HSK 2.0 to HSK 3.0 converter
Studied for the old HSK? Find out which level of the new exam you are ready for, and get the exact words you are missing. Built on the official syllabus, word by word.
Quick answer
Most learners land one level lower on the new exam. Old HSK 4 lines up with new HSK 3, old HSK 5 with new HSK 4, and old HSK 6 with new HSK 6. The new exam's first official sitting is announced for 13 December 2026.
On the new exam you are ready for
HSK 3
Your old HSK 4 lists come to 1,234 distinct words, and 1,191 of them are on the new syllabus. To reach HSK 4 you need 85 genuinely new words, plus 768 you can build from characters you know.
| New level | Distinct words needed | You have | From characters you know | Genuinely new | Readiness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HSK 1 | 300 | 218 (73%) | 82 | 0 | 86% |
| HSK 2 | 497 | 333 (67%) | 164 | 0 | 84% |
| HSK 3 | 988 | 633 (64%) | 347 | 8 | 82% |
| HSK 4 | 1,978 | 1,125 (57%) | 768 | 85 | 76% |
| HSK 5 | 3,557 | 1,182 (33%) | 1,637 | 738 | 56% |
| HSK 6 | 5,334 | 1,189 (22%) | 2,488 | 1,657 | 46% |
| HSK 7-9 | 10,896 | 1,191 (11%) | 4,453 | 5,252 | 31% |
Where your old words land
Every old level at a glance
Readiness counts the words on your old list, plus half credit for words built from characters you already know. Counts are distinct words: the syllabus lists some words once per sense, so its stated totals run slightly higher.
| Old level | Distinct old words | Ready for | Readiness at that level | Genuinely new words to reach it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HSK 1 (2.0) | 158 | Working toward new HSK 1 | 61% | 85 |
| HSK 2 (2.0) | 309 | New HSK 1 | 83% | 11 |
| HSK 3 (2.0) | 617 | New HSK 2 | 82% | 5 |
| HSK 4 (2.0) | 1,234 | New HSK 3 | 82% | 8 |
| HSK 5 (2.0) | 2,593 | New HSK 4 | 82% | 5 |
| HSK 6 (2.0) | 5,093 | New HSK 6 | 80% | 19 |
What moved between the two lists
Of the 5,093 words on the HSK 2.0 lists:
- 2,405 stay at the same level
- 470 now come earlier, at a lower level
- 2,014 now come later, at a higher level
- 204 are not on the new syllabus at all
The new syllabus adds 6,007 words the old lists never had, for 10,896 distinct words in all (the syllabus counts 11,000 entries because some words appear once per sense). Every dictionary page on HSK Lord shows both levels for its word.
How this works, and what it is built on
Two documents get called “HSK 3.0”, and most sites mix them up. The 2021 national standard listed about 500 words at level 1 and 11,092 in all. The exam itself follows a later syllabus, released by CLEC on 15 November 2025, which sets 300 words for HSK 1 and 11,000 across all nine levels. This converter uses the syllabus, because that is what you will be tested on.
Your old level is compared against each new level word by word. A word on your old list counts in full. A word made only of characters you already know counts as half, because 作 and 战 do not hand you 作战. You are placed at the highest new level where that reaches 80 percent. It is a starting point for your study plan, not an exam result.
HSK 7-9 is one advanced band in the syllabus and is treated as one here.
Sources
- CLEC, HSK Test Syllabus (中文水平考试 HSK 考试大纲), published 15 November 2025. Read 26 September 2026.
- Wikipedia, "Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi" (its summary of the 2021 standard, GF 0025-2021). 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.
- Hack Chinese, "HSK 2.0 vs HSK 3.0", published August 2026. Read 26 September 2026.
- HSK 2.0 word lists from complete-hsk-vocabulary (MIT). Read 26 September 2026.
Close the gap
Know your new level? Study the words you are missing.
HSK Lord schedules each review right before you would forget the word, and you start at the level you choose. Free to start.
Frequently Asked Questions
Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.