Upper intermediate · six-level HSK

HSK 5 complete guide

HSK 5 tests extended listening, reading and writing for learners who can handle broader social, academic and professional material.

2,500 cumulative words100 test questions125 minutes
Quick answer

What is HSK 5?

A prepared learner can identify arguments and details in longer material and produce organized written responses under time pressure.

Quick check: do you know these HSK 5 words?

Answer 5 questions right here — no page jump needed.

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HSK 5 requirements at a glance

Vocabulary2,500 cumulative unique headwords
New at this level1,300 headwords
SectionsListening, Reading, Writing
Questions100
Total timeAbout 125 minutes, including candidate-information time
Score300 total; Not stated on the current official level page

What to study

2,500-word cumulative list

Include this in your weekly review and test it through active recall, listening or written production.

Extended reading

Include this in your weekly review and test it through active recall, listening or written production.

Two writing tasks

Include this in your weekly review and test it through active recall, listening or written production.

Register and collocation

Include this in your weekly review and test it through active recall, listening or written production.

Common HSK 5 difficulties

  • Reading quickly without losing detail
  • Selecting precise vocabulary
  • Organizing longer writing

Study plan

Weeks 1–3

Audit the cumulative list and prioritize unknown high-frequency words.

Weeks 4–7

Read daily and record collocations rather than isolated meanings.

Weeks 8–10

Practice listening notes and both writing task types.

Weeks 11–12

Complete full timed papers and revise from an error log.

Vocabulary

The vocabulary database includes the verified HSK 1–6 level assignment, simplified Chinese, pinyin, English dictionary glosses and cross-version membership.

Open all 2,500 words

20 HSK 5 example sentences

These original examples connect level vocabulary with the sentence patterns used in the grammar, reading and practice sections.

Sentence 1

与其反复担心结果,不如集中精力准备。

yǔ qí fǎn fù dān xīn jié guǒ, bù rú jí zhōng jīng lì zhǔn bèi。

Rather than repeatedly worry about the result, focus on preparing.

Focus: 反复, 集中, 准备 · Grammar: 与其…不如…

Sentence 2

他之所以改变计划,是因为发现了新的证据。

tā zhī suǒ yǐ gǎi biàn jì huà, shì yīn wèi fā xiàn le xīn de zhèng jù。

He changed the plan because he discovered new evidence.

Focus: 改变, 证据 · Grammar: 之所以…是因为…

Sentence 3

无论外部环境如何变化,基本原则都不能放弃。

wú lùn wài bù huán jìng rú hé biàn huà, jī běn yuán zé dōu bù néng fàng qì。

No matter how the external environment changes, basic principles cannot be abandoned.

Focus: 环境, 原则, 放弃 · Grammar: 无论…都…

Sentence 4

她每天坚持运动,难怪精神状态这么好。

tā měi tiān jiān chí yùn dòng, nán guài jīng shén zhuàng tài zhè me hǎo。

She exercises every day; no wonder she is in such good spirits.

Focus: 坚持, 精神, 状态 · Grammar: 难怪

Sentence 5

事实证明,简单的规则也能产生长期影响。

shì shí zhèng míng, jiǎn dān de guī zé yě néng chǎn shēng cháng qī yǐng xiǎng。

Facts show that simple rules can have long-term effects.

Focus: 事实, 证明, 长期 · Grammar: 事实证明

Sentence 6

这个方案看似方便,实际上增加了使用成本。

zhè ge fāng àn kàn sì fāng biàn, shí jì shàng zēng jiā le shǐ yòng chéng běn。

The plan looks convenient but actually raises the cost of use.

Focus: 看似, 实际上, 成本 · Grammar: 看似…实际上…

Sentence 7

只有理解问题产生的原因,才能真正解决它。

zhǐ yǒu lǐ jiě wèn tí chǎn shēng de yuán yīn, cái néng zhēn zhèng jiě jué tā。

Only by understanding the cause can we truly solve the problem.

Focus: 理解, 原因, 真正 · Grammar: 只有…才…

Sentence 8

即便时间有限,我们仍然需要核实关键数据。

jí biàn shí jiān yǒu xiàn, wǒ men réng rán xū yào hé shí guān jiàn shù jù。

Even with limited time, we still need to verify key data.

Focus: 有限, 核实, 关键 · Grammar: 即便…仍然…

Sentence 9

这项政策是否有效,取决于具体执行方式。

zhè xiàng zhèng cè shì fǒu yǒu xiào, qǔ jué yú jù tǐ zhí xíng fāng shì。

Whether the policy works depends on how it is implemented.

Focus: 政策, 有效, 取决于 · Grammar: 取决于

Sentence 10

随着信息越来越多,判断来源反而更加重要。

suí zhe xìn xī yuè lái yuè duō, pàn duàn lái yuán fǎn ér gèng jiā zhòng yào。

As information grows, judging its source becomes even more important.

Focus: 信息, 判断, 来源 · Grammar: 随着

Sentence 11

我们不能因为一次失败就否定整个方向。

wǒ men bù néng yīn wèi yī cì shī bài jiù fǒu dìng zhěng gè fāng xiàng。

We cannot reject the whole direction because of one failure.

Focus: 失败, 否定, 方向 · Grammar: 不能因为…就…

Sentence 12

她把复杂的概念解释得清楚而具体。

tā bǎ fù zá de gài niàn jiě shì děi qīng chu ér jù tǐ。

She explained the complex concept clearly and specifically.

Focus: 复杂, 概念, 具体 · Grammar: 得 complement

Sentence 13

从表面上看,两种做法没有明显区别。

cóng biǎo miàn shàng kàn, liǎng zhǒng zuò fǎ méi yǒu míng xiǎn qū bié。

On the surface, the two approaches have no obvious difference.

Focus: 表面, 明显, 区别 · Grammar: 从…看

Sentence 14

该项目一方面节省时间,另一方面改善沟通。

gāi xiàng mù yī fāng miàn jié shěng shí jiān, lìng yī fāng miàn gǎi shàn gōu tōng。

The project saves time while also improving communication.

Focus: 节省, 改善, 沟通 · Grammar: 一方面…另一方面…

Sentence 15

与个人经验相比,公开数据更容易被检查。

yǔ gè rén jīng yàn xiāng bǐ, gōng kāi shù jù gèng róng yì bèi jiǎn chá。

Compared with personal experience, public data is easier to examine.

Focus: 个人, 经验, 公开 · Grammar: 与…相比

Sentence 16

除非出现新的风险,否则计划不会暂停。

chú fēi chū xiàn xīn de fēng xiǎn, fǒu zé jì huà bù huì zàn tíng。

Unless a new risk appears, the plan will not pause.

Focus: 出现, 风险, 暂停 · Grammar: 除非…否则…

Sentence 17

这篇评论既肯定了成果,也指出了不足。

zhè piān píng lùn jì kěn dìng le chéng guǒ, yě zhǐ chū le bù zú。

The review recognizes the achievements and points out shortcomings.

Focus: 肯定, 成果, 不足 · Grammar: 既…也…

Sentence 18

即使观点不同,双方仍可以讨论共同目标。

jí shǐ guān diǎn bù tóng, shuāng fāng réng kě yǐ tǎo lùn gòng tóng mù biāo。

Even with different views, both sides can discuss shared goals.

Focus: 观点, 双方, 目标 · Grammar: 即使…仍…

Sentence 19

为了避免误解,报告明确说明了统计方法。

wèi le bì miǎn wù jiě, bào gào míng què shuō míng le tǒng jì fāng fǎ。

To avoid misunderstanding, the report clearly explains its counting method.

Focus: 避免, 误解, 统计 · Grammar: 为了

Sentence 20

任何结论都应该建立在可靠证据的基础上。

rèn hé jié lùn dōu yīng gāi jiàn lì zài kě kào zhèng jù de jī chǔ shàng。

Every conclusion should be based on reliable evidence.

Focus: 结论, 可靠, 证据 · Grammar: 建立在…基础上

Frequently asked questions

How many words are in HSK 5?

The six-level HSK dataset used by HSK Atlas contains 2,500 unique headwords cumulative through Level 5, including 1,300 first assigned at this level.

What sections are in the HSK 5 test?

The official test page lists listening, reading, writing. It contains 100 questions and takes about 125 minutes including candidate-information time.

Where should I start studying for HSK 5?

Audit the corrected cumulative vocabulary list, follow the study plan on this page, then use the grammar guide, graded reading, vocabulary quiz and mock test to find specific gaps.

Does HSK Atlas provide an HSK 5 mock test?

Yes. The HSK Atlas mock follows the official HSK 5 section and question-count structure while using original questions and explanations.

Is the HSK 5 test paper-based or online?

Both formats exist. Test centers offer paper-based and internet-based versions of HSK 5. The question structure, timing and scoring are the same regardless of format. Check available formats when booking.

Is HSK 5 free to study online?

Yes. HSK Atlas provides free vocabulary lists, quizzes, grammar guides, graded reading and a mock test for HSK 5. No account or payment is required to use any study material on this site.