This is a comprehensive guide to the Listening section of the HSK Level 2 exam, designed for learners who have mastered around 300 common Chinese words and basic grammar.

Test Structure:

Total Duration: 55 minutes

1. 5 minutes for personal information

2. 25 minutes for listening (35 questions)

3. 22 minutes for reading (25 questions)

4. 3 minutes for filling in the answer sheet

All questions include pinyin and each recording is played twice.

We introduced the overall information of HSK2 in our previous blog post. You can also watch our HSK2 open class video replay.

Reading Section Breakdown

Part 1: Match Sentences with Pictures (5 questions)

Questions 36-40 are matching questions, Five pictures and five sentences will be given, You are required to choose the corresponding picture for each given sentence. The pictures of this part are related to daily situations, behaviors or habits that we are familiar with. The focus of this part is to examine your understanding of body language, action verbs, daily situations and descriptions about weather. Daily situations such as introduction, making phone calls, watching TV and welcoming guests appear frequently.

Tips: 

1. Have a quick look at the choices and predict the possibilities. Before answering the questions, observe the similarities and differences of the given pictures and predict the possible expressions.

2. Pay attention to the key words and the essential parts of the sentences.

3. Find the picture which can best reflect the information. Pay attention to the action verbs in the sentences.

Part 2: Blank Filling (5 questions)

Questions 41-45 are gap filling questions. For each question, a sentence or a conversation is provided, with a blank in it. You are required to choose a proper word from the five given ones to fill in the blank. In the choices of this part, different kinds of words will be included, such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, prepositions, interrogative pronouns, function words and units of time (month/date, etc.). In addition, verb-complement and verb-object phrases and other grammatical collocations will be tested. Topics in this part are common ones in daily Chinese conversation.

Tips: 

1. Understand the meanings of the words clearly and match then with the corresponding sentences.

2. Pay attention to the key words and phrases.

3. Pay attention to the grammatical functions of the words and get clear in your mind where the words should be put in the sentences to make them grammatically correct. Examine whether they get along with the other words in the sentences.

Part 3: True or False Sentences (5 questions)

Questions 46-50 are true or false questions. For each question, two sentences will be given. You are expected to tell whether the second sentence (with * ) has the same meaning as that of the first one. Put down “ √" if your answer is “Yes” and “ ⅹ ” if your answer is “No’.

Tips:

Questions in this part examine the students’  understanding of the information in the reading materials, Barriers will be set in terms of negative words, expressions of time, auxiliary verbs and psychological verbs. You should pay more attention to these words.

1. negative words: 不 (bù)、没有 (méiyǒu)、别 (bié) 

2. expressions of time: 时间 (shíjiān)、点 (diǎn)、分钟 (fēnzhōng)、早 (zǎo)、晚 (wǎn)、前 (qián)、后 (hòu)、年 (nián)、月 (yuè)、日 (rì)、星期 (xīngqī)、早上 (zǎoshang)、上午 (shàngwǔ)、中午 (zhōngwǔ)、下午 (xiàwǔ)、晚上 (wǎnshang)、一会儿 (yíhuìr)、现在 (xiànzài)、今天 (jīntiān)、明天 (míngtiān)、这个月 (zhège yuè)、下个月 (xiàge yuè)

3. auxiliary verbs: 会 (huì)、能 (néng)、想 (xiǎng)、要 (yào)

4. psychological verbs: 爱 (ài)、喜欢 (xǐhuān)

Part 4: Sentence Matching (10 questions)

Questions 51-60 are matching questions, You are required to find the corresponding answer to each question or vice versa. If the question and the answer are related in topic and they are logical when put together, then you've found the right choice.

Tips:

Have a look at the questions first and find the words or sentences in the answers that are related to the “key words” in the questions. In this way, it will be easier for you to find the right answer.

Practical Tips for Reading

1. Pay attention to words of weather, making phone calls, watching TV, welcoming guests, negative words, expressions of time and verbs.

2.For Part 4, have a look at the questions first and find the words or sentences in the answers that are related to the “key words” in the questions. 

3.For the first 3 parts, finish each part in 4mins. And for part 4, finish it in 8mins. And check all answers again with the last 2mins.

You can also watch our HSK2 open class video replay for details.

Upcoming HSK 3 Open Class

The HSK 3 open class will be held in June. Click here or scan the QR code in the following picture.

BLCU Online HSK Course

BLCU Online Course is designed according to the HSK system, helping students to improve their Chinese language skills in four areas: listening, speaking, reading and writing. It is suitable for non-native speakers who want to improve their Chinese in general or for those who want to improve their Chinese language skills first and take the HSK exam in the future. You can choose to join a group or take the classes 1 on 1 according to your level and learning need.

FAQs

1. Registration Deadline: 

Rolling throughout the year

Group class: Wait for 1-4 weeks after registration

1-on-1: Starting within 1 week after registration

2. Class Time:

8am-9pm Beijing time, 7 days a week

Group Class: Need to discuss with group members and determine a class time.

3. Not sure which course is suitable?

You can sign up for a 20 mins trial class and listen to the teacher's advice from the right side of our website.