I started learning Mandarin in 2018 and even took courses using the Official HSK5 Standard Coursebook in 2019. But because of Covid-19, I had to come back home and couldn't take the exam at the end of the year. Due to some personal stuff, I registered for the HSK5 exam just a month before it happened on June 11. It wasn't planned at all, so I had to quickly come up with a survival plan for that one month. I now humbly offer to share this invaluable strategy with you, should you ever find yourself facing a similar situation.
Why passing the HSK5 was important to me?
According to my university, I had to pass the exam in order to graduate. So, I planned on taking the exam in my last year (2023-2024). I knew I needed to prepare myself first, even though I had been studying in Chinese and had been exposed to China and Mandarin for over 5 years. This is because the vocabulary we use in everyday life differs from what we need to know for the exam. As I mentioned earlier, I had a situation that required me to pass the HSK5. I'll probably talk about it in a future post. But for now, let's stay focused on the topic.
How to register for the HSK exam?
To register for the HSK exam, you have to follow these steps:
Connect to the HSK Official Website: https://www.chinesetest.cn/index.do,
Create an account if you're a new user,
Check out the HSK calendar and choose a suitable date for you.
Once you've created your account, log in and click on the icon ‘Register now’
Choose the level of the HSK, then click ‘Register’
After that, you'll just need to follow the instructions until the payment section.
And that's it. You're ready to take the exam.
If you're not in China, make sure your country has a place called a Confucius Institute where most of the exams are held or a similar place. The HSK5 exam costs about 1050 RMB (150 US$). This price includes the HSKK (speaking exam) fees. Note that on the day of the exams, you can choose not to take the speaking part if you don't want to. However, beware that regarding the certificate, some institutions value more those who passed the two exams than the ones who passed the HSK only. But it's up to you to decide.
The 1-month plan.
Initially, it was a 34-day plan, but because unexpected events can always happen. I finally came out with a 30-day plan. Which included:
Vocabulary review: Because time was tight, I just focused on the 1300 new words that are added to the HSK4 vocabulary. Initially, for HSK5, we have to master 2,500 commonly used words and related grammar patterns. So if you have more time, it's better to review all the 2500 words.
Old HSK exams: Using old HSK exams for practice is beneficial in preparing oneself for the actual test day. It helps in becoming acquainted with the exam structure. To achieve improved outcomes; it is advisable to use a timer and eliminate any distractions while practicing. You can have access to previous exam materials on Hancai Chinese.
Old HSKK exams,
Chinese movie: You have the option to choose from either Chinese movies, podcasts, or interviews, like the ones I was watching on the Mandarin Corner YouTube channel. It helped me a lot in improving my listening and speaking skills and my vocabulary.
Besides that, I was also taking an HSK preparation course through the Coursera platform. The course name is: Chinese for HSK5. It's a 14-week free* program offered by Peking University. You can add it to your plan. It can help especially with the grammar part. Here is the link: https://www.coursera.org/learn/chinese-for-hsk5
Did the plan work?
For me, it's a YES. The plan worked because I felt well prepared when going to the exam. Unfortunately, I could not assess it with my results because something happened the day of the exam... Something that unfortunately interfered with them.
A bit of (bad) luck: Days before the exam, they emailed us the address of the center, but I didn't bother checking it because I already knew where to go. Turns out, the language center I was supposed to go to had two addresses, and I went to the wrong one on exam day. By the time I made it to the right address, it was already 1:45, and I was 15 minutes late. And had to wait until the second part started before I can enter the classroom. Therefore, I missed the Listening Part. And even after, I spent most of the time overthinking and blaming myself that it was hard for me to reach the 180 points minimum required. I'm now proud of myself because I stayed till the end of the exam. I could have gone back home and registered for another day. But at the moment, I was so disappointed because this exam meant a lot to me and I had been studying for it all the past month. But hey, everything happens for a reason, isn't it? So, I told myself that I'll come back and do better next time. I don't know when or how, but I'll come back and show them what I'm made of.
The advice I can give to anyone willing to take the exam is to practice, practice, and practice. Establish a review plan and do your best to stick to it. Be disciplined and dedicate a sufficient amount of time to it. Finally, believe in yourself. And carefully check your emails lol. Thank you for reading. I hope you've learned something useful. And if you're a candidate for any HSK exam, I wish you good luck. May God bless y'all. Take care.
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