2026-07-27

How to Pass HSK 1: 2026 Study Guide

HSK 1 is very passable: 40 questions, 150 words, and a 60% passing score. Most beginners get there in 2–6 weeks of consistent study. This guide gives you a concrete 4-week plan.

Week 1 — Learn the 150 words

Do not spread your effort evenly. Start with the words that carry the exam: numbers (一 to 十), pronouns (我, 你, 他/她), question words (什么, 哪儿, 几, 多少) and the ten highest-frequency verbs (是, 有, 在, 去, 吃, 喝, 看, 买, 做, 学). Aim for recognition, not perfect handwriting — the HSK 1 is multiple choice.

Week 2 — Drill the question types

HSK 1 has two sections: listening (20 questions) and reading (20 questions). Listening questions fall into a few repeatable patterns: true/false judgments, picture matching, and short dialogues followed by a question. In dialogues the answer almost always comes from the second speaker, and options typically differ by one word — train your ear for numbers, family members and places.

Week 3 — Fix your weak spots

By now your wrong answers have a pattern. For most learners it is listening discrimination between similar words (他/她, 四/十) or time expressions. Redo every question you got wrong — a mistakes notebook that collects them automatically saves real time here — and read the explanation until you can say why each wrong option is wrong.

Week 4 — Mock exams under time pressure

Take at least two full, timed mock exams. The real exam gives you about 40 minutes and plays each recording twice; practice answering during the first play and confirming on the second. If you score above 140/200 twice in a row, you are ready — the pass line is 120.

Exam day tips

• Preview options before the recording starts; they tell you what to listen for.
• Never leave a question blank — there is no penalty for guessing.
• Use the 3 answer-transfer minutes to double-check, not to re-think.

Ready to start? Take a free HSK 1 mock exam and get your score report: Start free practice.