The wait is over: HSK 3.0 has a launch date. The Chinese Testing International (CTI) announcement sets the worldwide start of the new HSK at 13 December 2026, after two global trial sittings in January and September 2026. If your exam is before that date, nothing changes. If it is after, the paper you sit is the new one.
The dates that matter
- 13 December 2026 — HSK 3.0 exams open worldwide for levels 1–6.
- 16 November 2026, 24:00 Beijing time — registration closes for the paper-based test on launch day.
- 3 December 2026, 24:00 Beijing time — registration closes for the internet-based test (iBT) on launch day.
- Before 13 December — regular sittings still run the current HSK format at test centers worldwide.
The two pilot sittings — 31 January 2026 and 20 September 2026 — are already behind us. Their scores are valid, but they were explicitly labeled trials; the regular calendar kept running the current exam alongside them.
What actually changes on 13 December
HSK 1–6 move to the 3.0 syllabus: new vocabulary lists, adjusted task types and a revised structure per level. For the two beginner levels the practical change is vocabulary size — HSK 1 grows from 150 to 300 words, HSK 2 from 300 to 500 — and the selection is revised, so the current lists are not a strict subset of the new ones. Both levels remain listening + reading only, with no writing section.
The advanced band is already live: HSK 7–9 has been running as a combined exam since 2022 and is not affected by the December switch.
Book before 13 December, or wait?
The decision is almost entirely about your own timeline, not about which exam is "better":
- You need a certificate in the next few months (visa, university application, graduation requirement, job). Book a regular sitting before 13 December and prepare for the current format. The certificate you earn is valid for two years, so it covers you well into the 3.0 era.
- You are starting from zero and your exam is in 2027. Prepare for 3.0. There is no point memorizing a list that expires before you sit the exam.
- You are mid-way through HSK 1 or HSK 2 now. Keep going. The high-frequency core — pronouns, numbers, basic verbs, everyday nouns — carries over. When the switch lands, you add the new everyday vocabulary on top of a foundation you already own.
How to register for the December exam
Registration runs through the official CTI portal, chinesetest.cn, and through authorized test centers. Pick your center first — not every center offers every format on every date — then check the deadline for that center's paper or iBT sitting. The two deadlines above are the global cut-offs; individual centers sometimes close earlier when seats fill.
What does not change
- Scoring. Levels 1–2 are still 200 points with 120 to pass; the certificate remains valid for two years.
- Certificates already issued. A 2.0 certificate does not expire on 13 December — it expires two years after you earned it.
- The skills tested at beginner level. Listening and reading, short dialogues, picture cues, simple sentences.
Frequently asked questions
Is HSK 3.0 definitely starting on 13 December 2026?
Yes. The HSK 3.0 syllabus was published in November 2025 and CTI has announced 13 December 2026 as the worldwide launch date for levels 1–6, after pilot sittings in January and September 2026.
Can I still take the current HSK after December 2026?
Regular sittings before 13 December 2026 use the current format. From the launch date, levels 1–6 sit the 3.0 syllabus. Check with your test center for any local transition arrangements.
Does my old HSK certificate become invalid?
No. Certificates are valid for two years from the date you earned them, regardless of which syllabus version you sat.
What if I already started studying the 150-word HSK 1 list?
Keep going. The most frequent words carry over to the 3.0 list; you will add new everyday vocabulary rather than start from zero.