HSK Vocabulary Test

How It Works

The HSK vocabulary test estimates your vocabulary size with a simple self-report method. It samples 50 words from the official HSK 3.0 vocabulary: five words from HSK 1, 2, 3 and 9, and six words from HSK 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. Each word appears alone on the screen, without pinyin or meaning, and you choose whether you know it. Because the sample covers every level, the result reflects your profile across the whole nine-level system instead of just one part of it.

Honesty matters more than speed. If you have seen a word but cannot recall its meaning, mark it as unknown; recognizing a character in isolation is different from knowing the word. The tool records your answers silently and shows only the hanzi, so nothing on the page nudges you toward a particular answer. This makes the final estimate as meaningful as your own self-assessment.

The scoring works level by level. For each HSK level, the tool calculates the percentage of sampled words you marked as known. When a level reaches at least 70% known, the estimator assumes you have mastered the cumulative vocabulary up to that level using the official GF0025-2021 counts. The next level contributes partial credit based on its known rate, which smooths the boundary between levels and avoids sharp jumps in the estimate.

Consider how you use the result. If the estimate is close to a level boundary, take the lower level as your working assumption: studying words you almost know is faster than jumping into a level where most words are new. The breakdown table tells you which levels are strong and which ones need attention, so you can plan your next week of study instead of guessing.

Answer honestly even when you are unsure. Marking a word as known when you can only guess its meaning inflates the estimate and makes the breakdown less useful. A lower, honest estimate gives you a clearer starting point for review.

A 50-word sample is small, but it is large enough for a useful estimate because vocabulary knowledge is highly correlated across nearby levels. If you know most HSK 3 words, you will probably know a large share of HSK 2 words too, so the estimator can project the full list from a handful of words per level. The result card shows the breakdown by level, so you can see exactly where your knowledge starts to weaken.

The test is also a useful progress check. Take it today, then repeat it after a few weeks of study. Because the 50 words are chosen randomly each time, the new result reflects your current knowledge rather than your memory of the previous round. A rising estimate is a clear sign that your vocabulary is growing.

Everyone's profile looks different, and that is exactly what the test is designed to capture. A learner who reads for pleasure may know more HSK 4-6 words, while a learner who studies textbooks may score higher at HSK 1-3. The per-level table preserves this detail instead of hiding it inside a single number.

Levels 7-9 share one official advanced band of 5,636 new words and 11,092 cumulative words. For the single-level estimate, the band is divided into three equal steps, which is an approximation made clear in the result. Treat the number as a guide for study planning rather than a certification score.

The sample size per level is intentional. Five or six words per level is enough to estimate a known rate without making the test feel endless, and the random selection keeps each attempt fair and fresh.

HSK Vocabulary by Level

These are the official cumulative vocabulary numbers from the HSK 3.0 standard (GF0025-2021). The estimator uses the same numbers, so the estimated vocabulary size is directly comparable to the level table on this page.

Keep in mind that the test measures recognition of isolated words. Reading fluency also depends on grammar, context, and character recognition, so the estimate works best as a vocabulary benchmark. Combine it with the text analyzer to see how those words behave in real sentences.