HSK (Chinese Proficiency Test)

The New HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi) is the proficiency test for the Chinese language developed by Hanban on the basis of the International Standard of competence of the Chinese language aimed at non-native speakers.

What is HSK

The HSK exam (Hànyǔ Shǔipíng Kǎoshì) is the only Chinese international standardized test of Chinese language proficiency, developed on the basis of the International Standard of Competence of the Chinese language (国际 汉语 能力 标准), assesses non-native Chinese speakers’ abilities in using the Chinese language in their daily, academic and professional lives. The HSK consists of a written test.

The HSK levels

HSK consists of six levels, namely HSK level I, HSK level II, HSK level III, HSK level IV, HSK level V, and HSK level VI.

HSK LEVEL I = A1 (certifies knowledge of 150 characters)
HSK LEVEL II = A2 (certifies knowledge of 300 characters)
HSK LEVEL III = B1 (certifies knowledge of 600 characters)
HSK LEVEL IV = B2 (certifies knowledge of 1,200 characters)
HSK LEVEL V = C1 (certifies knowledge of 2,500 characters)
HSK LEVEL VI = C2 (certifies knowledge of 5,000 characters)

For more information on the HSK proficiency test you can read the attached document (HSK information sheet) or go to the official page of the Hanban Chinese Test Center.

What is HSK used for?

The HSK test result certifies the level of linguistic knowledge reached by the student and can be spent in different ways: the HSK diploma is an internationally recognized qualification, proving very useful and, in some cases indispensable, for all students who would like to study at a Chinese University. The acquired title is also useful for all those who spend the Chinese language on a working level. But, taking the HSK exam is first and foremost important for testing your Chinese language skills.

Take HSK test  at the Confucius Institute at the University of Bologna

The Confucius Institute of the University of Bologna informs you that the exam sessions for 2023 are scheduled as follow:

  •  I SESSION: Saturday 22 June 2024

 The exam will be in presence.

Tests in Presence

Exam date: June 22, 2024, registration will open on April 2nd

Registration deadline: May 13, 2024

Tests timetable:

HSK 1 at 1.30 PM

HSK 2 at 9.00 AM

HSK 3 at 1.30 PM

HSK 4 at 9.00 AM

HSK 5 at 1.30 PM

HSK 6 at 9.00 AM

How to register

It is specified that, in order to make a valid registration for HSK exams through the Confucius Institute of the University of Bologna, it is mandatory to proceed with the subscription through the link that will be available after April 2nd and following the procedures set out in the registration module, which you will find - available for download- attached on this page. The Confucius Institute of the University of Bologna directly manages registrations for the test, therefore registrations made directly through the chinesetest.cn website will NOT be taken into account. It is possible to register for only one exam level.

Registration has to be done exclusively by email.

RECOGNITION OF THE CANDIDATE: as indicated in the registration form, the candidate must also submit a photo ID, strictly in .jpg or .png format between the dimension of 20kb and 500 kb. The photo must be recent: taken no more than 6 months before the registration.

Once the office has received and screened all the documents (as shown on the attached form), candidates will be confirmed that the registration has been taken over.

In the email containing the registration, it is mandatory to indicate in the subject: HSK EXAMS + HSK level and HSKK + Surname of the candidate (Ex. HSK - HSK 1 - Smith).

All the required documents must be sent to the student office via email by the mandatory deadline of May 13, 2024. Under no circumstances registrations sent after the deadline or in ways other than those indicated will be accepted. It is specified that, if the registration is incomplete or sent after the deadline, the exam fee cannot be refunded under any circumstances.

Close to the examination date, the Institute will send personal admission tickets and passwords (both required to authenticate the date of the exam) exclusively to the email address indicated during the registration process. Once you have received the admission ticket, please check the accuracy of the personal data contained therein and contact the Confucius office as soon as possible, via email, in case of any mistakes.

Registration fees

The registration fee must be paid by bank transfer to the bank details on the registration site, which will be made available to you once the registration is completed.

The REGISTRATION FEE changes depending on the exam level for which you are enrolling

HSK 1 and HSK 2 payment of € 20.00.

HSK 3 and HSK 4 payment of € 30.00.

HSK 5 and HSK 6 payment of € 50.00. 

Test day

Before the test

Admission Time: candidates MUST show at the place of the exam 60 minutes before the test starts.  

Please note: Candidates deemed unsuitable on the day of the test will not be able to take the test. The day of the test candidates should bring with them: a B2 type pencil, an eraser, the ID document (passport or ID), the admission ticket that will be sent to the candidate by email before the day of the test.

Read and accept the examination rules

During the test

Conduct: All regulations listed on the "Measures for Disciplinary Violations in the Chinese Tests" are applicable to these Chinese certification exams taken in presence the CTI and test centers, as responsible, retain the right to assert / reclaim any violations even after the test has been carried out.

Shortcomings and anomalies: if the candidate for the exam does not take or does not complete the test on the day of the exam for reasons not attributable to the organizing body, the responsibility will remain with the candidate himself. In that case, the test fee will not be refunded. 

Results and certificates

You can check your HSK results 30 working days after the exam.

The candidate can autonomously consult the result on the website www.chinesetest.cn by entering his admission ticket number, surname and name.

We remind all the candidates that as soon as the HSK certificate will be available for the pick up, we will send an email containing all the necessary informations to pick up the certificate, that will be possible in our offices at the second floor of Palazzo Paleotti, Via Zamboni 25.