Where Can I Find Past Papers for Chinese Language Exams?

Written by Mr. Languagespud in Uncategorized

A tried and tested strategy for acing any type of exam is to review previous test papers.

This works for any kind of written exam, from the theory section of your driving test to the HSK!

Don’t know what the HSK is? Read my full guide here!

In this post, I’ve done my best to compile a list of as many places past papers as possible for a range of different Chinese language exams.

What are the benefits of looking at previous test papers?

I’ve made sure to look at previous examples of test papers for many exams I’ve taken since secondary school. For the most part, this habit has served me very well… unless it’s anything related to maths. I’d need a brain transplant to get good at that.

Almost everyone I know who’s done very well in any exam, not just Mandarin Chinese, has familiarised themselves with the testing format beforehand.

The main benefits of sitting a few past papers are…

  • You’ll know the format for the test. No alarms and no surprises. You’ll know exactly what types of questions will appear and when.
  • You’ll be better at exam pacing. You’ll know how long to spend on each section of the exam, avoiding wasting valuable time. You’re also much less likely to avoid unnecessary panic at any stage of the test.
  • You’ll know the material. In a lot of cases, learning material rarely changes from one exam to another. Instead, it just tends to be packaged differently.

How should I study for the test?

This is a controversial one for many Mandarin ‘purists’ who say you should do away with textbooks and move to live in an alley in East Harbin if you really want to understand the language.

I say that if it’s your priority to pass a particular exam, you should study the material for the exam you wish to take. 

This is especially true if you’re still at school. For example, the examiner for your Mandarin exam is unlikely to care that you’re able to rap all of MC Hotdog’s new album off by heart. They will only care if you’ve ticked the correct box for each question on your test paper.

Obviously it pays to supplement your exam preparation in a number of ways, especially when it comes to language learning.

You can check out my whopping collection of Mandarin learning resources in Mandarin Learning Resources: Everything You’ll Ever Need for Fluency.

Should I be aware of the updated syllabuses?

Absolutely.

But unless there is a comprehensive overhaul of the examination structure, sitting past papers is still going to help dramatically – even if there are a few new words and grammar structures on the new paper.

The HSK (Chinese Proficiency Test for Foreigners) is undergoing some fairly radical changes that will take effect over the coming years. To stay up to date, check out my new guide here!

GCSE

Edexcel

  • Pearson Qualifications – Here you’ll find all of the reading, writing, and listening past papers for the Edexcel GCSE Chinese exams. Any official exams from the previous 9 months will be locked and only available to teachers.
  • You can get a copy of the latest GCSE Edexcel Chinese textbook here.

AQA

  • AQA – If you’re following the AQA syllabus instead, you can access all past papers (with audio) from 2019.

IGCSE

  • Cambridge International – All exams from 2015 available, as well as a look ahead to the 2022 specimen paper mark scheme.
  • You can get a copy of the Cambridge IGCSE textbook here.

AS and A-level

Edexcel

When I checked for the latest A-level textbooks for Chinese, I came up empty-handed. There is an A2 textbook from Edexcel, but it was released back in 2009 so I won’t recommend it.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

  • All Mandarin and Cantonese past papers can be found on their website here.

The HSK

The HSK is the abbreviation of the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (Chinese: 汉语水平考试; pinyin: Hànyǔ Shuǐpíng Kǎoshì) and is translated as the Chinese Proficiency Test.

It is the standardised test of simplified Mandarin used in Mainland China, and its purpose is to assess the reading, writing, and listening abilities of foreign learners.

As mentioned previously, the HSK is currently undergoing some fairly radical changes.

There are currently 6 levels to the HSK.

Image result for hsk 4 scoring system

If you’re at a high level in GCSE or A-level, you’re already a good way towards an advanced level.

There’s even more good news: the written section of the HSK test can be done on a computer using pinyin to write the characters, meaning you don’t have to write by hand.

If you want to work in China in a role that requires you to use your Mandarin language skills, many companies will ask for an HSK 5 certificate at the very least.

If you want to continue studying Mandarin at a Chinese university, I strongly recommend you sit an HSK exam at your nearest exam centre. If you’ve got an HSK 4 or 5 certificate, Chinese universities will be throwing scholarship offers at you.

Past papers can be found on the following websites:

There are also plenty of audio tools to be found on YouTube.

When you buy an HSK textbook, you have the option of buying the accompanying workbook. This workbook is packed with loads of exam-style questions and is the perfect preparation for those going for the test.

For a copy of the HSK textbook, there are plenty of cheap options available here on Amazon.

Further Links to Past Papers

Further Reading

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