As a parent, helping kids understand the perfect HSK level to begin with is a highly crucial step to take. As children are often too young to grasp the concept of HSK levels, a parent’s guide can avoid them from selecting the wrong level. If you’re still unsure how to help find the best HSK level for your children to start with, this article will go through the different levels of HSK tests and guide you on finding the best studying tips for your children.

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If you’re planning to help your children learn HSK to assist them in learning Mandarin, many instances have suggested starting with HSK 1 or HSK 2, depending on their prior knowledge of the language. These levels are often suitable for children, especially beginners, due to the following reasons. 

Begins with Pinyin

HSK level 1 and 2 are specifically designed for beginners, meaning that those who learn from this level will also be taught about Pinyin and intonations as the basis for a solid Mandarin understanding in the future. These levels are often recommended for children as the materials and tests will include both Chinese characters and Pinyin to help people read faster. On the other hand, higher level HSK, such as HSK 3, no longer uses Pinyin on its test, assuming that test takers will be equipped with the ability to read Chinese characters fluently.

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Less Vocabulary to Understand

Vocabulary is the backbone of effective language learning, including children that wish to learn Chinese. However, many young children may not be able to memorise much vocabulary, especially since kids are still learning to master their native language. Therefore, it is highly recommended for kids to start with HSK level 1 or 2. With minimum vocabulary to master, children are guided to build a stronger foundation in Chinese by mastering Pinyin, pronunciation, and intonation. 

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Designed with Shorter Durations

The HSK tests for level 1 and 2 are often shorter in terms of exam duration. This shorter duration is supported due to the materials included in the exam, which are often easier to comprehend and only consist of listening and reading. The HSK tests for level 1 and 2 often last for less than 1 hour. This shorter period is suitable for children who have a higher possibility to lose concentration and get burnt out by a longer exam duration. 

The HSK test is generally divided into 6 different levels that can be taken by non-native Chinese speakers. Each level is designed with different objectives and key vocabulary, with HSK level 1 being the most basic level dedicated to complete beginners. Although kids are often recommended to start with HSK 1, there are several circumstances where children are able to understand basic Mandarin before learning in accordance with the HSK curriculum. If your children already have a background in Chinese, here is a quick guide on how to discover the perfect HSK level for your children. 

HSK 1

Designed for beginners, HSK 1 will focus on developing basic skills such as learning pronouns, verbs, nouns, and other basic parts of speech. Upon completion, kids should be able to understand around 150 common words in Chinese. With this knowledge, kids with HSK 1 ability will be able to understand and use basic Chinese phrases. 

HSK 2

HSK 2 also focuses on building basic skills, more importantly perfecting grammar to help maintain a solid foundation for the next levels. Upon completion, kids who study for HSK 2 should understand 300 of the most common words in Chinese. This ability will assist them in communicating simple and direct information with others. 

HSK 3

HSK 3 is considered to be an intermediate level in Chinese, where children are supposed to be able to learn Chinese without relying fully on Pinyin. Children who finish HSK 3 should master at least 600 Chinese words and understand grammar points such as auxiliary verbs and rhetorical questions. By completing this level, children will also be able to communicate in daily and academic fields. Furthermore, HSK 3 level is usually considered enough for traveling purposes in China. 

HSK 4

HSK 4 is also considered as an intermediate level in Chinese proficiency. During this level, children are expected to master at least 1200 Chinese vocabulary upon completion. By learning more measurement words and pivotal sentences, children that successfully mastered HSK 4 will be able to communicate fluently with native Chinese speakers.  

HSK 5

HSK 5 level is classified as an advanced level of Chinese proficiency. Although it is uncommon for children to reach this level, those who study from a fairly young age can achieve this level through constant practice and daily implementation. Upon completing this level, children will be able to understand 2500 Chinese words. Furthermore, children with this level will also be able to enjoy different Chinese media and literature, such as magazines and long speeches. 

HSK 6

HSK 6 is considered to be equal to advanced level Chinese proficiency. By reaching this level, children should be able to understand around 5000 Chinese vocabulary and use them flawlessly while communicating with others. Upon completion of HSK 6, children will also be able to communicate fluently, almost similar to native speakers. Their ability should assist them in interacting effectively with both spoken and written format. 

As a parent, selecting the suitable HSK level for your children is only the beginning of their Chinese learning journey. After knowing their current capabilities, the next step is to guide them in learning the Chinese language effectively. Here are a few practical study tips to help your children learn HSK as a beginner. 

Finding the Right Resources 

Before guiding your children to learn HSK to improve their Chinese language fluency, the first thing that you need to do is choosing the right resources. These resources may vary greatly depending on your children’s needs, but most beginners will start by acknowledging each level’s learning objective and obtain the coursebook for their respective levels. Finding the right resources to begin might be challenging, but luckily the official institute for HSK has published official books for learning HSK effectively. You can find these resources by looking for official HSK HanBan books, which consist of HSK standard coursebooks and workbooks. 

Explore Learning Methods

Children will learn better if they are offered several learning methods to enhance their experiences. Therefore, another practical tip that you can try to help your children understand HSK materials quickly is to include interactive activities for them to try. For example, you can direct them to learn from YouTube videos, Chinese storybooks, or other media. Furthermore, you can also help your children experience different learning methods by enrolling them in Chinese courses with many engaging activities.

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Build a Study Routine

When it comes to learning Mandarin, consistency is often the key to success. Many children fail to achieve fluency if they’re forced to understand Chinese language in a short duration. Aside from prioritising the quantities, parents should focus on helping their children build a small study routine. This routine shouldn’t be too long as children are prone to boredom and learning plateau. Instead of forcing them into a long study period, you should try to offer bite-sized materials to promote effective learning.

Learning HSK for Chinese proficiency is not only about understanding how to speak Chinese, but also familiarizing your kids with the test format. If you’re planning to teach your children Chinese based on the HSK materials, it is recommended to start with HSK 1 to help them establish a better foundation. If you’re trying to find effective methods to help your kids improve their Chinese language significantly, you can try enrolling them in a HSK Chinese course. This type of course will help them understand the structure of the HSK test and assist them in preparing thoroughly. Learn more about how Elitekid can help your children learn for the HSK test by visiting our site.