“Mock exams match the real format down to the timing. I knew exactly what to expect on test day.”
HL
HSK 5 learner
Netherlands · HSK5 · 252
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HSK 5 is where Chinese becomes a real second language. 2500 words, native-speed audio, and an 80-character essay. Take a full free mock, unlock essay review with Shells.
2500 essential words
Vocabulary
~125 minutes
Total exam time
3
Exam sections
HSK 5 (Level 5) is the second "advanced" tier and the most common entry requirement for full-degree undergraduate and graduate programs at mainland Chinese universities. It is also the level most often requested by Chinese employers for white-collar roles that involve regular Mandarin communication. A learner who passes HSK 5 can read newspapers and watch television in Chinese with some help, hold extended professional conversations, and write structured short essays on familiar topics.
The exam jumps again from HSK 4: 2500 words (more than double), listening at the speed of real native conversation, longer reading passages drawn from real magazine and newspaper content, and an essay section that asks you to summarize a short text or write a structured 80-character paragraph in response to a prompt.
On HSK Ace you can take a full HSK 5 mock under real timing, hear native audio at full speed, and submit your essays for AI rubric grading. Mocks are free; detailed feedback, unlimited mock attempts, and AI essay review are unlocked with one-time Shells — no subscription.
Total: ~125 minutes · Pass: 180 out of 300 (most universities require 180; some require 210 or higher) · 2500 essential words
Dialogues and monologues at near-native speed. Each clip is played once. Includes interviews, news, and longer narratives.
Long-form reading drawn from real media. Tests both speed and inference. Includes fill-in-the-blank with idiomatic phrases.
Take any of these free mocks under real timing. Detailed AI grading and unlimited attempts unlock with Shells.
Suggested plan: 9–12 months from HSK 4. Adjust based on your starting level and time budget.
Confirm 90%+ recall of HSK 4 vocabulary on the HSK Ace dictionary. Start watching native Mandarin shows with Chinese subtitles 20 minutes a day.
30 minutes vocabulary at 10 new words a day. 25 minutes listening — full HSK 5 audio + native podcasts. 15 minutes handwriting on the most common new characters.
One short essay every two days, graded by the HSK Ace AI writing review. Focus on chengyu (idioms), formal connectors, and topic-comment structures.
One full HSK 5 mock every two weeks. Track your section trend lines. Make sure your essay 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 longer sentences (8 items), then two essay tasks: write a short essay using 5 given words, and write an essay of around 80 characters based on a 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.
“Mock exams match the real format down to the timing. I knew exactly what to expect on test day.”
HSK 5 learner
Netherlands · HSK5 · 252
“Took six months from HSK 3 to HSK 5. Daily practice + speaking checks did most of the work.”
HSK 5 learner
Indonesia · HSK5 · 247