If you're prepping for HSK, we have two pieces of news. The exam everyone's used to is being rebuilt: six levels become nine, and the vocabulary requirements grow several times over. And the second: no need to panic — the transition is spread out over time, and you still have a window to test under the old rules.
Let's go through it calmly, in order.
What's actually happening
HSK (汉语水平考试) is the leading international Chinese proficiency exam. Universities in China ask for it when you apply, employers look at it, and it's also the most common requirement for scholarships.
The version people have been testing under for the last several years is HSK 2.0, six levels. It's being replaced by HSK 3.0: the syllabus was published in November 2025, and rollout began in July 2026. The first trial exam under the new format took place on January 31, 2026.
The big change: nine levels instead of six
The new scale splits into three tiers of three levels each:
- Beginner tier — levels 1–3
- Intermediate tier — levels 4–6
- Advanced tier — levels 7–9
The 7–9 tier is genuinely new. Previously, there was nowhere to go above HSK 6, which meant someone with a confident HSK 6 and someone reading academic papers in the original ended up with the same line on a résumé. Now the upper range is separated out.
The second change: a lot more vocabulary
Here's the part worth reading to the end for. Compare the vocabulary requirements:
- HSK 1 — was 150 words, now 500
- HSK 2 — was 300, now 1,272
- HSK 3 — was 600, now 2,245
- HSK 4 — was 1,200, now 3,245
- HSK 5 — was 2,500, now 4,316
- HSK 6 — was 5,000, now 5,456
- HSK 7 — roughly 7,300 words
- HSK 8 — roughly 9,000 words
- HSK 9 — roughly 11,000 words
Look at the lower levels. HSK 1 got over three times "more expensive": 150 words became 500. HSK 3 nearly quadrupled. Put simply, the new HSK 3 is roughly equivalent to the old HSK 4 — worth keeping in mind when reading a university's or a job's requirements.
The ceiling moved too: where the top used to sit around 5,000 words, the new ninth level is around 11,000.
When this takes effect
As of July 2026, the picture looks like this:
- Second half of 2026 — gradual rollout of HSK 3.0.
- Through December 2026 — transition period: the old HSK 2.0 can still be taken.
- From January 2027 — HSK 3.0 only.
Exact dates can differ between testing centers, and the schedule is still being finalized — always check the exam's official website and your own center before registering.
What to do if you're prepping right now
If your exam is months away and your goal is to test before the end of 2026. Prepare under the old program and take HSK 2.0 while you still can. The certificate isn't going anywhere: documents you've already earned stay valid and won't be retroactively cancelled.
If your exam is planned for 2027 or later. Aim straight for HSK 3.0 and its word lists. Prepping from the old lists in this case means falling short on half the vocabulary.
If you're somewhere between the two. Be realistic about whether you can reach the required level by the end of 2026. If your time is tight, it's calmer to aim straight for the new format than to chase a departing train and test right at the margin.
And general advice for everyone. If you're just starting out, begin with our step-by-step guide for beginners, and for exam prep itself we have a separate breakdown with a plan. Learn words with context, not as lists for the sake of lists. The program changed, but the principle didn't: the exam tests how you use the language, not how many lines you memorized. For someone who genuinely reads, listens, and speaks, the scale change is barely a concern — they just test at the level they already have.
Where to take HSK in Tashkent
The exam is administered by the Confucius Institute at Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies. Registration opens in advance — usually about a month before the exam date, in a window of just a few days. For example, the June 2026 exam had registration from May 18 to May 22.
It's easy to miss the registration window, so follow announcements directly: the institute has a website and a Telegram channel where dates get posted. Check the schedule and pricing for the coming months there too — they change.
In short
- HSK is becoming nine levels, split across three tiers.
- Vocabulary requirements went up at every level, especially the beginner ones: HSK 1 — from 150 to 500 words.
- The new HSK 3 is roughly equal to the old HSK 4 — keep that in mind when reading university requirements.
- The transition period runs through the end of 2026; from January 2027, only the new format remains.
- Certificates already earned stay valid.
At UNLOCK, we prepare students for HSK and track program changes so our groups study to current requirements, not outdated word lists. If you're not sure which format to prep for, come to a free level test — we'll look at your specific situation.