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HSK 3: Study Guide and Free Test

HSK 3 is the B1 level of the NewHSK. With it you can handle travel, study and simple work situations, and give opinions and reasons in connected sentences. This guide shows what to study and how to check that you are ready.

Find out where you stand with a timed HSK 3 paper.

Take the HSK 3 mock exam →

85 questions · writing, speaking, listening and reading · about 88 minutes

✓ about 1,000 in total words
✓ B1 on the CEFR scale
✓ 85-question mock exam
✓ Free, no login

What you need to know for HSK 3

HSK 3 covers about 1,000 in total words. The grammar focus is complements, 把 sentences, 被 sentences and conjunctions such as 因为 and 所以. Together they let you handle travel, study and simple work situations, and give opinions and reasons in connected sentences.

If you are unsure whether HSK 3 is the right level, take the free level test first and then come back to this guide.

How the HSK 3 exam works

The hsk 3 exam has writing, speaking, listening and reading. In the sample paper used for the mock exam there are 85 questions and about 88 minutes of working time. The listening audio plays once, and each section is timed, so practising under the same conditions matters.

How to study for HSK 3

Combine three habits: learn the word list a little every day, practise the grammar in sentences and take a hsk 3 test regularly.

  • Learn 把 and 被 through examples, then write your own.
  • Practise the speaking tasks aloud and record yourself.
  • Do a full timed mock exam once a week to build stamina.

After HSK 3

When your mock scores are steady, move on to HSK 4. Your saved results show which sections need more work.

Frequently asked questions

How many words do I need for HSK 3?

The NewHSK 3 vocabulary is about 1,000 in total words. The word list on this site follows the same standard.

How long does the HSK 3 exam take?

The sample paper has 85 questions and takes about 88 minutes across writing, speaking, listening and reading.

What level is HSK 3 on the CEFR scale?

HSK 3 is roughly B1. The match is approximate because the two scales measure different things.

Ready to practise?

85 questions · writing, speaking, listening and reading · about 88 minutes

Take the HSK 3 mock exam →

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