MyHSK3 is a practice platform for elementary Mandarin Chinese learners preparing for the HSK 3 exam under the HSK 3.0 standard. It offers interactive drills and quizzes covering the roughly 500 new Level 3 vocabulary words, grammar, listening, speaking, and writing.

Is MyHSK3 only for HSK 3 learners?

MyHSK3 covers the full HSK 3.0 Level 3 standard - roughly 500 new words, new grammar, and the listening, speaking, and writing skills HSK 3 introduces. It builds on HSK 1 and HSK 2 for learners continuing their Mandarin Chinese.

How long are the daily drills?

Most drills and quizzes take 5 to 10 minutes. You can practice pinyin tones, vocabulary flashcards, grammar exercises, listening comprehension, or speaking dialogs in short focused sessions.

Can I practice speaking and listening?

Yes. MyHSK3 includes listening comprehension exercises with audio and interactive speaking dialog practice with pronunciation feedback.

Do I need a teacher to use MyHSK3?

No. MyHSK3 is designed for self-study with instant feedback on every drill and quiz. Teachers can also use it to assign exercises to students.

HSK 3.0 is the updated Chinese proficiency standard taking effect in July 2026. It replaces the old HSK 2.0 system and expands the vocabulary at every level. Level 3 adds about 500 new words on top of the roughly 500 from Levels 1 and 2, reaching around 1,000 in total, and introduces a scored writing section. MyHSK3 is fully aligned with the HSK 3.0 Level 3 standard.

How is HSK 3.0 different from HSK 2.0?

HSK 3.0 restructures the old HSK 2.0 system and expands the vocabulary at every level. Level 3 builds on the roughly 500 words from Levels 1 and 2 with about 500 more, plus new grammar and a produced writing section, getting learners ready for real conversations.

Where can I take HSK practice tests online?

MyHSK3 offers full-length HSK 3.0 Level 3 mock exams with 47 questions each, matching the official exam format. Each test includes listening, reading, and writing (书写) sections, timed at about 85 minutes, with a pass score of 180 out of 300 points. All tests use HSK 3.0 Level 1, 2, and 3 vocabulary.

Did HSK 3 get harder under HSK 3.0?

Yes. The old HSK 2.0 Level 3 covered about 600 words and tested Listening and Reading only. Under HSK 3.0, HSK 3 covers roughly 1,000 words, adds a scored writing (书写) section, and pairs registration with a speaking test. It is a real step up from the old Level 3.

How many words does HSK 3 have now?

About 1,000 words in total under HSK 3.0: the roughly 500 from HSK 1 and HSK 2 plus about 500 new ones. The old HSK 2.0 Level 3 sat near 600 words, so the vocabulary load rose sharply. You can practice all of them at HSK 3 vocabulary.

Does HSK 3 test handwriting now?

Yes - this is the headline change. HSK 3 is the first level with a scored writing (书写) section, where you compose a sentence from a picture and a given word and write a short descriptive paragraph. Correct characters and stroke order now earn points directly, not just faster reading. Practice it at HSK 3 writing practice.

Is my old HSK 3 certificate still valid?

An HSK certificate you already hold stays valid as a record of your result, and institutions often treat scores as current for about two years. New tests use the HSK 3.0 standard, so if you study or re-sit now, prepare with the roughly 1,000-word syllabus plus writing and speaking, not the old 600-word Level 3.

News

HSK 3 Before and After HSK 3.0: Vocabulary, Writing, and Speaking

July 3, 20266 min read

HSK 3 changed more than almost any level when the exam moved from the old HSK 2.0 standard to the new HSK 3.0 standard. The old Level 3 was a reading-and-listening exam of about 600 words. The new HSK 3 covers roughly 1,000 words, adds a scored writing (书写) section, and pairs registration with a speaking test. This is where Chinese production starts to count.

If you last looked at HSK 3 a few years back, or your textbooks predate the change, here is what actually shifted and how it should reshape your prep.

HSK 3: old standard vs new standard

Feature	HSK 3 (old 2.0)	HSK 3 (new 3.0)
Total vocabulary	~600 words	~1,000 words
Writing (书写)	Not a scored section	Scored section (new)
Speaking	No paired requirement	Paired HSK Speaking test
Exam sections	Listening, Reading	Listening, Reading, Writing
Passing score	180 / 300	180 / 300
Level system	6 levels	9 levels (3 bands)
Band	Elementary	Elementary (top of levels 1 to 3)

1. Vocabulary: about 600 to roughly 1,000 words

The most visible change is the word count. The old HSK 2.0 Level 3 set the bar near 600 words. HSK 3.0 raises it to about 1,000: the roughly 500 from HSK 1 and HSK 2 plus about 500 new ones. That is a big lift for a single level.

The extra words also stretch further into abstract, everyday life: work and study, health, travel, weather, money, and expressing opinions or plans. It is still Elementary material, but there is a lot more of it and it is less concrete.

2. Writing now counts (this is the big one)

Under the old standard, HSK 3 tested only Listening and Reading. HSK 3.0 makes it the first level with a scored Writing (书写) section. You are asked to compose a sentence from a picture and a given word, and to write a short descriptive paragraph - by hand, on paper-based tests.

That flips handwriting from an optional study aid into a graded skill. Correct characters, reasonable stroke order, and clear structure earn points directly. The HSK 3 writing hub drills each character with Watch, Trace, and Recall, so the right stroke order becomes automatic and unfamiliar characters feel predictable instead of intimidating.

3. Speaking becomes a paired requirement

Another HSK 3.0 change happens at registration. Signing up for HSK 3 or above now also enrolls you in the separate HSK Speaking test - a short spoken exam of about 15 minutes, with roughly 15 questions in three parts. The written HSK 3 paper still has no speaking section, but speaking is now something you cannot avoid at this level.

In practice, that means preparing four skills instead of two. Listening and reading carry over from HSK 2; writing and speaking are new demands that need their own practice time.

4. Six levels became nine

The old HSK had six levels. HSK 3.0 rebuilds the system into nine levels grouped in three bands: Elementary (levels 1 to 3), Intermediate (4 to 6), and Advanced (7 to 9). HSK 3 now sits at the top of the Elementary band, the last step before the Intermediate levels.

Across the whole scale the vocabulary roughly doubled, from about 5,000 words to over 11,000, and the levels were aligned more closely with international frameworks like the CEFR. Counting is cumulative, so HSK 3 includes everything from HSK 1 and HSK 2.

The level is still called HSK 3, but it now asks you to write and speak - not just recognize - Chinese.

What it means for how you study

Use current material. Study the roughly 1,000-word HSK 3.0 list, not an old 600-word Level 3 one. Older textbooks and apps can leave gaps and skip writing entirely.
Write characters for real. Handwriting is now graded, so build a daily writing habit rather than treating it as optional.
Rehearse speaking. Since the paired HSK Speaking test is mandatory, practice speaking short answers aloud, not just reading them.

You can practice the full HSK 3.0 word set for HSK 3, with flashcards, grammar drills, writing, and mock exams, at HSK 3 vocabulary. If you are coming from the level below, review it at myhsk2.com.

Study for the new HSK 3

Practice the roughly 500 new HSK 3 words, plus writing and speaking practice built for the HSK 3.0 standard. Free after a quick sign in.

Start HSK 3 vocabulary

Frequently Asked Questions

Did HSK 3 get harder under HSK 3.0?: Yes. The old HSK 2.0 Level 3 covered about 600 words and tested Listening and Reading only. Under HSK 3.0, HSK 3 covers roughly 1,000 words, adds a scored writing (书写) section, and pairs registration with a speaking test. It is a real step up from the old Level 3.
How many words does HSK 3 have now?: About 1,000 words in total under HSK 3.0: the roughly 500 from HSK 1 and HSK 2 plus about 500 new ones. The old HSK 2.0 Level 3 sat near 600 words, so the vocabulary load rose sharply. You can practice all of them at HSK 3 vocabulary.
Does HSK 3 test handwriting now?: Yes - this is the headline change. HSK 3 is the first level with a scored writing (书写) section, where you compose a sentence from a picture and a given word and write a short descriptive paragraph. Correct characters and stroke order now earn points directly, not just faster reading. Practice it at HSK 3 writing practice.
Is my old HSK 3 certificate still valid?: An HSK certificate you already hold stays valid as a record of your result, and institutions often treat scores as current for about two years. New tests use the HSK 3.0 standard, so if you study or re-sit now, prepare with the roughly 1,000-word syllabus plus writing and speaking, not the old 600-word Level 3.
How many levels does the new HSK have?: Nine. HSK 3.0 replaces the old six levels with nine, grouped into three bands: Elementary (levels 1 to 3), Intermediate (4 to 6), and Advanced (7 to 9). HSK 3 sits at the top of the Elementary band.