Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) or the Chinese Proficiency Test is a standard examination for evaluating the proficiency of one's modern Chinese language. HSK is designed specially for those people--including foreigners, overseas Chinese and students from Chinese national minorities--whose first language is not Chinese.

a sub score of HSK Basic is a scale score ranging from "0" to "100" with 50 as the mean and 20 as the standard deviation. The total score, which is the sum of scale scores for sub scores, is a scale score ranging from "0" to "300." The scale sub scores show the relative position of an examinee in a standard HSK Basic sample group. The type and grade of HSK Basic is based on the total score.

HSK is a general language examination, it is not based on any particular textbook or subject. Thus you may use any textbooks you prefer to prepare for the test. UBC HSK Center is a non-profit test center. We do not organize any preparation courses. Sample tests are available at our site for downloading. Some private education agencies, however, offer courses helping you know more about the test. You may register these courses at your own cost.

All HSK tests are designed by the HSK Center of Beijing Language and Culture University located in Beijing, China. The Center's entire work, from making tests to issuing certificates, is supervised by the National Commission of Chinese Proficiency Test under the Ministry of Education of China.

HSK was first offered in 1990. Since then, many test centers have been established in China and in nearly twenty foreign countries, and HSK has been held regularly in each test center every year.

Both simplified and origional Chinese version of HSK tests are available to test takers. Please specify your perference when filling out your registration form.

All HSK certificates are issued by the National Commission of Chinese Proficiency Test, which is under the Ministry of Education of China.

To certify that you have obtained the required Chinese proficiency to enter a college or university in China as an undergraduate or graduate student; To certify that you have obtained the required Chinese proficiency and thus, you may be exempted from taking certain Chinese language courses in your institution (if your institution agrees to grant you the permission). At UBC, HSK scores can be used to waive foreign language requirements.

Your HSK certificate is like a "diploma": once you receive it, it becomes your property and it is valid permanently. However, if you wish to use your HSK scores to apply for admission to a college or university in China, your scores are good for two years only (from the date you take the test).

The HSK Winner Scholarship was established by the Chinese HSK Authorities. Its purpose is to financially aid those HSK examinees who have obtained excellent scores to study in China. Scholarship recipients can study Chinese language, culture, history and philosophy at a Chinese university for one year. They can enjoy free tuition, free accommodation, free textbooks and free medical care. However, recipients are responsible for their international traveling expenses.

HSK Basic is composed of three sections: listening comprehension; sentence structure; and reading comprehension. HSK Elementary-Intermediate is composed of four sections: listening comprehension; sentence structure; reading comprehension and filling in blanks. HSK Advance has three sections: written examination (including listening comprehension; reading comprehension; and filling in blanks); composition; and oral examination.

HSK Basic lasts altogether 135 minutes. Elementary-Intermediate lasts 145 minutes, and Advanced is 155 minutes.

HSK Basic has altogether 140 individual items or questions; Elementary-Intermediate has 170; and Advanced has 240 (not including composition and oral test).

The format of HSK Basic and Elementary-Intermediate is multiple-choice, similar to that of SAT (verbal), TOEFL or GRE.

The Department of Asian Studies at the University of British Columbia , authorized by the National Commission of Chinese Proficiency Test, will administer the test together with HSK staff from Beijing . However, all the examinations will be made by the HSK Headquarters in Beijing rather than by the Chinese Education Program of UBC. Besides, all the examinations will be delivered directly from Beijing before the tests are offered.

In 2004, HSK will be offered at UBC HSK Center on October 23. You will be informed of the exact scheduled date when you receive your application form.

Beginning in 2004, UBC HSK Center plans to administer HSK once a year in fall. Those who are interested in knowing the schedule may visit our web page for updated information.

On the date of the test, all applicants should bring the Test Admission Card, a picture ID, 2B pencils and an eraser. When taking the test, you should have nothing on your desk except the Test Admission Card, Photo ID, test booklet, answer sheet, pencils and erasers. You are not allowed to use any tape-recorders, cameras, dictionaries, notebooks, textbooks or papers.