Studying Chinese

I passed the new HSK test level 5!

January 1, 2012

I just got my results from last month’s new HSK test level 5. I passed HSK 5 test! Here are my HSK level 5 scores:

  • Listening 89/100
  • Reading 70/100
  • Writing 76/200
  • Total 235/300

I am very happy and satisfied with these results, especially with my listening score. According to my HSK results my Chinese studies are going well and there is steady improvement. In November 2010 I got old HSK 4 (same as having new HSK 4 with points 192-209), in April 2011 I got old HSK 5 (new HSK 4 with points 210-300) and now finally tried and passed the new HSK exam.

According to the tablet of correlation between the old and the new HSK my new HSK 5 certificate should correlate with old HSK 8 level. I don’t quite believe it. I think old 8 would be much more difficult to get than this new 5. What do you think?

New HSK 5 level certificate is enough for graduation, but my goals are a little bit higher. I know that level 6 is much more difficult, but I will do my best to pass it before I graduate. I have 2 years to get my Chinese to that level and if you have any tips for me, please leave a comment!

I’m also in the process of setting Chinese learning goals for 2012. What kind of goals do you have? Or maybe you happen to know what my goals should be? Please share it all in the comments!

Happy and successful 2012 to everyone!

If you want to know my thoughts about the exam, you can read my earlier post: New HSK level 5: My thoughts about today’s exam

You can also read how I studied for the exam: Preparing for the new HSK level 5 exam

 

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79 Comments

    • Sara
      January 2, 2012 at 2:52 am Reply

      Thank you Alan! It really did give a nice start to my 2012, now I just have to figure out what I want to achieve this year.

  • Ivy
    January 1, 2012 at 12:53 pm Reply

    Congrats!! I saw that you posted your score, so I checked mine too, and also passed :).

    I’ve heard that the old test is harder, too, but I think even so this score is quite an accomplishment, especially since you haven’t been studying for that long. You should be proud!

  • py
    January 1, 2012 at 11:07 pm Reply

    貌似阅读和写作都不是很高，学习语言会听和会写有很大差别，中国人也有很多人根本不会写字，所以还有很大进步空间，加油！

    • Sara
      January 2, 2012 at 2:58 am Reply

      在世界上没有完美的人，所以当然有进步空间。但是我对我的成绩很满意，也跟Ivy同意，五级的听力比较容易。在这个水平听力部分应该难一点。

      如果你有什么建议怎么提高我的阅读和写作，请告诉我把！

  • Becky
    January 2, 2012 at 1:44 am Reply

    Congrats! I have just decided to work towards passing HSK-4, so I’m totally impressed you passed 5! I will have one year to prepare for the HSK4, but as I am an english teacher I don’t have much extra time for study. So I think it will be a challenge for me.

    • Sara
      January 2, 2012 at 3:00 am Reply

      I can totally understand not having enough time to study when you are working all day long with English. Remember, I’m studying full time and my life is nothing but Chinese, so I’m supposed to make some progress ;) Good luck with your goal and I’m sure you can reach it!

    • Sara
      January 7, 2012 at 11:53 pm Reply

      Viimeaikoina katsomistani voin draaman puolella suositella Aftershock ja komedian puolella Love on credit. Kovasti odottelen myos, etta paasen katsomaan The flowe’s of war ja You are the apple of my eye.

  • ordinary malaysian
    January 4, 2012 at 9:39 am Reply

    Congratulations, Sara. Quite impressive scores although I am not familiar with HSK. Obviously you have quite a good grasp of Mandarin already and your being immersed in living your China dream must have helped. 加油!

  • heahe
    January 6, 2012 at 2:38 pm Reply

    Congratulations!你的汉语已经非常棒了。一个提高你阅读和写作的方法就是你可以试着用汉语回复博客问题，也可以试着用汉语写博客（blog），还有就是一个小技巧，你可以每天看CCTV的新闻联播，这个是最标准的汉语发音和用法，而且每天就半小时，你不用在意啥政治等等问题，就学习发音和语法。我是四川人，记得当年我读小学的时候，我为了学普通话，我就逼着我自己听新闻联播，刚开始我基本就听不懂的，坚持每天听，半年后我的普通话发音和汉语用法突飞猛进。

    • Sara
      January 8, 2012 at 12:01 am Reply

      别的人也建议过我开始写中文博客，但是我怕我没有那么多时间写另外个博客。我已经也有一个芬兰语博客。可能我有时候可以在这个博客上写中文博文？我跟你同意，那个是个很好的方法提高我的写作水平。我知道我应该看多一点CCTV新闻，可是我有个很大的缺点，如果学习太无聊，我想学习。之所以我看有意思的电视剧和电影。还有，我的老公喜欢看粤语新闻。

      我已经发现了看中国电视对我的听力有很大的帮助，所以以后我打算看更多电视。现在我看结婚时代和我的娜塔莎。

      四川话和普通话很不一样吗？

      • xidong Tang
        January 6, 2014 at 9:56 pm Reply

        supper different! im so glad your Chinese get big improve ! Im Chinese, but i studied in America, where do you from? can recommend some show that’s very interesting to improve your Chinese, cause i think 新闻联播it’s too much boring. 快乐大本营 湖南卫视 我是歌手 im Singer （i have a American friend ,he is so interesting about that ,and after watching for a time, his Chinese improved a lot and very fast）

  • heahe
    January 6, 2012 at 2:41 pm Reply

    对大多数中国人来说，普通话就相当于是一门外语，因为大多数中国人（尤其是南方，中原地区和西北地区）都讲本地方言，在过去，不同地方的人交流非常困难，都要配翻译或者用书写的方式来交流的。

    • Sara
      January 8, 2012 at 12:03 am Reply

      在广州就有这样的情况，他们的母语是广东话，所以他们的普通话不太标准。好像已经影响了我的普通话！

  • Kelly M
    January 7, 2012 at 1:59 pm Reply

    Congrats Sara! You’ve worked very hard and deserve those excellent grades. :)

    I’ve never taken any HSK exams due to a combination of laziness and fear. It’s been over 8 years since I studied Mandarin formally and my speaking and writing have slipped to an embarrassingly low level so it’s unlikely that I will ever do so. Since I now live in a country where Mandarin isn’t spoken and I’ve had to learn a new language for everyday use, I suppose the need to improve my Mandarin skills is not a priority….which is a shame.

    Will you be going on to take the advanced HSK exams?

    • Sara
      January 8, 2012 at 12:06 am Reply

      I’m planning on taking the HSK5 again in spring 2013 so that I surely have a valid certificate when I graduate (the HSK certificate seems to be valid for two years). Then on autumn 2013 I will try HSK6 which is the highest HSK exam they have at the moment. It’s going to be a big challenge, especially the writing section is difficult, but I’ll do my best to achieve it. If I don’t pass HSK6 in 2013 then I’ll try as long as I pass it.

  • Nick K
    January 7, 2012 at 10:45 pm Reply

    Congratulations on your result – can I ask a question though please? What’s HSK stand for?

    I’m going to continue learning Chinese badly and inefficiently this year – so I suspect yours is infinitely better than mine. :-)

    • Sara
      January 8, 2012 at 12:07 am Reply

      HSK stands for Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi 汉语水平考试 whish means Mandarin Level Exam.

      p.s. I think I haven’t seen your blog before, have to check it out!

  • heahe
    January 8, 2012 at 2:04 am Reply

    四川话也要分地区，我的家乡的四川话对外地人比较难懂，和一般的四川话还有点不一样的，但相对粤语来说还算比较接近普通话吧，我小时候想学粤语的，但最后没学，现在几乎听不懂粤语。去上海和苏州，杭州一带，不管城市大小，基本一个城市一种方言，简直要命。

  • Jack
    January 10, 2012 at 12:21 am Reply

    Congradulation Sara! That’s quite an achievement!

    I definitely agree with others, that practice makes perfect. Total immersion is the only way to improve – until you start THINKING in the target language! :D (or dreaming in the target language!)

    BTW, did you got married? :D
    “我的老公喜欢看粤语新闻。”
    CONGRADULATION!

    • Sara
      January 10, 2012 at 12:34 am Reply

      Don’t get too excited Jack, I’m not married! Just here in the south boyfriend’s are also called 老公 even though the couple isn’t married ;)

      I’ve had one or two dreams where I spoke a little bit Chinese, but that’s it. I usually don’t remember in the morning if I’ve seen dreams or not.

  • Petter
    March 2, 2012 at 10:35 pm Reply

    Did you try the mock-tests at chinesetesting.cn? If so, what wes your score? I did it yesterday and got a score of 185, which I reckon should be enough for the real test…

    My aspirations are the same as yours though, HSK 6, but I only have about a year to get to that level. Might be quite hard, especially since I got loads of other uni-work that will need my attention.

    Anyways, good job!

    • Sara
      March 3, 2012 at 2:49 pm Reply

      You did really well with that mock test! I did the mock test of level 5 too (in September) before the real HSK and got 161 points. I think I will try HSK6 in April 2013 for the first time and then again, if I don’t pass, in December 2013.

      Good luck with your studies!

  • Guest
    October 14, 2012 at 3:27 am Reply

    Hi Sara,

    I just passed the HSK Lvl 5, I took it back in the Americas. I am not living in China now. What kind of doors does passing the Lvl 5 open? I recall several Master’s degrees at PKU and a few jobs that required a lvl 5.

    HSK五级(2012-09-08) 汉语水平考试

    听力

    阅读

    写作

    Total Score

    Status

    89

    85

    61

    235

    合格
    哎哟，我得联系我的写作。我也想考hsk六级的。希望等一天能做一个翻译者。慢慢来

  • Kevin Shimota
    October 14, 2012 at 3:32 am Reply

    Hi Sara,

    I just passed the HSK Lvl 5, I took it back in the Americas. I am
    not living in China now. What kind of doors does passing the Lvl 5
    open? I recall several Master’s degrees at PKU and a few jobs that
    required a lvl 5.
    HSK五级(2012-09-08) 汉语水平考试

    听力-89 阅读-85 写作-61
    Total Score=235

    Status=合格
    哎哟，我得联系我的写作。我也想考hsk六级的。希望等一天能做一个翻译者。慢慢来

    • Sara Jaaksola
      October 15, 2012 at 11:07 am Reply

      恭喜你通过五级! 成绩也不错!

      I’m not sure which doors HSK5 can open, but like you said, but different universities require different level of HSK to apply for undergrad or grad degrees. Are you interested in doing a degree in China?

      When applying for a job I think that HSK is just proof of your Chinese language skills and useful in that way. Some jobs don’t require Chinese, some do, for some it’s a plus. It’s hard to say anything in general.

      Good luck with your studies, let me know when you try level 6!

  • Malaysian Zadli
    January 6, 2013 at 8:29 am Reply

    您好Sara美女！恭喜您通过了五级，看起来您的成绩很了不起。现在我在准备六级，挺难的。如果您通过的话，请通知我们。加油！

  • Kim Ling
    September 6, 2013 at 5:04 pm Reply

    This is very inspiring and well done! I am considering doing the HSK exams I studied in China for 3 months at a private school and have kept up my studies through self study…. though I must admit I feel I am not doing so well and thinking of going back to the teacher route. I have just started looking into the HSK exams and am researching it, trying to figure out if you have to write 汉字 as part of the exam and also do you have to speak or is it just listening. If you could answer these questions that would be a huge help. Best of luck in your studies, it really is inspirational that you have progressed so far and are continue to study.
    Well done!

    • Sara Jaaksola
      November 17, 2013 at 9:30 pm Reply

      Hi Mira, for many the new HSK is the only HSK they knew. But few years ago there was still the old HSK that had levels from 1 to 11. The new HSK only has levels from 1 to 6 and the exams are different also. I believe that the old HSK isn’t available anymore, so there might not be any use to call them old and new anymore.

  • Moazzam
    December 3, 2013 at 8:05 pm Reply

    oh thats very great to hear that you got your exam cleared, And its even wonderful to see you are so humble to ask for the advice, tips and opinions to get you through HSK6. i think you gotta put yourself in more tight position, two years is quite a time, if you get it done in one year, that would be marvelous, i suggest in my humble opinion, that you gotta study more chinese formally in a school where the public speak mandarin as well, so you can mix with them after study hours.

    And hell yeah, do what it takes.

  • Amira
    February 12, 2014 at 2:09 am Reply

    Hello i Got 182 for level 5, with under 60 in writing and reading does it mean that I passed ? Please help me thank you so much beautiful

    • Sara Jaaksola
      February 15, 2014 at 2:35 pm Reply

      According to my knowledge the total score is what matter in the new HSK which you most probably took as the old HSK isn’t available anymore. You should be able to get your certificate at the same place where you took your test.

  • Vivek Kumar
    February 13, 2014 at 3:31 pm Reply

    Congrats Frnd…I would like to HSL Level 1 and Level 2.. Can u please guide me if I can do by Myself… I would like to do it myself without tutor. So if any online material which you can suggest.

  • theAdmiral
    February 20, 2014 at 4:33 pm Reply

    Congratulations! I just found your site when searching for details on the new test! I am the proverbial (Chinese) farmer waiting on the rabbit!

  • pritom
    April 13, 2014 at 11:34 am Reply

    first of all congrates!!!i wanna ask you what do you think if a student scores 250+ in hsk4 within 1/2 month preparation can he pass hsk 5?

    • Kaiser
      April 15, 2014 at 11:31 pm Reply

      I finally passed HSK 5! My score was 200. I want to reach 240 though before trying level six. Otherwise, I think I’ll be 拔苗助长。What do you think? Am I being too cautious?

      • Sara Jaaksola
        April 24, 2014 at 11:44 am Reply

        That’s great news! It’s also totally up to you if you want to take 5 again before trying 6. I personally don’t like paying too much for the HSK, and would do mock exams until I’ve reached the right level and then take level 6.

        • Kaiser
          April 28, 2014 at 12:12 am Reply

          I’ve decided I’d rather crash and burn a few times than play it safe. So, it’s on to Level 6! I’ve bought all the prep materials as you suggested. Now I’ll do mock exams until I puke. Then I’ll take the real exam.

      • Kaiser
        April 28, 2014 at 12:18 am Reply

        ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages). If you want to teach a foriegn language in America, you can take ACTFL exams to get certified. I took the oral exam and will take the written exam next month. These exams are NOT easy. Now, if you’re good at yoru language, they may feel easy. But in truth it’s really tough to pass them. Just like I think the HSK 5/6 levels are freaking tough.

  • Deepika
    September 11, 2014 at 12:00 am Reply

    Hi I want to know that how many levels I will have to clear to get scholarship and study in China. And what percentage is require to get scholarship?

  • tim
    September 23, 2014 at 12:46 pm Reply

    Suppose you get a non-passing, but decent score on the hsk5. Will that automatically qualify you for passing the hsk4 and below?

    Why so many tests?!??

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