The HSK is the only widely-recognised Mandarin benchmark, but the official study path is dry, the vocabulary lists are walls of pinyin, and the jump between levels feels arbitrary. This hub is a practical prep track: the 150 HSK 1 words you actually need to recognise, a 90-day plan that gets a real beginner through HSK 3, and an honest look at when it makes sense to leap from HSK 3 to HSK 4 under the new HSK 3.0 format.
HSK prep hub
HSK Prep: Vocabulary Lists, Study Plans, and Level-Up Guides
HSK prep for 2026: HSK 1 vocabulary with audio, the HSK 3 to HSK 4 jump, a realistic 90-day HSK 3 plan, and what the HSK 3.0 update means for your study timeline.
Articles in this collection (3)
HSK Guide
How to Pass HSK 3: A Realistic 90-Day Study Plan
How to pass HSK 3 in 90 days from zero. Realistic study hours, vocabulary targets, the new HSK 3.0 format, a week-by-week plan, common mistakes, and how ReadDeck fits in.
11 min read · 2026-08-31
HSK Guide
HSK 1 Vocabulary List with Audio: The 150 Words That Open Mandarin
The 150 HSK 1 words every beginner needs, grouped by theme with pinyin, tone marks, audio guidance, and a 30-day study plan. Includes 5-10 sample words used in the ReadDeck folk tale Waiting for a Hare.
12 min read · 2026-08-31
HSK Guide
HSK 3 vs HSK 4: When Should You Level Up?
HSK 3 vs HSK 4 compared: vocabulary, grammar, listening speed, prep time, and the HSK 3.0 update. A practical checklist for deciding whether you are ready to take the HSK 4 jump.
9 min read · 2026-08-31
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