Two official lists
HSK 3.0 vs HSK 2.0, band by band
The 3.0 list has 11,000 words, the 2.0 list has 5,000, and 4,853 words sit on both, which is 97.06% of the old list carried into the new one. Here is every band, every level, and where each old word ended up.
Counts computed from the list files on 2026-09-04.
The seven HSK 3.0 bands
| Band | Official count | Counted from the file | Running total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band 1 | 300 | 300 | 300 |
| Band 2 | 200 | 200 | 500 |
| Band 3 | 500 | 500 | 1,000 |
| Band 4 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 2,000 |
| Band 5 | 1,600 | 1,600 | 3,600 |
| Band 6 | 1,800 | 1,800 | 5,400 |
| Bands 7 to 9 | 5,600 | 5,600 | 11,000 |
Every band and every level matches its official count, so the two number columns above are identical.
The six HSK 2.0 levels
Where each 2.0 level landed in 3.0
How to read this table
Read a row across to see where one old level scattered. The biggest number in the row is the band that level mostly became, and the numbers on either side of it are the words the new syllabus decided were easier or harder than the old one said.
The last column is the words that did not make it: 147 of the old 5,000 are on no 3.0 band at all. They still have word pages here, filed under their old level, because plenty of textbooks and mock tests still use them.
The columns add up the other way too. Reading down a band column tells you how much of that band is old news for a 2.0 learner: across all six levels, 4,853 words are shared, and the remaining 6,147 words of 3.0 are new.
Where these numbers come from
The 3.0 side is the official HSK exam syllabus, published in November 2025 with an implementation date of July 2026 printed on its cover, whose word list carries the band for every word. The 2.0 side is the official HSK vocabulary list, 2015 edition. We downloaded both files, parsed them, and counted, instead of quoting numbers from other sites.
Common questions
How many words are in HSK 3.0?
11,000, split across seven bands, from 300 in band 1 up to 5,600 in bands 7 to 9. That is the 2025 exam syllabus list, counted word by word from the official file.
Has HSK 3.0 replaced HSK 2.0?
Not yet. The new exam is still in trial runs, the regular HSK you can book today still runs on the old six levels, and no dated official announcement gives a date for the full switch.
Which list should you study?
Either one works, because 4,853 words sit on both. If you have a test booked, follow the list your test uses. If you are learning for life, treat the bands as a difficulty scale rather than a finish line.
How much does each band add?
Band 1 is 300 words, the bands after it add 200, 500, 1,000, 1,600, 1,800 and 5,600, and the running total goes 300, 500, 1,000, 2,000, 3,600, 5,400 and 11,000.
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