What are the HSK levels?

Under the current HSK 3.0 standard there are nine levels grouped into three bands: Beginner (Levels 1 to 3), Intermediate (Levels 4 to 6), and Advanced (Levels 7 to 9). Each band ends at a vocabulary milestone: 2,209, 5,363, and 10,969 cumulative words in our published 3.0 list. The older HSK 2.0 standard used six levels topping out at 5,000 words.

Is HSK 3.0 being used yet?

Yes, but not everywhere. The nine-level HSK 3.0 standard is official and has been rolling out since 2021, and some centers now test on it. Adoption has been staggered, though, and many test centers still administer the six-level HSK 2.0 exam. Both standards are genuinely in use, which is why you see conflicting level counts online.

How many HSK levels are there now?

Nine, under the HSK 3.0 standard introduced in 2021. They are grouped into three bands of three levels each. The previous HSK 2.0 standard had six levels. Because the rollout is uneven, you will still see six quoted in many places, but the current official framework defines nine levels.

What are the three HSK bands?

HSK 3.0 groups its nine levels into three bands. Beginner covers Levels 1 to 3 and 2,209 cumulative words. Intermediate covers Levels 4 to 6 and 5,363 words. Advanced covers Levels 7 to 9, which share a single combined exam, and reaches 10,969 words. Each band is a distinct stage with its own finish line.

HSK Levels Explained: The 9-Level System and Whether It Is Live Yet

If you have tried to pin down “how many HSK levels are there,” you have run into the confusion at the heart of this vertical: some sources say six, others say nine, and both are describing a real exam. This guide lays out the nine-level HSK 3.0 system plainly, maps it to the old six levels, and answers the question everyone actually wants: is the new standard live yet, and which one applies to me.

9 levels: HSK 3.0 structure in 3 bands
6 levels: HSK 2.0 structure still administered
Both: Currently in use rollout is uneven

The nine levels and three bands

HSK 3.0, the 2021 standard, groups nine levels into three named bands. Each band is a stage with a clear finish line, so instead of one long six-step climb you progress through three labelled phases.

Band	Levels	Cumulative words at the top
Beginner	1, 2, 3	2,209
Intermediate	4, 5, 6	5,363
Advanced	7, 8, 9	10,969

The three advanced levels (7 to 9) share a single combined exam rather than three separate sittings. Within each band the per-level word counts step up: Level 1 adds 506 words, Level 2 a larger 750, Level 3 a larger 953 again to finish the beginner band at 2,209.

What each band means in practice

Beginner (Levels 1 to 3, 2,209 words): everyday survival Chinese. Greetings, numbers, shopping, simple sentences, basic conversation. By the end of Level 3 you can handle predictable daily situations.
Intermediate (Levels 4 to 6, 5,363 words): the working band. It adds more than 3,000 new words on top of the beginner band, and by Level 6 you can read general material and discuss abstract topics. This is the range universities and employers usually care about.
Advanced (Levels 7 to 9, 10,969 words): near-native reading and professional or academic use, including literary and specialized language.

Each level above links to its full word table, and the vocabulary tables hub shows the whole ladder at once. For the exact per-level counts, see how many words are in each HSK level; for how the new levels differ from the old exam, see HSK 2.0 vs 3.0.

How the nine levels map to the old six

The most common mistake is assuming Level 3 means the same thing on both standards. It does not. HSK 3.0 spread the early vocabulary across more levels, so the numbers do not line up.

HSK 2.0 (six levels)	Cumulative words	Closest HSK 3.0 point
HSK 1	150	Below Level 1 (506)
HSK 2	300	Below Level 1 (506)
HSK 3	600	Around Level 1 (506)
HSK 4	1,200	Around Level 2 (1,256)
HSK 5	2,500	Around Level 3 (2,209)
HSK 6	5,000	Around Level 6 (5,363)

These are approximate alignments by word count, not official equivalencies. The takeaway is simple: an old HSK level number does not translate one-to-one to a new one, so always note which standard a level came from.

Is HSK 3.0 actually being used yet?

The practical answer to “which one applies to me” is: whichever your test center administers. If you are studying for a certificate, ask the center directly rather than assuming from a search result. If you are learning for yourself, the good news is that the core beginner vocabulary overlaps heavily between the two, so the most frequent 1,000 words serve you under either standard.

Because both ladders are live, every vocabulary list on Mandarin Steps carries a 2.0/3.0 toggle, so you can study against whichever structure your exam actually uses. The fastest way to see where you land on either one is a short recognition check rather than guessing from a level number.

HSK 3.0 cumulative word counts here are computed from our shipped 3.0 word list (see the data note): 506 / 1,256 / 2,209 / 3,181 / 4,240 / 5,363 / 10,969. Some popular summaries quote rounded early syllabus targets (1,000 / 5,400 / 11,000 for the band finish lines); those were provisional and run below the published word list. HSK 2.0 cumulative: 150 / 300 / 600 / 1,200 / 2,500 / 5,000. Structure and rollout status per Wikipedia, “Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi” (reviewed 2026-07-20); Chinese Testing International (Hanban) 2021 nine-level standard announcement. Cross-standard mappings are approximate, by word count, not official equivalencies. Test-center rollout status varies by location as of the review date.