the hsk scoring system

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The HSK Scoring System

Scoring System of HSK Basic

HSK (Basic) is a standardized test designed for beginners. It is most appropriatefor those who have acquired 400-3000 basic Chinese words (referring to level Aand B in the Outline of HSK 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 Ais the highest, equivalent to level C of the Certificates will be awarded to thosewho have secured the minimum required scores.

The certificate of HSK Basic serves:

(1) As a requirement to enter a college or university in China as an undergraduatestudent in the field of science, engineering, agriculture or Western medicine(Level A only).

(2) To exempt students from taking certain language courses in China.

(3) As an exemption of language testing for hiring decisions for positionsrequiring basic competence in Chinese.

2. HSK (Basic) scoring system:

(1) A sub score of HSK Basic is a graduated score ranging from 0 to 100 with 50as the mean and 20 as the standard deviation. The total score, which is the sum ofgraduated scores for subs cores, is a graduated score ranging from 0 to 300. Thescale subscores show the relative position of a candidate in a standard HSK Basicsample group. Table 1.1 gives the percentile of graduated subs cores. The secondrow indicates the percentage occupied by those whose scores are lower than thecorresponding scores in the standard HSK Basic reference group.

Table 1.1

Subs core 100 76 67 60 55 50 45 40 33 24Percentage 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10

Table 1.1 Percentile of subs cores of HSK BasicTable 1.1 Percentile of subs cores of HSK Basic

Table 1.2

Types and Grade GradeLevel

Score Range

Types Grade

Basic

Level

C Level 1 100-154

B Level2 155-209

A Level3 210-300

The HSK Scoring System http://www.china.org.cn/english/MATERIAL/105461.htm

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Table 1.2 HSK Types and Grades of the Basic Certificate

(2)The type and grade of HSK Basic is based on the total score. Table 1.2 explainsthe type and grade of the certificate.

(3) Requirements to obtain HSK Basic certificate

The candidate must secure the total minimum score required for thecorresponding level.

3. Description of the level scoring system of HSK Basic:HSK Basic has three score level 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 600Chinese words and certain rules of grammar can reach this standard which is alsothe standard for obtaining the certificate of HSK Basic Grade C.

Level 2 Has basic (Mid) in Chinese. Able to partially satisfy the requirements ofbasic communicative exchanges. Level 2 is the standard for obtaining thecertificate of HSK Basic Grade B.

Level 3 Has basic competence (High) in Chinese. Level 3 is the minimum level inChinese proficiency for a candidate to be admitted to a college or university inChina as an undergraduate student in the field of science, engineering, agriculture,or Western medicine as well as the standard for obtaining the certificate of HSKBasic 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 threesubtests: Listening, sentence structure and reading. All item are multiple-choice.During the time allowed for each section, examinees must work on that sectiononly and are not permitted to work beyond the time limit for the section.Examinees are also not permitted to turn to a section that has not been announcedor go back to an earlier section. The test is taken in this order:

First SectionListening50 itemsapproximately 35 minutes

Second Section Sentence Structure 40 items 40 minutes

Third Section Reading50items 60 minutes

Scoring System of HSK Elementary-Intermediate

HSK Elementary-Intermediate is suitable for persons who have mastery of2000-5000 Chinese words (referring to level A, B and C in the outline of HSKVocabulary) and certain rules of grammar (referring to lever A, B and C in theoutline of HSK Grammar).

1. Function of the Certificate of HSK Elementary-Intermediate:

(1) to be a requirement to enter a college or university in China as anundergraduate student.

(2) to exempt the holder from taking certain language courses in China.

(3) as a basis for employers to evaluate job applicants' Chinese languageproficiency.

2．HSK Elementary-Intermediate scoring system:

(1) Interpretation of the scores of HSK Elementary-Intermediate:

A sub score of HSK Elementary-Intermediate is a scale sore with 50 as the meanand 15 as the standard deviation. The total score is a scale score with 200 as themean and 60 as the standard deviation. These scores show the relative position ofthe candidate in a standard HSK sample group. In table 2.1, it indicates the


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relative position of a candidate in the whole group. The column on the right givesthe percentage of those whose scores are lower than the corresponding scores inthe standard HSK reference group. The total score is not equal to the sum of allthe subscores.

HSK score Percentage (Table 2.1)

HSK score Percentage

Total score Sub score

400 100 100

277 69 90

250 63 80

231 58 70

215 54 60

200 50 50

185 46 40

169 42 30

150 37 20

123 31 10

(2) Table 2.2 shows the subscores of HSK Elementary-Intermediate as well as thetypes and grades of the certificate of HSK Elementary-Intermediate.

In table 2.2, HSK Elementary has a bottom line below level C, which isestablished for the convenience of setting the standards for the HSK Elementarycertificate. Thus, the bottom line cannot be used for measuring a beginner's level.The candidate cannot fain the certificate of HSK Elementary if any score fallsbelow the minimum elementary subs core requirements.

Table 2.2

Types and Grades Grade

Level

Score Range

Types Listening Grammar Reading Cloze Score

Range

Elementary

Level

Grades BottomLine

29-37 28-36 30-38 28-36 115-151

C Level 3

38-46 37-45 39-47 37-45 152-188

B Level

4

47-55 46-54 48-57 46-54 189-225

A Level

5

56-64 55-63 57-65 55-63 226-262

Intermediate

Level

C Level

6

65-73 64-72 66-74 64-72 263-299

B Level 7

74-82 73-81 75-83 73-81 300-336

A Level 8

83-100 82-100 84-100 82-100 82-100

3．Description of the level scoring system:

HSK has eleven score levels, amongst which levels 1-3 are the beginning level,levels 3-5 are the elementary level, levels 6-8 are the intermediate level, and levels9-11 are the advanced level. The following is the description of level 3-level 8.

Level 3 Has basic (low) competence in Chinese. A person reaching this level cangain the certificate of HSK Elementary Grade C. Level 3 is the minimum level inChinese proficiency for a candidate to be admitted to a college or university inChina as an undergraduate student in the field of science, engineering, agricultureor western medicine.

Level 4 Has basic (mid) competence in Chinese. Can gain the certificate of HSKElementary Grade B.


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Level 5 Has basic (high) competence in Chinese. Can gain the certificate of HSKElementary Grade A.

Level 6 is proficient in Chinese at the intermediate (low) level. Can gain thecertificate of HSK Intermediate Grade C. Level 6 is the minimum level requiredby the Ministry of Education for a candidate to enter college or university inChina as an undergraduate student in the field of literature, history and traditionalChinese medicine.

Level 7 is proficient in Chinese at the intermediate (mid) level. Can gain thecertificate of HSK Intermediate Grade B.

Level 8 is proficient in Chinese at the intermediate (high) level. Can gain thecertificate of HSK Intermediate Grade A.

4．Requirements for obtaining the certificate of Elementary-Intermediate HSK:

(1)The candidate must secure the total scores required for the correspondinggrade.

(2)The candidate must secure three of the four required subscores for thecorresponding grade.

(3)Only one of the four subscores is allowed to be lower than the requiredminimum grade, but not lower than the minimum scores of the next lower grade.In such case, the candidate can only be awarded the certificate of a lower grade.

The above three requirements aim at encouraging the candidate to develop variousskills in Chinese uniformly. Thus, the irregular development of any particularskill will affect level of the HSK certificate obtained by the candidate.

5. Components and test length of HSK Elementary-Intermediate:

HSK Elementary-Intermediate is a 170-item, 145 minutes test which is dividedinto four subtests; listening, sentence structure, reading and cloze. Items from1-154 are multiple-choice. Items 155-170 are a test of comprehension in whichblank spaces at regular intervals in a text must be filled in with appropriateChinese characters. During the time allowed for each section, examinees mustwork on that section only and are not permitted to work beyond the time limit forthe section. Examinees are also not permitted to turn to a section that has not beenannounced or turn to a previous section.

The test is taken in this order:First Section Listening 50 items approximately 35 minutesSecond Section Sentence Structure 30 items 20 minutes Third Section Reading 50 items 60 minutesFourth Section Cloze 40 items 30 minutes

Scoring System of HSK Advanced

HSK Advanced applies to those who have mastery of 5000-8000 Chinese words(referring to level A, B, C and D in the Outline of HSK Vocabulary) and thecorresponding rules of grammar (referring to level A, B, C and D in the Outlineof HSK Grammar).

1. Function of the Certificate of HSK Advanced:

(1) to be a requirement in Chinese proficiency for a candidate to enter a universityin China as a graduate student.

(2) to exempt the holder from taking certain Chinese courses.

(3) to certify the holder as being qualified to undertake ordinary work by usingChinese as a communicative tool.

2. HSK Advanced scoring system:

(1) Interpretation of the scores of HSK Advanced:

A subscore of HSK Advanced is a scale score with 50 as the mean and 15 as the


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standard deviation. These scores show the relative position of the candidate in astandard sample group. Table 3.1 helps to locate the relative position of acandidate in the whole group. The second line indicates the percentage occupiedby those whose scores are lower than the corresponding scores in the standardHSK reference group.

Table 3.1

subscore 100 69 63 58 54 50 46 42 37 31

percentage 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10

Table 3.1 Percentile of subscores of HSK Advanced

(2) Table 3.2 shows the types and grades of the certificate of HSK Advanced Types and Grades Scores Level Score Range

Table 3.2

Types andGrades

ScoresLevel

Score Range

Types Grades Listening Reading Cloze Composition Oral Totalscore

AdvancedLevel

BottomLine※

46-57 42-53 42-53 46-57 44-55 220-279

C 9 58-69 54-65 54-65 58-69 56-67 280-339

B 10 70-81 66-77 66-77 70-81 68-79 340-399

A 11 82-100 78-100 78-100 82-100 80-100 400-500

Table 3.2 Types and grades of the certificate of HSK Advanced

In table 3.2, HSK Advanced has a bottom line, which is established for theconvenience of setting the standards for the certificate of HSK Advanced. Thus,the bottom Line is only relevant for ranking levels in HSK elementary andintermediate when the score of a candidate reaches the bottom line.

In table 3.2, HSK Advanced has a bottom line, which is established for theconvenience of setting the standards for the certificate of HSK Advanced. Thus,the bottom Line is only relevant for ranking HSK Advanced levels. It cannot beused for ranking levels in HSK elementary and intermediate when the score of acandidate reaches the bottom line.

3. Description of the level scoring system for HSK Advanced:

HSK has eleven score levels, among which levels 9-11 are the advanced level.

Level 9 is proficient in Chinese at the advanced (low) level. Level 9 is thestandard to obtain the certificate of HSK Advanced Grade C. This is also therequirement for a candidate to use Chinese as a communicative tool in ordinarywork.

Level 10 is proficient in Chinese at the advanced (mid) level. Level 10 is thestandard to obtain the certificate of HSK Advanced Grade B. This is also therequirement for a candidate to use Chinese as a communicative tool in ordinarywork.

Level 11 is proficient in Chinese at the advanced (high) level. Examinees reachinglevel 11 can be regarded as qualified as an intermediate-level translator. Level 11is the standard to obtain the certificate of HSK Advanced Grade A.

4. Requirement for obtaining the certificate of HSK Advanced:

(1) The candidate must secure the total score required for the corresponding gradeof the certificate.

(2) In the five subtests, the candidate must secure three of the four subscores forlistening, reading, composition and oral tests required for the correspondinggrade.


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(3) Two of the five subscores may be lower than the required minimum, (for thefour subtests of listening, reading, composition and oral, only one subscore maybe lower than the required minimum for the corresponding grade), but not lowerthan the required minimum scores for the next lower grade. In such case, thecandidate can only be awarded a certificate of a lower grade.

(4) None of the five subscores are allowed to be lower than the bottom line underGrade C.

5. Components and test length of HSK Advanced:The total test length is 2 hours and 35minutes.HSK Advanced consists of three separately-timed subtests: 120-item written test(objective), composition and oral test. The 120-item test is organized into threesubtests: listening, reading and cloze. A variety of objective question types will beused including multiple-choice, matching, gap-filling and writing Chinesecharacters. The oral test takes the form of an interview. During the time allowedfor each section, examinees must work on that section only, and are nor permittedto work beyond the time limit for the section. Examinees are also not permitted toturn to a section that has not been announced or go back to a previous section.

The test is taken in this order and timed as follows:(1) Written test (objective) 120 items 105 minutes (a) Listening 40 items approximately 25 minutes (b) Reading first section 15 items 15 minutes second section 25 items 25 minutes (c) Cloze 40 items 40 minutes

After the 120-item written test, there is a 10 minute test break. Then acomposition and oral test follow. (2) Composition 30 minutes (3) Oral test 20 minutes first stage preparation 10 minutes second stage talk (recorded) 10 minutes

(China.org.cn August 30, 2004)

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the hsk scoring system

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