The next available YCT test is on March 26th. It is offered as both a written and computerized test, in-person test. You must register by February 27th for the written one and March 16th for the computerized one. Here’s the complete list from the official Confucius Institute website for the 2020 calendar year.
| Exam Type | Registration Deadline | Exam Date | Expected Results |
| Written | January 17th | February 13th | March 13th |
| Written | February 27th | March 26th | April 11th |
| Online | March 16th | March 26th | April 26th |
| Written | April 17th | May 14th | June 14th |
| Online | May 4th | May 14th | May 30th |
| Oral | April 17th | May 14th | June 14th |
| Written | July 24th | August 20th | September 20th |
| Written | September 25th | October 22nd | November 7th |
| Online | October 12th | October 22nd | November 22nd |
| Written | October 16th | November 12th | December 12th |
| Online | November 2nd | November 12th | November 28th |
| Oral | October 16th | November 12th | December 12th |
What does that mean?
Sorry, the full list can be pretty complicated.
There’s 3 kinds of exams: Written, Online, and Oral. First. the Written and Online exams are the same core test with the same reading and listening questions, just taken in different ways. Written exams are written with a pencil and paper while online tests are taken on a computer. And unfortunately you can’t take an online exam, well, online, you have to take it at an official Confucius Institute test center. I recommend taking the online exam, it’s easier and you get your results back faster.
There’s also an oral exam and it’s different than the written and online versions. The YCT 3 and 4 require oral tests, which is where the child goes in and practices Chinese speech with a teacher. This can involve responding to questions or speaking short sentences and paragraphs.
Are these the test results for my city?
Maybe, double check with your local Confucius Institute. These are all the possible test dates that the head Confucius Institute in allow but that doesn’t mean that your local Confucius Institute will have a test on that date. You local Confucius Institute might decide there isn’t enough demand and only hold 2-3 exams a year, so double check before you commit.
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!
