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How HSK 4 writing is graded
The HSK 4 writing section has no answer key: every part is marked against a rubric. So here is the rubric itself, every criterion and what it is worth, what separates one band from the next, and a worked answer at each band with the correction. It is the same scheme this site grades against, not a summary of it.
Compared with HSK 3, the prescribed vocabulary more than doubles, from 1,000 words to 3,245, the CEFR band moves from A2 to B1. On the paper itself, sentence gap-fill and short composition appear for the first time, picture matching, sentence matching and write the character drop out, the writing minimum rises from 200 characters to 300.
HSK 3.0 · Writing · 2 graded parts with marking criteria · free to read, no account
What HSK 4 writing asks of you, officially
Length: no less than 300 Chinese characters, in a limited time.
What you write: simple narratives and expositions, plus common practical writing formats.
Quality expected: basically correct vocabulary, comparatively diverse sentence patterns, basically complete content and relatively clear expression, with basically correct format.
Characters: the standard expects you to be able to handwrite a further 100 handwritten characters from the Intermediate Level list.
Quoted from GF0025-2021, 《国际中文教育中文水平等级标准》, the official standard published by China's Ministry of Education and effective from 1 July 2021. The criteria below are how this site marks against it.
Write a sentence
The learner must write ONE sentence using a required word.
请用“结账”写一个句子。
There is no answer key for this task. What you write is judged against the criteria below.
How it is marked
Marked against HSK 4 (CEFR B1) on a 10 point scale, holistically. This is the same scheme the grader on this site uses, not a summary of it.
Overall sentence quality
worth 10 of 10Be strict about completeness: a subject plus the word with no real predicate is "low", not "mid".
- No credit 0 pts
- blank, off-task, unintelligible, OR does not use the required word.
- Weak 1 to 4 pts
- uses the word but the sentence is INCOMPLETE (missing a needed verb/object/predicate) or has errors that block meaning. A bare fragment is "low", never "mid".
- Adequate 5 to 7 pts
- a COMPLETE, understandable sentence using the word, with only minor grammar/usage errors.
- Strong 8 to 10 pts
- a complete, natural, grammatical sentence using the word correctly and on topic.
What each band looks like
Worked examples that fix where one band ends and the next begins. The grader is given these same examples, so they are what the marking is calibrated to.
今天是星期五。
You didn't use the required word 电脑.
- The required word 电脑 is not used.
我作业。
Incomplete — this needs a verb.
- No verb: 作业 needs a predicate such as 写 or 做.
我书很喜欢。
Word order makes the meaning unclear.
- Word order: the object 书 should follow the verb 喜欢, not come before it.
夏天我喜欢开空调，但是有点儿冷了。
Clear and complete, with a small usage slip.
- '有点儿冷了' is slightly off here — drop 了: '有点儿冷'.
每天早上我都去公园锻炼身体。
Natural, complete, and correct.
他邀请我去他家吃饭。
Great — natural and grammatical.
Short composition
The learner must write a short essay (typically 80+ characters) responding to a prompt, on topic and appropriately organized.
请写一篇不少于80字的短文，谈谈你对“锻炼身体”的看法。
There is no answer key for this task. What you write is judged against the criteria below.
How it is marked
Marked against HSK 4 (CEFR B1) on a 10 point scale, across 4 criteria weighted as below. This is the same scheme the grader on this site uses, not a summary of it.
Task achievement
worth 3 of 10Does the essay actually answer the prompt, stay on topic, and reach the expected length/development?
- No credit 0 pts
- blank, off-task, or wholly unrelated to the prompt.
- Weak 1 to 4 pts
- addresses the prompt only partially or far too briefly; key parts missing.
- Adequate 5 to 7 pts
- answers the prompt with adequate development, minor gaps or padding.
- Strong 8 to 10 pts
- fully answers the prompt with well-developed, relevant content and appropriate length.
Grammar & accuracy
worth 3 of 10Sentence structures, particles, aspect (了/过/着), word order. Judge how often errors occur and whether they block meaning.
- No credit 0 pts
- so many errors the text is largely unintelligible.
- Weak 1 to 4 pts
- frequent errors that repeatedly obscure meaning.
- Adequate 5 to 7 pts
- generally controlled; noticeable errors that rarely block meaning.
- Strong 8 to 10 pts
- accurate and varied structures; only occasional slips.
Vocabulary & expression
worth 2 of 10Range, precision, and naturalness of word choice for the level; measure words and collocations.
- No credit 0 pts
- vocabulary far too limited to convey the message.
- Weak 1 to 4 pts
- narrow or repeatedly misused vocabulary; frequent wrong word choice.
- Adequate 5 to 7 pts
- adequate range with some imprecision or repetition.
- Strong 8 to 10 pts
- precise, varied, natural word choice appropriate to the level.
Coherence & cohesion
worth 2 of 10Logical flow, paragraphing, and use of connectives (因为/所以, 但是, 首先/然后, etc.).
- No credit 0 pts
- no discernible organization.
- Weak 1 to 4 pts
- ideas jump around; connectives missing or misused.
- Adequate 5 to 7 pts
- mostly logical with some abrupt transitions.
- Strong 8 to 10 pts
- clear, well-linked progression of ideas throughout.
What each band looks like
Worked examples that fix where one band ends and the next begins. The grader is given these same examples, so they are what the marking is calibrated to.
我最喜欢夏天。
- Far too brief: states a preference but gives no reasons or development.
因为夏天的时候，我可以去游泳，也能和朋友一起去旅游，所以我最喜欢夏天。
我的家乡有很多好吃的。天气很热。人很好。我喜欢。有山。
- Disconnected short statements with no connectives or logical order.
Ready for the whole paper?
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