HSK to CEFR: 2026 Conversion Charts (Plus TOCFL & ACTFL)
The one-line mapping: under the current HSK 3.0 system, levels 1–3 correspond roughly to CEFR A1–B1, levels 4–6 to B1–C1, and levels 7–9 to C1–C2 — while Taiwan's TOCFL officially maps its six levels one-to-one onto A1 through C2. The old HSK 2.0 claim that HSK 6 equals C2 was never accepted by independent European assessors, who put it nearer B2. Below: the full conversion table covering both exams (something no other chart does), the honest caveats, and — because a CEFR letter is abstract — what each level actually lets you read, measured against a real story corpus.
- HSK 3.0 (current): levels 1–3 ≈ A1–B1, levels 4–6 ≈ B1–C1, levels 7–9 ≈ C1–C2 (commonly cited; not independently verified).
- HSK 2.0 (legacy): officially HSK 1–6 = A1–C2, but European teacher associations rate old HSK 6 closer to B2.
- TOCFL: official one-to-one mapping, Level 1–6 = A1–C2 — with more vocabulary required than HSK at the same label.
- ACTFL: approximate only — A2 ≈ Intermediate Low/Mid, B2 ≈ Advanced Low/Mid, C2 ≈ Superior.
- Every mapping here is the test-maker's own claim unless labeled otherwise. Treat them as marketing with error bars.
What is the full HSK to CEFR conversion chart in 2026?
This is the master table: HSK 3.0 (the nine-level system whose finalized exam syllabus rolls out from July 2026) against the legacy HSK 2.0 levels, the commonly cited CEFR band, the TOCFL level that claims the same CEFR band, and what that level means for reading. The reading column is measured across the 658 graded stories in the Literate Chinese catalog (July 2026) — a story counts as readable when the characters at that level cover at least 98% of its text.
| HSK 3.0 | Words (cum.) | Characters (cum.) | ≈ HSK 2.0 | CEFR (commonly cited) | TOCFL at same CEFR | What you can read |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 500 | 300 | HSK 1–2 | A1 | Novice 2 – Level 1 | First graded stories: ~300 characters covers 80% of graded-story text; 21 of our 658 stories are ≥98% readable |
| Level 2 | 1,272 | 600 | HSK 3 | A2 | Level 2 | Short everyday narratives; roughly 60–170 stories readable (500–750-character range) |
| Level 3 | 2,245 | 900 | HSK 4 | B1 | Level 3 | Most everyday graded fiction; roughly 170–330 stories readable |
| Level 4 | 3,245 | 1,200 | HSK 4–5 | B1–B2 | Level 3–4 | 330+ stories; top graded-reader levels, simple native web content with lookups |
| Level 5 | 4,316 | 1,500 | HSK 5–6 | B2 | Level 4 | 563 of our 658 stories; simplified news reads comfortably |
| Level 6 | 5,456 | 1,800 | HSK 6 | B2–C1 | Level 4–5 | ~99% character coverage of graded text; native novels within reach with a dictionary habit |
| Levels 7–9 | 11,092 | 3,000 | Beyond HSK 6 | C1–C2 | Level 5–6 | Native fiction, nonfiction, and news without support |
Word and character counts are the cumulative figures from the 2021 Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards; the November 2025 exam syllabus trimmed the tested word lists somewhat, which we break down in our HSK 3.0 guide. The CEFR column is the alignment commonly cited around the standard — Chinese officialdom describes the three stages (elementary 1–3, intermediate 4–6, advanced 7–9) as corresponding to the CEFR's A, B, and C bands but has published no one-to-one equivalence table, so anyone showing you "HSK 5 = exactly B2" is interpolating, including us.
How does the old HSK 2.0 map to CEFR?
The legacy six-level HSK is still the version most universities, employers, and old blog charts reference, and it carries the most inflated claims. The official mapping put HSK 6 at C2; the German Fachverband Chinesisch's public statement called that equivalence indefensible and proposed that HSK 3–6 correspond roughly to A1–B2 instead — a two-level downgrade across the board.
| HSK 2.0 level | Words (cum.) | Official CEFR claim | Independent European estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| HSK 1 | 150 | A1 | Below A1 |
| HSK 2 | 300 | A2 | Below A1 |
| HSK 3 | 600 | B1 | A1 |
| HSK 4 | 1,200 | B2 | A2 |
| HSK 5 | 2,500 | C1 | B1 |
| HSK 6 | 5,000 | C2 | B2 |
The vocabulary numbers make the objection concrete: C2 in a European language implies command of tens of thousands of words, and the old HSK 6 tested 5,000. That's also why HSK 3.0's advanced band demands 11,092 words — the new system is partly an answer to this criticism. Full level-by-level counts for both systems live in our HSK vocabulary sizes breakdown.
How does TOCFL map to CEFR?
Taiwan's TOCFL is the only Chinese exam family designed against the CEFR from the start, and its maker SC-TOP publishes a clean one-to-one mapping: Level 1 (入門級/入门级) = A1, Level 2 (基礎級/基础级) = A2, Level 3 (進階級/进阶级) = B1, Level 4 (高階級/高阶级) = B2, Level 5 (流利級/流利级) = C1, Level 6 (精通級/精通级) = C2, with two pre-A1 Novice levels below — see the official TOCFL site. Note that at the same CEFR label, TOCFL demands more vocabulary than HSK 2.0 did (B1-labelled TOCFL Level 3 expects 2,500 words versus old HSK 5's 2,500 at a claimed C1), which is one reason the two exams' levels don't line up by number — we map them against each other in detail in TOCFL vs HSK. The same self-claim caveat applies: SC-TOP's CEFR bands are its own alignment, not an independent certification.
How do HSK and CEFR map to ACTFL?
Approximately, and only approximately. ACTFL itself stresses that its scale aligns with the CEFR on a test-by-test basis, but the commonly used crosswalk is:
| CEFR | ACTFL (approximate) |
|---|---|
| A1 | Novice High |
| A2 | Intermediate Low – Intermediate Mid |
| B1 | Intermediate High |
| B2 | Advanced Low – Advanced Mid |
| C1 | Advanced High |
| C2 | Superior |
Chain the tables if you need an ACTFL estimate for an HSK score (HSK 3.0 Level 3 ≈ B1 ≈ Intermediate High), but remember you're now stacking two approximations. For anything consequential — a transcript, a job application — take the specific test the institution names rather than converting.
How reliable are these conversions, honestly?
Three things to keep in mind. First, every Chinese-exam-to-CEFR mapping in circulation is self-reported by the test maker; no independent body has published a full equivalence study for HSK 3.0 or TOCFL. Second, the CEFR was built around European languages, and Chinese characters break its assumption that reading tracks listening — learners routinely test B1 in conversation while reading at A2, which is why character count is a better predictor of what you can read than any CEFR letter (our reading level test measures that directly). Third, the incentives point one way: test makers benefit from generous mappings, so when an institution says "B1 required," check which exam and level it names rather than converting yourself.
What level do you need for university, scholarships, or work?
For Chinese-taught degree programs in mainland China, HSK 4 is the commonly cited minimum for science and engineering, with HSK 5 (sometimes 6) typical for humanities and top-tier universities — always confirm the specific program's number. For Taiwan, the MOE Taiwan Scholarship for Chinese-taught degrees requires TOCFL Level 3 (B1) or above; the Huayu Enrichment Scholarship for language study has no TOCFL prerequisite. Employers are less standardized: mainland job postings usually name an HSK 2.0 level, Taiwanese work-permit paperwork recognizes TOCFL. In every case the institution's named test-and-level beats any CEFR conversion — the conversions are for orienting yourself, not for applications.
What can you actually read at each CEFR level?
This is where letter grades become concrete. Measured across the 658 graded stories in the Literate Chinese catalog (July 2026): at A1-ish knowledge (~300 characters) about 21 stories are fully readable; around B1 (~900–1,000 characters) it's roughly 330; by B2 (~1,500 characters) 563 of 658 open up, and simplified news becomes comfortable. Native novels sit past the top of that ladder, in B2–C1 territory with a dictionary habit. The practical upshot: whatever your target level, the fastest way to consolidate it is reading volume slightly below your ceiling — you can try reading your first story free and see where you land. For study lists, the full HSK 3.0 vocabulary by level (with free CSV downloads) is at our HSK vocabulary hub.
Frequently asked questions
Is HSK 4 equivalent to B2?
That was the official HSK 2.0 claim, but independent European assessments put old HSK 4 (1,200 words) closer to A2. Under HSK 3.0, the new Level 4 (3,245 words) is commonly placed at B1–B2 — a more defensible claim built on nearly triple the vocabulary.
What HSK level is C1?
Officially, old HSK 5 claimed C1 and HSK 3.0 places C1 in the 7–9 band. Realistically, independent assessors didn't rate any old HSK level above B2, so treat C1 as HSK 7–9 territory — or take TOCFL Level 5, which claims C1 on an 8,000-word base.
What CEFR level is TOCFL Level 3?
B1, per SC-TOP's official mapping — and it's the threshold that matters most in practice, since Taiwan's MOE scholarship for Chinese-taught degrees requires Level 3 or above. Its 2,500-word requirement is comparable to old HSK 5's list, so don't let the "3" make it sound easy.
Why do my reading and speaking CEFR levels differ in Chinese?
Characters. The CEFR assumes literacy roughly keeps pace with speech, which holds for French but not for Chinese, where reading requires a separate multi-year investment in character recognition. It's normal to converse at B1 while reading at A2 — and reading volume is how the gap closes.
Which exam should I take, HSK or TOCFL?
Whichever your target institution names. Mainland universities and employers want HSK; Taiwanese universities, scholarships, and work permits want TOCFL. If no one is asking, pick the exam matching the script and region you're learning — the full decision table is in our TOCFL guide.
