The version question now has an answer, because the switch has a date: 13 December 2026. HSK 3.0 launches worldwide for levels 1–6 on that day; until then, regular sittings use the current format (informally called HSK 2.0). Which one to prepare depends almost entirely on when you plan to sit the exam.
The short answer, by exam date
- Exam before 13 December 2026 → prepare 2.0. That is the paper you will actually sit, and certificates stay valid for two years.
- Exam after 13 December 2026 → prepare 3.0. The word lists and task types change; practice material built for the old lists will not cover the new selection.
- Mid-way through HSK 1 or 2 now → keep going. The high-frequency core carries over; you will add vocabulary rather than start again.
Why the date settles it
The 3.0 syllabus was published in November 2025 and two global pilot sittings ran in 2026 — 31 January and 20 September. Those were labeled trials: scores valid, but the regular calendar kept running the current exam. The launch announcement then fixed 13 December 2026 as the worldwide start date.
Registration for the launch sitting closes on 16 November 2026 for the paper-based test and 3 December 2026 for the internet-based test (both 24:00 Beijing time). Centers can close earlier when seats fill.
What carries over
- The core vocabulary. Words like 我, 是, 现在, 今天, 因为 and 谢谢 are the foundation under any syllabus.
- The exam structure at beginner level. HSK 1 and 2 stay listening + reading only, no writing.
- Scoring. 200 points, 120 to pass at levels 1–2.
What does not carry over
The selection itself was revised. HSK 1 grows from 150 to 300 words and HSK 2 from 300 to 500, with new everyday vocabulary added and some older items removed — so the current list is not a strict subset of the new one. A candidate who only drilled the 150-word list will meet unfamiliar items on a 3.0 paper.
That is the honest argument for preparing 3.0 if your exam is in 2027: not that 2.0 was bad, but that the target moved. See what changed in the vocabulary for the details.
If you are booking right now
- Check whether your preferred center offers a sitting before 13 December — those are the last 2.0 dates.
- Confirm the format (paper or iBT) and its specific registration deadline; the global cut-off is not the only limit.
- If you need the certificate for a visa or university deadline, book early enough to allow for results processing.
The decision in one line
Sitting before 13 December 2026: prepare 2.0 and book now. Sitting in 2027 or later: prepare 3.0. Either way, start with the same core and take a timed mock exam to find your level — the free HSK 1 sample is a five-minute version of that check.