Beginning Level of HSK (HSK Basic)

Updated: 2006-04-29 14:54

An Introduction to HSK
Beginning Level of HSK (HSK Basic)
About HSK Elementary-Intermediate
About HSK Advanced
Issuing of the HSK certificate and period of validity of the certificate
Taking HSK

HSK Basic is a standardized test designed for beginners. It is most appropriate for those who have acquired 400 - 3000 basic Chinese words (referring to level A and B in the Outline of HSK Vocabulary ) and the corresponding rules of grammar ( referring to level A and B In the Outline of ASK Grammar).

1. Function of the Certificate of HSK Basic:

The Certificate of HSK Basic includes three levels, i. e. level A, B and C. ( Level A is the highest, equivalent to level C of the Certificate of HSK Elementary- Intermediate. ) The certificates will be awarded to those who have secured the required scores. The certificate of HSK Basic serves.

(1) as a requirement to enter a college or university in China as an undergraduate student in the field of science, engineering, agriculture and Western medicine (Level A only).
(2) to exempt students from taking certain language courses in China.
(3) as a reference for hiring decisions for positions requiring basic competence in Chinese.

2. HSK Basic scoring system:

(1) A subscore of HSK Basic is a scale score ranging from 0 to 100 with 50 as the mean and 20 as the standard deviation. The total score, which is the Sum of scale scores for subscotes, is a scale score ranging from 0 to 300. The scale subscores show the relative position of a candidate in a standard HSK Basic sample group. Table l, 1 gives the percentile of scale subscores. The second row indicates the percentage occupied by those whose scores are lower than the corresponding scores in the standard HSK Basic reference group.

Table 1.1 Percentile of subscores of HSK Basic

(2) The type and grade of HSK Basic is based on the total score. Table 1. 2 explains the type and grade of the certificate.

Types and Grade		Grade Level	Score Range
	C	Level1	100-154
Basic Level	B	Level2	155-209
	A	Level3	210-300

Table 1.2 HSK Types and Grades of the Basic Certificate

3. Description of the level scoring system of HSK Basic:

HSK Basic has three score levels ranging from 1 to 3:
Level 1 -- Has basic competence (Low) In Chinese. Able to handle simple, elementary needs in very familiar situations. Any person having mastery of 600 Chinese words and certain rules of grammar can reach this standard which is also the standard for obtaining the certificate of HSK Basic Grade C.
Level 2 -- Has basic ( Mid ) in Chinese. Able to satisfy Partially the requirements of basic communicative exchanges. Level 2 is the standard for obtaining the certificate of HSK Basic Grade B.
Level 3 -- The minimum level in Chinese proficiency for a candidate to Level 3 has basic competence (High) in Chinese. Level be admitted to a college or university in China as an undergraduate student in the field of science, engineering, agriculture and Western medicine as well as the standard for obtaining the certificate of HSK Basic Grade A, which is equivalent to Grade C of HSK Elementary.

4. Components and test length of HSK Basic:

HSK Basic is a 140-item, 135-minute test. HSK Basic is divided into three subtests: listening, sentence structure and reading. All items are multiple choice. During the time allowed for each section, examinees must work on that section only and are not permitted to work beyond the time limit for the section. Examinees are also not permitted go back to an earlier section. The test is taken in this order:

First Section	Listening	50 items	35 minutes
Second Section	Sentence Structure	40 items	40 minutes
Third Section	Reading	50 items	60 minutes