HSK Level 1 (一级) Practice Test
Build your confidence for HSK Level 1 (一级). Practice the concepts, understand the answers, and strengthen your knowledge one question at a time.
Try a sample questionExam overview and details
The HSK Level 1 (一级) is the foundational examination in the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK), China's official standardized test of Mandarin Chinese proficiency for non-native speakers. This exam assesses a candidate's ability to understand and use the most basic Chinese phrases and sentences, meeting specific, concrete communication needs. It tests listening and reading comprehension through simple, everyday contexts. The exam is designed for absolute beginners who have studied Chinese for a semester (approximately 2-3 hours per week) and have mastered 150 common Chinese characters and related grammar patterns. By passing HSK 1, learners formally validate their initial foray into the language, gaining a concrete benchmark of their foundational skills and building the essential framework for all future learning. It serves as the first official step in a structured progression toward higher levels of fluency.
Sample Questions
Choose an answer and explore the explanation to see how practice works.
阅读题 (Reading): Read the sentence. '小李下午三点在学校看电影。' When does Xiao Li watch the movie?
听力题 (Listening): You hear: '我家有四口人。' (Wǒ jiā yǒu sì kǒu rén.) How many people are in the family?
听力题 (Listening): You hear: '他学习二十分钟。' (Tā xuéxí èrshí fēnzhōng.) How long does he study?
阅读题 (Reading): Complete the short dialogue. A: 今天星期几？ B: ____
听力题 (Listening): You hear: '现在八点。' (Xiànzài bā diǎn.) Which picture best matches what you heard?
Exam insights and study advice
Achieving HSK Level 1 certification provides tangible proof of your commitment to learning Chinese and establishes a critical foundation for real-world interaction. It demonstrates you can handle very basic, predictable communicative tasks, such as introducing yourself, understanding simple prices and times, and responding to elementary questions. This level is often a prerequisite for entry into certain beginner-focused language programs in China and is a valuable confidence-builder that makes initial travel or contact with Chinese speakers less daunting. It transforms abstract study into a certified, recognized skill.
Recommended
These are the backgrounds the certifying body suggests. Check the vendor's own page for anything it formally requires.
What this exam covers
Use the published domain weights to plan your study. Practice results do not predict your certification exam score.