About China,The Basic Chinese Proficiency Test,Eastsoft Team

There are 4 sections in HSK (Elementary-Intermediate) as shown in the table below:

A section score of HSK (Elementary-Intermediate) is a scale score with 50 as the score mean and 15 as the standard deviation, while the total score is a scale score with 200 as the score mean and 60 the standard deviation. These scores show the relative position of the candidate in a standard sample group. The table below helps to locate the relative position of a candidate in the whole group. The right column indicates the percentage occupied by those whose scores are lower than the corresponding scores in the standard HSK reference group. Therefore, as it shows, the total score of HSK (Elementary-Intermediate) is not simply an add-up of the section scores.

Scores		Percentage
Total Score	Section Score	Percentage
400	100	99
277	69	90
250	63	80
231	58	70
215	54	60
200	50	50
185	46	40
169	42	30
150	37	20
123	31	10

Grades	Listening	Grammar	Reading	Cloze Test
Bottom Line*	29-37	28-36	30-38	28-36
Level 3	38-46	37-45	39-47	37-45
Level 4	47-55	46-54	48-56	46-54
Level 5	56-64	55-63	57-65	55-63
Level 6	65-73	64-72	66-74	64-72
Level 7	74-82	73-81	75-83	73-81
Level 8	83-100	82-100	84-100	82-100

*There is a bottom line set below Level 3 for HSK (Elementary) purely out of the convenience to set a criterion for awarding certificates but not to assess the basic proficiency levels. Scores within this range are not eligible for HSK Certificate (Elementary).

Certificate Types and Grades		Score Levels	Total Score Ranges
Types	Grades	Score Levels	Total Score Ranges
The Elementary Certificate	C	Level 3	152-188
	B	Level 4	189-225
	A	Level 5	226-262
The Intermediate Certificate	C	Level 6	263-299
	B	Level 7	300-336
	A	Level 8	337-400

• Level 3: The candidate has the elementary (low) competence in Chinese. A candidate at this level can gain HSK Elementary Certificate Grade C, which is prescribed by the Ministry of Education as the minimal level in Chinese proficiency for an international student to study in a Bachelor’s Degree programme in science, engineering, agriculture and western medicine in a Chinese college or university.

Level 4: The candidate has the elementary (middle) competence in Chinese and can gain the HSK Elementary Certificate Grade B

Level 5: The candidate has the elementary (high) competence in Chinese and can be granted the HSK Elementary Certificate Grade A.

• Level 6: The candidate has acquired the intermediate (low) competence in Chinese and can get the HSK Intermediate Certificate Grade C.

Level 7: The candidate has the intermediate (high) Chinese language competence and is eligible for the HSK Intermediate Certificate Grade B.

Level 8: The candidate has acquired the intermediate (high) Chinese language competence and can be awarded the HSK Intermediate Certificate Grade A.

1, The total score should be higher than the minimal level in the related grade.

2, Three of the four section scores shall exceed the minimal level in the related grade.

3, One of the four section scores is allowed to be less than the minimal level in the related grade, but shall not be less by more than one level. If so, one can only get a certificate of the lower grade.

The above three preconditions are set in an effort to encourage the all round development in all aspects of language skills, and an imbalanced development in certain language skills will affect the candidate in getting an HSK certificate.

The Elementary and Intermediate Chinese Proficiency Test