Here’s the official list of HSK Test dates for 2020, converted from the official Confucius Institute website.
| Exam Type | Registration Deadline | Exam Date | Results Posted |
| Written | December 13th of 2020 | January 9th | February 9th |
| Online | December 30th of 2020 | January 9th | January 25th |
| Written | January 10th | February 6th | March 13th |
| Online | January 27th | February 6th | March 1st |
| Online | February 25th | March 7th | March 22nd |
| Written | February 21st | March 20th | April 20th |
| Online | March 10th | March 20th | April 5th |
| Written | March 14th | April 10th | May 15th |
| Online | March 31st | April 10th | April 26th |
| Written | April 18th | May 15th | June 15th |
| Online | May 5th | May 15th | May 31st |
| Written | May 23rd | June 19th | July 19th |
| Online | June 9th | June 19th | July 5th |
| Written | June 21st | July 18th | August 18th |
| Online | July 8th | July 18th | August 2nd |
| Written | July 26th | August 22nd | September 22nd |
| Online | August 12th | August 22nd | September 6th |
| Written | August 15th | September 11th | October 18th |
| Online | September 1st | September 11th | September 27th |
| Written | September 20th | October 17th | November 17th |
| Online | October 7th | October 17th | November 1st |
| Online | October 27th | November 6th | November 22nd |
| Written | October 24th | November 20th | December 20th |
| Online | November 10th | November 20th | December 6th |
| Written | November 8th | December 5th | January 5th of 2022 |
| Online | November 25th | December 5th | December 20th |
What’s an Online or Written test?
Online and written refer to two different ways to take the exact same test. The questions are the same, the time limit is the same, the scoring and certificate are the same, it’s just two different ways to take the same exam. Written test refers to a written test on paper, the same kind of test you’ve taken a hundred times before. Online tests are kind of a misnomer (no, you can’t actually take the test online). It refers to being able to take the exam on a computer, where you type out the answer. I generally recommend trying to take the online test: it’s easier and faster to sign up and get your results, plus I just prefer using the computer.
Will my local Confucius Institute follow this schedule?
Probably, but double check with your local instiution. This is the official list of test dates the Confucius Institute headquarters in China will recognize and score. Your local Confucius Institute can’t hold any exam that the headquarters doesn’t approve of but they can hold less. If your local Confucius Institute is going to be closed on a specific date or they don’t think there will be enough demand, they can choose not to hold an exam on that date.
How do I sign up?
To actually take the HSK test you need to do two things. First, you need to sign up on the Hanban website. Second, you’ll actually have to go and take the test.
To sign up you need to go to the Hanban website. You’ll need to make an account, choose a date and location, and officially sign up for the test. Be warned, there will also be a fee for taking test; this varies by test center but usually around $50 USD. If you want a more in-depth guide, Culture Yard wrote a great step-by-step guide about signing up for the HSK.
Once the test date arrives, drive to the Confucius Institute with appropriate ID, probably just a Driver’s License. Usually there’s no strict schedule, more like a four hour window when you can show up and take the test. At the Confucius Institute there will be someone, probably a student volunteer, who will take your information, set up your test area, and offer to store anything (like your phone) that you can’t bring into the test. There’s usually a few other people taking the test but no one says anything; it’s really quiet. Expect to spend about an hour taking the test.
The test results will be available online at the Hanban website on the date listed above, usually about a month after you take the test.
Good Luck!
