Advanced band, HSK 7-9 test
HSK Level 9
The top of the new HSK. HSK 7, 8 and 9 are not three exams. They are one test, HSK 7-9, and your score on it decides which of the three levels you are awarded. HSK 9 is the highest result the test awards.
What the new HSK 9 exam expects
From the CLEC, HSK Test Syllabus (中文水平考试 HSK 考试大纲), released 15 November 2025. The syllabus lists 5,600 entries at this band, one per sense, which is 5,562 distinct words.
When you can sit HSK 7-9
| Test date | Which exam | Registration closes |
|---|---|---|
| 22 November 2026 | HSK 7-9 | Internet 8 November 2026 |
Registration closes at 24:00 Beijing time on the day shown. Test centres often close earlier than CTI’s deadline, so check with yours. Every date and centre
The old HSK had no advanced levels
The old exam stopped at HSK 6, set at 5,000 words. The new syllabus expects 5,400 words by HSK 6 and 11,000 by the top of HSK 7-9.
By our count against the official lists, a learner who knows every old HSK 6 word is ready for new HSK 6, not HSK 7. The converter shows the words in between.
What you can do at HSK 9
- Read almost anything written in Chinese, including classical allusions in modern text
- Understand fast, idiomatic speech across subjects and accents
- Write polished, well-argued Chinese for professional and academic audiences
- Interpret and translate at a professional level
Words from the HSK 7-9 syllabus
12 of the 5,562 words, in syllabus order.
How to study for HSK 9
- 1.At this level the gaps are rare words, set phrases and allusions. Read literature and quality journalism, not only textbooks.
- 2.Record yourself speaking on unfamiliar topics and listen back for filler and imprecision.
- 3.The whole advanced band is one test: the words you studied for HSK 7 still carry most of the score.
HSK Lord’s HSK 9 study list follows the 2021 national standard, which the exam syllabus grew out of. We are moving every study list onto the syllabus; until then the syllabus list above is the one to check against the exam.
Download the HSK 9 vocabulary PDF
HSK Lord's HSK 9 study list in a printable PDF, with pinyin and English.
Browse the full word list free online →
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Frequently Asked Questions
Related reading
Sources
- CLEC, HSK Test Syllabus (中文水平考试 HSK 考试大纲), published 15 November 2025, read 26 September 2026.
- Chinese Testing International, HSK 3.0 launch notice, published 9 September 2026, read 26 September 2026.
- Chinese Testing International, 2026 HSK test dates, published 25 December 2025, read 26 September 2026.
- Chinese Testing International, notice for the second HSK 3.0 trial sitting, published 12 August 2026, read 26 September 2026.
- CCTV Education, report on the new HSK standard, published 19 December 2025, read 26 September 2026.
On the new HSK 7-9 exam
Studying for HSK 7-9? Practice the rest of your level.
HSK Lord schedules your reviews so each word comes back right before you would forget it. Free to start, and it picks up where you are.