MyHSK4 is a practice platform for intermediate Mandarin Chinese learners preparing for the HSK 4 exam under the HSK 3.0 standard. It offers interactive drills and quizzes covering the 972 new Level 4 vocabulary words, grammar, listening, speaking, and writing.

Is MyHSK4 only for HSK 4 learners?

MyHSK4 covers the full HSK 3.0 Level 4 standard - 972 new words, more advanced grammar, and the listening, speaking, and writing skills the Level 4 exam tests. It builds on HSK 1 through HSK 3 for learners continuing their Mandarin Chinese.

How long are the daily drills?

Most drills and quizzes take 5 to 10 minutes. You can practice pinyin tones, vocabulary flashcards, grammar exercises, listening comprehension, or speaking dialogs in short focused sessions.

Can I practice speaking and listening?

Yes. MyHSK4 includes listening comprehension exercises with audio and interactive speaking dialog practice with pronunciation feedback.

Do I need a teacher to use MyHSK4?

No. MyHSK4 is designed for self-study with instant feedback on every drill and quiz. Teachers can also use it to assign exercises to students.

HSK 3.0 is the updated Chinese proficiency standard taking effect in July 2026. It replaces the old HSK 2.0 system and expands the vocabulary at every level. Level 4 adds 972 new words on top of Levels 1 through 3, and continues the scored writing (书写) section introduced at HSK 3 with longer, more demanding tasks. MyHSK4 is fully aligned with the HSK 3.0 Level 4 standard.

How is HSK 3.0 different from HSK 2.0?

HSK 3.0 restructures the old HSK 2.0 system and expands the vocabulary at every level. Level 4 builds on Levels 1 through 3 with 972 more words, plus more advanced grammar and a longer writing section, getting learners ready for opinion, work, and abstract topics.

Where can I take HSK practice tests online?

MyHSK4 offers six full-length HSK 3.0 Level 4 mock exams with 47 questions each, matching the official exam format. Each test includes listening, reading, and writing (书写) sections, timed at about 85 minutes, with a pass score of 180 out of 300 points. All tests use HSK 3.0 Level 1 through Level 4 vocabulary.

How many hours should I study for HSK 4?

Plan for roughly 5 to 7 hours a week over 4 to 6 months. HSK 4 adds 972 words plus Intermediate grammar and longer writing tasks, so it needs more time than HSK 3. Short, regular sessions still beat occasional long ones.

Can I pass HSK 4 in a month?

It is unlikely for most learners. Even with a strong HSK 3 base, the 972 new words plus the longer writing section and paired speaking test take time to build. Two to three months is possible with intensive study, but 4 to 6 months is more realistic.

How many new words a day for HSK 4?

Learning the 972 new HSK 4 words over about 4 to 5 months works out to around 6 new words a day. Studying them in topic batches and reviewing older batches with spaced repetition keeps that pace comfortable.

Do I need a teacher to pass HSK 4?

Not necessarily, but the writing and speaking parts benefit from feedback. Many learners self-study the vocabulary, grammar, listening, and reading with flashcards and mock exams, then use a tutor or language partner to check their writing and rehearse the paired speaking test.

Study Tips

How Long Does It Take to Pass HSK 4? A Realistic Timeline

July 17, 20266 min read

Most learners with a solid HSK 3 base pass HSK 4 in about 4 to 6 months of steady practice. HSK 4 is the first Intermediate level, so the 972 new words are more abstract, the grammar reshapes longer sentences, and the writing prompts run longer than they did at HSK 3.

Here is what moves the timeline, a sample plan that folds in the longer writing and the paired speaking test, and how many new words a day it works out to.

What determines it

Four things decide whether HSK 4 takes you four months or six:

Weekly hours. Several short, focused sessions move you forward far better than one long weekly cram.
Your HSK 3 base. HSK 4's new words build on everything from HSK 1 to 3, so shaky earlier vocabulary slows everything down. If it feels rusty, review it at myhsk3.com first.
How abstract you are comfortable getting. HSK 4 talks about work, money, and opinions, so the words and reading passages demand a bit more mental effort than the concrete scenes of HSK 3.
How you practice. Active recall with flashcards, grammar drills, writing, and mock exams beats passively rereading a word list.

A sample plan

A realistic 20-week plan builds vocabulary first, then grammar and the productive skills, then exam practice:

Phase	Focus
Weeks 1 to 8	Learn the 972 new words by topic with flashcards
Weeks 9 to 15	Intermediate grammar, listening, and longer writing tasks
Weeks 16 to 17	Focused writing practice plus the paired speaking test
Weeks 18 to 20	Full mock exams and clean up weak spots

You can compress this if you study more per week, or stretch it if you study less. The order matters more than the exact dates: build the vocabulary base, then the grammar that connects it, then the writing and speaking, then test under real conditions.

How many words a day

Spreading the 972 new words across about 4 to 5 months comes out to around 6 new words a day. That is a comfortable pace when you study them in topic batches and review older batches with spaced repetition, so words come back just before you would forget them.

Steady wins HSK 4: 20 minutes a day of words, characters, and spoken practice beats a long session once a week.

Tips to stay on track

Study in short daily sessions. Even 20 minutes a day of flashcards keeps the new words fresh.
Work in topic batches. Close out one vocabulary group before opening the next, instead of juggling all of them together.
Write as you go. The HSK 4 writing prompts are longer, so practice composing a few sentences at writing practice from day one.
Add grammar and mocks. Once a few word batches feel solid, start grammar drills, then a full mock exam in the last few weeks to find what still needs work.

Build your HSK 4 habit

Bite-size HSK 4 flashcards, drills, writing, and mock exams you can do in 20 minutes a day. Free after a quick sign in.

Start practicing HSK 4

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to pass HSK 4?: Most learners with a solid HSK 3 base pass HSK 4 in about 4 to 6 months of steady practice. The main factors are how many hours a week you study, how solid your HSK 1 to 3 base is, and how comfortable you are with abstract topics and longer writing.
How many hours should I study for HSK 4?: Plan for roughly 5 to 7 hours a week over 4 to 6 months. HSK 4 adds 972 words plus Intermediate grammar and longer writing tasks, so it needs more time than HSK 3. Short, regular sessions still beat occasional long ones.
Can I pass HSK 4 in a month?: It is unlikely for most learners. Even with a strong HSK 3 base, the 972 new words plus the longer writing section and paired speaking test take time to build. Two to three months is possible with intensive study, but 4 to 6 months is more realistic.
How many new words a day for HSK 4?: Learning the 972 new HSK 4 words over about 4 to 5 months works out to around 6 new words a day. Studying them in topic batches and reviewing older batches with spaced repetition keeps that pace comfortable.
Do I need a teacher to pass HSK 4?: Not necessarily, but the writing and speaking parts benefit from feedback. Many learners self-study the vocabulary, grammar, listening, and reading with flashcards and mock exams, then use a tutor or language partner to check their writing and rehearse the paired speaking test.