Free HSK 5 Practice Tests Online (100% Authentic Questions and Answer Keys)

FAQs about HSK Level 5 Prep and Practice

If you’re not yet familiar with how the HSK 5 test works, we’d advise you to read this section before taking the practice test to get to know the test pattern, test structure, the type of tasks you will be asked to undertake, and the scoring criteria, among other things.

Who Should Take the HSK 5 Practice Test(s)?

We’ve created these full-length HSK 5 practice tests to assist people in preparing for the real HSK 5 exam, but anyone who wants to identify their strengths and weaknesses in learning Chinese is free to use the practice tests for self-assessment.

To pass the HSK 5, you need to be comfortable reading and writing more complex things down in Chinese. To be more precise, you should know about 1,500 characters, 2,500 vocabulary words, and have a solid foundation in Chinese grammar. The more you know, the easier it becomes to pass the test.

Comprised of all real questions based on past exams, you can be sure that these HSK 5 practice tests are similar to the actual HSK 5 exam. So, get the most out of these materials and focus your future learning on weak areas!

What Is the Overall HSK 5 Test Pattern?

Technically, there are two different forms of the HSK available: internet-based HSK (HSK iBT) and paper-based HSK (HSK PBT). Both tests are graded in exactly the same way. 

The HSK 5 iBT is a 120-minute test given online through the internet at designated testing centers, whereas the HSK 5 PBT is a 125-minute traditional paper-and-pencil test. The test content is split into three sections: Listening, Reading, and Writing. The paper-based HSK 5 is slightly longer for you to transfer your answers from the test paper to the answer sheet in the Listening section.  

Though each version of the HSK 5 test is administered in a different format, both tests have the same questions and timing for each section. You’ll always have 30 minutes on Listening, 45 minutes on Reading, and 40 minutes on Writing.

The following chart highlights the overall HSK 5 test pattern, including the order of the sections, how long each section is, and how many questions each section contains:

Section	HSK 5 iBT	HSK 5 PBT	Number of Questions
Added Time	/	5 min (fill in personal info)	/
Listening	30 mins	30 min	45
Added Time	5 mins (break)	5 mins (fill out answer sheet)	/
Reading	45 mins	45 mins	45
Writing	40 mins	40 mins	10 (tasks)
Total	120 mins	125 mins	100

Note: you’ll have a 5-minute break in the middle of the HSK 5 iBT, between the Listening and Reading sections. This break is mandatory, meaning you must take it. You may take other breaks during the test, but you will not be able to pause the timer for these.

In order to prepare yourself for the real test day experience, we strongly advise you to time yourself as you take each section of the HSK 5 practice test.

What’s on the HSK 5 Test Exactly?

A standard HSK 5 test shall have 100 questions in total. Here’s a closer look at the content and the type of questions covered in each of the HSK 5 test sections.

1. Listening Section

The first section you’ll encounter in the HSK 5 test is Listening, which measures your Chinese-listening skills in daily and academic settings. You’ll hear 36-37 dialogues and monologues in total. Each of them lasts 15 to 90 seconds and comes with 1 to 4 questions. Each audio clip is played only once. The duration of the HSK 5 Listening section is 30 minutes.

There is only question type on the HSK 5 Listening: multiple choice. We explain what it means below.

• Multiple Choice
  
  You’ll listen to 20 short dialogues (each consisting of 2 sentences) and 16-17 longer dialogues or monologues (4+ sentences each). At the end of each dialogue, a third person will raise a question (the question won’t appear on the screen/test paper), and you need to select the best answer from the available answer options presented on the screen or test paper.

2. Reading Section

The second section is Reading. The duration of the HSK 5 Reading is 45 minutes, making it the longest section in the HSK 5 test. This section contains 3 question types: fill in the blanks, choose matching statement, and multiple choice. In total, there are 45 questions. Let’s have a look at what each question type stands for.

• Fill in the Blanks
  
  You’ll be given 4 short passages, each with a few words or sentences missing. There are four answer options for each blank and you need to fill in the blank with the best answer.

• Choose Matching Statement
  
  There are 10 short passages, each accompanied by 4 statements. Only one of the statements is consistent with the passage and you need to pick it out from the four answer options. 

• Multiple Choice
  
  You’ll get 5 longer passages. Each passage is accompanied by 3-5 questions that ask you specific questions about the content and style of the text. You need to select the best answer out of the four answer options provided.

3. Writing Section 

The last section of the HSK 5 is Writing, and it measures your ability to use correct grammar, vocabulary, and write characters. This section contains two types of tasks: arrange word order and write full sentence. You will have 40 minutes to complete 10 tasks in total. We explain the detailed tasks below.

• Arrange Word Order
  
  There are 8 tasks. In each task, there are a few words in jumbled order, and you need to put the words in the correct order and write a complete sentence.

• Write Full Sentence 
  
  There are 2 tasks. First, you’ll be given several words and are required to write an essay about 80 characters in length using all the words provided.
  
  Next, You’ll be shown a picture and are required to write an essay, also about 80 characters in length based on the picture.

How Is the HSK 5 Score Calculated?

The HSK 5 test is scored on a scale of 0 to 300 points. Each of the three sections (Listening, Reading, and Writing) receives a score from 0 to 100. The scores from the three sections are then added together to determine the overall score.

You’ll receive your overall scores as well as the section scores in your score report on the HSK website about 2 weeks after you take the official test (or one month if you opt for the paper-based test).

What Is A Good HSK 5 Score?

The maximum score you can achieve on the HSK 5 test is 300. To pass the HSK 5, you just need to reach the overall passing score: 180 – that’s all that matters.

However, if you’re taking the HSK 5 test as part of the application to Chinese universities, be careful! Some schools provide a minimum cutoff score you must attain on the HSK 5 to be accepted. And this score varies from school to school. For instance, the minimum HSK requirements for Renmin University of China is 200 points on the HSK 5, whereas you must score over 210 points when applying to Fudan University.

Essentially, a good HSK 5 score can be considered anything equal to or higher than the minimum required score for your program. (Read here for more details on what HSK level and score you need to attain to be admitted to Chinese universities)

How Much Does It Cost to Take the Official HSK 5 Test?

The HSK 5 test fees will depend on the location of your testing site. That said, you can generally expect to pay around 80 USD every time you take the test. (The price for taking the HSK 5 in China is 550 CNY.) Make sure you are ready for the official exam by taking our free HSK 5 sample practice tests!