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HL
HSK 4 learner
Spain · HSK4 · 238
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HSK 4 is the level most often required for working in China and applying to mainland universities. 1200 words, longer listening at near-natural speed, and a real essay section. Take a full mock free.
1200 essential words
Vocabulary
~105 minutes
Total exam time
3
Exam sections
HSK 4 (Level 4) is the first "intermediate" HSK level in the 2.0 system and the most economically valuable certificate for most learners. The Chinese government uses HSK 4 as a baseline for many work-permit and visa categories, and a large number of undergraduate scholarships and degree programs treat HSK 4 as the minimum entry requirement.
The exam expands sharply from HSK 3: 1200 active words (double HSK 3), audio at near-natural speed, longer reading passages, and a real writing section that asks you to write full sentences and a short paragraph — not just arrange given words. The difficulty jump from HSK 3 to HSK 4 is the largest single jump in the HSK series.
On HSK Ace you can take a full HSK 4 mock test (Listening 45 + Reading 40 + Writing 15) with real timing and native audio. AI writing review (powered by HSK Ace AI grading and unlocked with Shells) gives section-by-section feedback on grammar, character accuracy, and rubric scores — the same rubric the official exam uses.
Total: ~105 minutes · Pass: 180 out of 300 · 1200 essential words
Short and long dialogues, news-style monologues. Each clip is played only ONCE — this is a major difficulty jump from HSK 3.
Fill-in-the-blank with a word bank, sentence reassembly, and longer multi-paragraph reading. Tests both vocabulary recall and reading speed.
Take any of these free mocks under real timing. Detailed AI grading and unlimited attempts unlock with Shells.
Suggested plan: 6–9 months from HSK 3, or roughly a year from HSK 2. Adjust based on your starting level and time budget.
HSK 4 audio plays only once — start training listening speed from day one. Listen to HSK 3 audio at 1.25x speed for two weeks before starting HSK 4 content.
25 minutes vocabulary at 10 new words a day. 20 minutes listening — full HSK 4 audio clips, no repeats. 15 minutes handwriting on HSK 4 characters that share components.
Three short essays a week, graded by the HSK Ace AI writing review. Focus on connectors (虽然…但是, 因为…所以, 不但…而且), aspect markers, and resultative complements.
One full HSK 4 mock every two weeks. Drill the weakest section twice a week between mocks. Make sure your essay score is consistently above 60.
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 given words into a full sentence (10 items) and write 2 short essays of about 40–80 characters each based on a prompt or picture.
| Handwriting stroke practice |
| Free Chinese dictionary |
| No expiry on credits |
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Stroke-order animations and SRS quiz for every HSK character.
Verified scores and notes from learners who used HSK Ace to prepare.
“Switched from a monthly app and never looked back. Buying Shells once felt like reclaiming my own pace.”
HSK 4 learner
Spain · HSK4 · 238
“Cleanest HSK prep I have used in 2026 — nothing tries to trick me into a recurring charge.”
HSK 4 learner
Czech Republic · HSK4 · 230