HSK Advanced applies to those who have mastery of 5000-8000 Chinese words (referring to level A, B, C and D in the Outline of HSK Vocabulary) and the corresponding rules of grammar (referring to level A, B, C and D in the Outline of HSK Grammar).

1. Function of the Certificate of HSK Advanced:

(1) to be a requirement in Chinese proficiency for a candidate to enter a university in China as a graduate student.

(2) to exempt the holder from taking certain Chinese courses.

(3) to certify the holder as being qualified to undertake ordinary work by using Chinese as a communicative tool.

2. HSK Advanced scoring system:

(1) Interpretation of the scores of HSK Advanced:

A subscore of HSK Advanced is a scale score with 50 as the mean and 15 as the standard deviation. These scores show the relative position of the candidate in a standard sample group. Table 3.1 helps to locate the relative position of a candidate in the whole group. The second line indicates the percentage occupied by those whose scores are lower than the corresponding scores in the standard HSK reference group.

Table 3.1

subscore	100	69	63	58	54	50	46	42	37	31
percentage	100	90	80	70	60	50	40	30	20	10

Table 3.1 Percentile of subscores of HSK Advanced

(2) Table 3.2 shows the types and grades of the certificate of HSK Advanced
 
Types and Grades Scores Level Score Range   

Table 3.2

Types and Grades		Scores Level	Score Range
Types	Grades		Listening	Reading	Cloze	Composition	Oral	Total score
Advanced Level		Bottom Line¡ù	46-57	42-53	42-53	46-57	44-55	220-279
	C	9	58-69	54-65	54-65	58-69	56-67	280-339
	B	10	70-81	66-77	66-77	70-81	68-79	340-399
	A	11	82-100	78-100	78-100	82-100	80-100	400-500

Table 3.2 Types and grades of the certificate of HSK Advanced

In table 3.2, HSK Advanced has a bottom line, which is established for the convenience of setting the standards for the certificate of HSK Advanced. Thus, the bottom Line is only relevant for ranking levels in HSK elementary and intermediate when the score of a candidate reaches the bottom line.

In table 3.2, HSK Advanced has a bottom line, which is established for the convenience of setting the standards for the certificate of HSK Advanced. Thus, the bottom Line is only relevant for ranking HSK Advanced levels. It cannot be used for ranking levels in HSK elementary and intermediate when the score of a candidate reaches the bottom line.

3. Description of the level scoring system for HSK Advanced:

HSK has eleven score levels, among which levels 9-11 are the advanced level.

Level 9 is proficient in Chinese at the advanced (low) level. Level 9 is the standard to obtain the certificate of HSK Advanced Grade C. This is also the requirement for a candidate to use Chinese as a communicative tool in ordinary work.

Level 10 is proficient in Chinese at the advanced (mid) level. Level 10 is the standard to obtain the certificate of HSK Advanced Grade B. This is also the requirement for a candidate to use Chinese as a communicative tool in ordinary work.

Level 11 is proficient in Chinese at the advanced (high) level. Examinees reaching level 11 can be regarded as qualified as an intermediate-level translator. Level 11 is the standard to obtain the certificate of HSK Advanced Grade A.

4. Requirement for obtaining the certificate of HSK Advanced:

(1) The candidate must secure the total score required for the corresponding grade of the certificate.

(2) In the five subtests, the candidate must secure three of the four subscores for listening, reading, composition and oral tests required for the corresponding grade.

(3) Two of the five subscores may be lower than the required minimum, (for the four subtests of listening, reading, composition and oral, only one subscore may be lower than the required minimum for the corresponding grade), but not lower than the required minimum scores for the next lower grade. In such case, the candidate can only be awarded a certificate of a lower grade.

(4) None of the five subscores are allowed to be lower than the bottom line under Grade C.

5. Components and test length of HSK Advanced:
The total test length is 2 hours and 35minutes.
HSK Advanced consists of three separately-timed subtests: 120-item written test (objective), composition and oral test. The 120-item test is organized into three subtests: listening, reading and cloze. A variety of objective question types will be used including multiple-choice, matching, gap-filling and writing Chinese characters. The oral test takes the form of an interview. During the time allowed for each section, examinees must work on that section only, and are nor permitted to work beyond the time limit for the section. Examinees are also not permitted to turn to a section that has not been announced or go back to a previous section.

The test is taken in this order and timed as follows:
(1) Written test (objective)     120 items    105 minutes
    (a) Listening                40 items approximately 25 minutes
    (b) Reading
    first section                 15 items    15 minutes
    second section               25 items    25 minutes
    (c) Cloze                    40 items    40 minutes
   

After the 120-item written test, there is a 10 minute test break. Then a composition and oral test follow.
    (2) Composition               30 minutes
    (3) Oral test                   20 minutes
    first stage preparation           10 minutes
    second stage talk (recorded)      10 minutes