Tag: HSK

HSK 9 - how hard is the exam

How hard is HSK 9?

In 2020 the introduction of three new HSK levels shocked the global Chinese learning community. Where HSK 6 used to be the ultimate certification of Chinese language skills, now you can aim for HSK 9. But how difficult is HSK 9 and what skills do you need to pass the exam?

Preparing for HSK 6 with flashcards: 2500 words in 500 days?

How long does it take to learn all HSK 6 vocabulary by relying on a spaced repetition flashcard app like Daily Chinese? And can it work?

HSK 5 Standard Course review

HSK Standard Course books review

The HSK Standard Course books are probably the most-used books to prepare for the HSK. How useful are these books to pass the exams and are they suitable for self-study? In this article, I review the books I’ve been using for the longest time: the HSK 5 Standard Course textbooks.

app review: DuShu vs Easy Chinese news

Reading Chinese: DuShu vs Easy Chinese News

You want to read and understand Chinese texts faster? In this post, I compare DuShu and Easy Chinese News and tell you from which one your reading skills benefit the most.

5 apps that help Chinese learners prepare for the HSK exam

6 apps to help you prepare for the HSK exam

The HSK test is a must for most Chinese learners. If you’re considering taking the HSK, you might be wondering which resources to use. These are 6 apps that help you prepare for the Chinese Proficiency Test.

Pleco flashcards: yes or no?

The Pleco Chinese dictionary is a crucial app for Chinese learners. What about the Pleco flashcards add-on though, is it worth spending 10 bucks? How essential is the ‘dictionary-flashcards combination’ to get to the next level(s)?

Two free online tools to hack Chinese texts

Reading difficult Chinese texts? These two free tools assist you reading and extracting value from any Chinese text you want to study in-depth.

HSK 6 Graded Chinese Reader - The Art of War

HSK 6 Chinese graded reader review: The Art of War

Who doesn’t want to read The Art of War in Chinese? Another review!

11 things I wish I knew before starting to learn Mandarin

Learning Mandarin can be a loooong-term endeavor. Looking back on at least 8 years of learning Mandarin, there are a lot of things I wish I could have worked out earlier.

HSK Chinese Graded Reader - The New Housekeeper - Front

HSK 6 Chinese Graded reader review: The New Housekeeper

I purchased a copy of Edmund Chua’s and Ranny Ran’s Graded Chinese Reader for HSK 6 called “The New Housekeeper”. I’d only recommend it to a specific group.

How long does it take to get HSK 6?

Five test candidates and the time they needed to prepare for HSK 6.

China’s 2020 HSK reform: How different will the new HSK be?

The HSK exam will be reformed. What we know so far…

How hard is HSK 6?

How painstakingly difficult is the HSK 6 exam? And what do native speakers say about it?

What does your HSK level really tell about your Mandarin skills?

The HSK merry-go-round or why you shouldn’t be focused on HSK results only.

All essential (and less essential) questions about the HSK exam in 2024

You’re about to register for a HSK exam or thinking about it? Here’s all the essential information about the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi in one short FAQ article.

My best tips to beat any level HSK test

These are my best tips for the HSK exam, based on my experience writing the HSK4 and HSK5 exams in China and Europe.