrite the character missing from a sentence: its reading is given. |
| 66–70 | You look at a picture and write a sentence with the given word. |
In the writing section you draw characters with your finger or mouse, stroke by stroke, with no outline to trace: a stroke out of place is not accepted. You can practice stroke order beforehand on the handwriting sheets.
There is no pinyin above the text. In the writing section you type five sentences in characters, so you will need a Chinese keyboard. An AI model reads them when you hand in the paper: it gives a mark and explains the mistakes in English. On the real exam this level also has a speaking part taken with the written one; the mock test does not include it.
Sample HSK 3 tasks
Two tasks of the same kind as in the mock paper. Solve them, then open the answer with an explanation.
Reading: fill the gap
这家饭馆的菜又好吃又（ ）。
- 便宜
- 认真
- 着急
Answer
A. 又…又… joins two qualities of one thing: the food is “both tasty and cheap”.
Reading: answer the question
小王感冒了，医生让他多喝水、多休息。
★ 医生让小王做什么？
- 多运动
- 多休息
- 多工作
Answer
B. The doctor told him to drink more water and rest more: 多休息.
In the test itself you see a score for each part after you hand it in. The review with the right answers to every task opens with a Nomto account, free during the beta.
Want to see the whole paper first? All 70 tasks of the first HSK 3 paper with audio, on one page, ready to print.
How the mock test works
- Listening runs on its own. Each task is played twice, then you get 10 or 15 seconds to answer, and the next one starts. You cannot go back, just like in the exam room.
- Reading and writing share one clock. Do the tasks in any order and change your answers while the time runs. When time is up, the paper is handed in automatically.
- A score for each part at the end. Listening, reading and writing separately, each out of 100, plus how many tasks you got right in each block: you see at once what needs work.
- A review of your mistakes. With a Nomto account you see, for every task, what the recording said, your answer and the right one.
When to take it
The first time when you are about halfway through the level: you will see what needs work, listening or reading. The second time right before the exam, for the result. If the words of the level are still new to you, start with the short HSK 3 word test: it takes five minutes. What the level covers, how many words it has and what to prepare with is in the article “HSK 3: all about the level”; how the exam works and where to take it, in the article “The HSK exam”.
Another level: HSK 1 mock test.
Another level: HSK 2 mock test.
Another level: HSK 4 mock test.
Another level: HSK 5 mock test.
Another level: HSK 6 mock test.
FAQ
Is this an official HSK test?
No. It is a mock paper we wrote ourselves in the format of the official samples of the new HSK: the same parts, the same number of tasks and the same time. Only the real exam at a test center gives you a certificate.
How close is the mock test to the real exam?
The parts, the number of tasks and the timing follow the official samples of the new HSK. We write the tasks ourselves, so the difficulty may differ from the exam either way. We compared the reading section of levels 5 and 6 with the official sample blind: the sample’s texts are denser, our tasks are no easier. The mock score is a guide for your preparation, not a prediction of your exam result.
What format is the mock test based on?
The new HSK format (HSK 3.0), which the exam switches to in 2026. The tasks use only words from the list of their level in the new syllabus: 300 words for HSK 1, 500 for HSK 2, 1,000 for HSK 3, and 5,400 by HSK 6.
How are sentences and essays marked?
From HSK 3 on, the writing section asks you to write yourself: a sentence about a picture, and from HSK 4 also texts. An AI model reads them when you hand in the paper: it gives a mark and briefly explains the mistakes in English. It is a mark for practice, not an examiner’s score: on the real exam, writing is marked by people.
Is the mock test free?
The first paper of every level is free, no sign-up needed: you sit the whole paper and get a score for each part. The task-by-task review and the other papers open with a Nomto account, which is also free during the beta.
How long does the test take?
HSK 1 takes about 40 minutes, HSK 2 about an hour, HSK 3 and HSK 4 nearly an hour and a half, HSK 5 and HSK 6 about two hours. You cannot pause and continue later, just like on the exam, so sit down when you have the time and a quiet place.
What is the pass mark?
In the old format you needed 60% of the maximum: 120 out of 200 at the first two levels and 180 out of 300 from level 3 on. No pass mark has been officially announced for the new format, so we show 60% as a guide.
Are there mock tests for HSK 4, 5 and 6?
Yes, there is a mock test for all six levels, HSK 1 to HSK 6. There is no mock test for levels 7–9.
How is the mock test different from the word test?
The word test is 20 questions on recognizing the words of a level and takes five minutes. The mock test mirrors the exam itself: timed listening, reading sentences and texts, and from HSK 2 on, writing.
HSK 3 mock test
70 tasks, about 83 minutes. You will need sound: check the volume or put on headphones.
Start the test