“Honest pricing without a free trial trap. Started small, topped up later when I needed more speaking checks.”
HL
HSK 3 learner
Italy · HSK3 · 215
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HSK 3 is the first HSK level that adds a writing section. You will need 600 words, longer listening passages, and the ability to write short sentences. Take a full mock free, unlock Shells when you want detailed feedback.
600 essential words
Vocabulary
~90 minutes
Total exam time
3
Exam sections
HSK 3 (Level 3) is widely considered the first "useful" HSK level. With 600 active words you can hold basic conversations on familiar topics, read short newspaper-style passages, and write short paragraphs about yourself and your life. Many short-term study programs in China require HSK 3 as a minimum, and some scholarship pathways open up here.
HSK 3 is also the first level where you must produce written Chinese, not just recognize it. The writing section requires you to arrange given words into a correct sentence, fill in the right character based on pinyin, and write characters with the correct stroke order. HSK Ace handwriting practice was designed for exactly this jump — every HSK 3 character has stroke-order animation and grade-by-grade quiz feedback.
On HSK Ace you can take a full HSK 3 mock test (Listening 40 + Reading 30 + Writing 10) under real timing, hear native audio at the real exam pace, and review every wrong question with detailed explanations once you unlock with Shells.
Total: ~90 minutes · Pass: 180 out of 300 (60 per section) · 600 essential words
Picture matching, true/false statements, and short multiple-choice dialogues. Audio is played twice for each item.
Sentence matching, fill-in-the-blank, and short reading comprehension. The longest passages so far in the HSK series.
Take any of these free mocks under real timing. Detailed AI grading and unlimited attempts unlock with Shells.
Suggested plan: 6 months from HSK 2, or 9–12 months from zero. Adjust based on your starting level and time budget.
Take a full HSK 2 mock to confirm your baseline. Start new HSK 3 vocabulary at 15 words a day. Begin daily handwriting on the 100 most common new characters.
20 minutes vocabulary. 15 minutes listening — HSK 3 audio passages are longer than HSK 2. 10 minutes handwriting in the SRS quiz (gated; Shells unlock unlimited).
Use the AI writing review on HSK Ace to grade short paragraphs. Drill sentence arrangement and pinyin-to-character writing. This is the section most learners underestimate.
One full HSK 3 mock per week. Track section scores in your profile. Drill the weakest section twice a week. Confirm you can write the 100 most common HSK 3 characters from pinyin alone.
Tap any character to see its stroke order with native audio, or look it up in the free dictionary.
Pay once for a Shells pack. Use them on any feature, any level, forever — no monthly fee.
| Feature | HSK Ace One-time Shells | Subscription apps ~$14.99 / month | Free apps Limited access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full HSK mock tests | |||
| AI speaking grading |
Buy once, use across every HSK and HSKK level on HSK Ace.
Take a free mock today. No card, no subscription. Unlock detailed AI grading whenever you want with a one-time Shells pack.
Arrange words into a sentence (5 items) and write the correct character based on pinyin and context (5 items). This is where stroke order matters.
| Handwriting stroke practice |
| Free Chinese dictionary |
| No expiry on credits |
| Own what you buy |
| No ads |
7-day money-back guarantee
Not happy with your Shells pack? Email us within 7 days for a full refund.
Stroke-order animations and SRS quiz for every HSK character.
Verified scores and notes from learners who used HSK Ace to prepare.
“Honest pricing without a free trial trap. Started small, topped up later when I needed more speaking checks.”
HSK 3 learner
Italy · HSK3 · 215