HSKK explained: the three HSK speaking levels, what each paper asks, the 60-point pass and the two-year validity
The HSKK (HSK Speaking Test) is the spoken test that sits beside the HSK. It is booked and scored separately: an HSK certificate says nothing about your speaking, and an HSKK result says nothing about your reading or writing.
It has three levels, not nine, and it is taken as an audio recording: you speak into a microphone, not to an examiner. Everything below is from the official Chinese Tests Service site (chinesetest.cn), read on 4 November 2026.
Three levels, and who each is for
Elementary: for learners with one to two semesters at two to three lessons a week, about 200 of the most common words.
Intermediate: one to two academic years at that pace, about 900 common words.
Advanced: more than two academic years, about 3,000 common words.
Our reading: the jump from Intermediate to Advanced is more than three times the vocabulary. The HSKK levels do not line up one-to-one with HSK levels, so check which HSKK level your university or scholarship actually names.
What each paper asks
Elementary: 27 items in three sections. Listen and repeat (15 items, 6 min), listen and answer (10 items, 4 min), answer the questions (2 items, 3 min). 20 minutes in all, including 7 minutes of preparation.
Intermediate: 14 items. Listen and repeat (10 items, 5 min), picture description (2 items, 4 min), answer the questions (2 items, 4 min). 23 minutes, including 10 minutes of preparation.
Advanced: 6 items. Listen and repeat (3 items, 8 min), read aloud (1 item, 2 min), answer the questions (2 items, 5 min). 25 minutes, including 10 minutes of preparation.
Our reading: the item count falls as the level rises, so each Advanced answer carries far more of the score. Listening and repeating is the first section at every level: if you cannot hold a sentence in memory, you lose marks before you have said anything of your own.
Score, pass mark, validity
Each level is scored out of 100; 60 or more is a pass.
HSKK scores are valid for two years from the test date, in the official site's own words. Check the date on your result before you send it anywhere.
Start times are set in the test centre's local time. Where the HSK and HSKK run on the same day, the official pages give 15:40 for Elementary and 11:25 for Intermediate; elsewhere, and for Advanced everywhere, 16:30.
For dates and fees, use the official site's test-date and test-centre search; we did not find a single published price.
How it relates to the new HSK
The HSK moved to a nine-level syllabus in July 2026 (see our HSK levels guide). The official HSKK pages, read on 4 November 2026, still describe three speaking levels with the formats above. If you are told the HSKK has changed too, ask for the official notice.
Mistakes worth avoiding
Assuming an HSK certificate proves you can speak.
Booking the HSKK if anyone needs proof of speaking.
The HSKK is a separate test with a separate score.
Treating the preparation minutes as spare time.
Using them to plan the picture description and the two open answers.
At Intermediate and Advanced the two open questions are a large share of very few items.
Sending a three-year-old HSKK result.
Checking the test date first.
The official site says HSKK scores are valid for two years from the test date.
Questions
What is the HSKK pass mark?
60 out of 100, at every level.
How long is an HSKK score valid?
Two years from the test date.
How many levels does the HSKK have?
Three: Elementary (about 200 words), Intermediate (about 900) and Advanced (about 3,000).
Is the HSKK a face-to-face interview?
No. It is taken as an audio recording.
How long does the HSKK take?
20 minutes at Elementary, 23 at Intermediate and 25 at Advanced, including preparation time.
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