How to Register for the HSK 1 Exam in 2026: Sites, Fees, Formats, and Deadlines

Step 1: Where to Register

The official registration platform is chinesetest.cn, operated by Chinese Testing International (CTI) under the Chinese International Education Foundation. This is the only site that issues official HSK certificates - third-party sites that promise faster or cheaper registration are not official channels.

Creating an account requires a valid email address and your government-issued photo ID number. The name and ID number on your account must match the photo ID you bring on test day. For most readers outside mainland China, that means your passport; Chinese nationals testing inside mainland China use their national ID card. Mismatches are one of the most common reasons people are turned away at the test center.

Step 2: Choose Your Format (PBT, IBT, or Home Edition)

The HSK 1 exam runs in three formats. Names get confusing: "internet-based" does not mean you take it at home. All three are scored on the same 200-point scale, accepted equally by universities and employers, and use the same monthly test dates. The differences are where you sit and what is in front of you.

Paper-based test (PBT)

You go to an authorized test center and take the exam on paper - a printed booklet and a bubble answer sheet, filled in with a 2B pencil. The most traditional format, and at many test centers still the default for HSK 1. Registration closes 27 days before the test date, so you have to plan further ahead. Scores release about a month after the exam.

Internet-based test at a center (IBT)

You go to an authorized test center but take the exam on a computer the center provides. Same questions, same proctoring, just digital. Registration closes 10 days before the test, and scores typically release in about 2 weeks. Higher levels (HSK 4+) involve typing pinyin and selecting characters; for HSK 1 the interface is point-and-click.

Home edition (居家考试)

You take the exam from your own desk on your personal computer, under live remote proctoring through the official platform. Introduced in 2020, it removes the need to travel to a center. Availability is patchy: it depends on your country and on whether the official platform has approved your local center to offer the home variant. Always check whether your country's registration page offers the home option for HSK 1 before assuming it is available. Equipment requirements include a webcam, microphone, and a quiet private room.

Step 3: Check the Fee for Your Test Center

Fees vary by country because each test center sets local pricing. Recent published HSK 1 fees in the countries where MyHSK1 has the most readers:

Thailand, Myanmar, and Algeria have authorized test centers but published HSK 1 fees in local currency change frequently and are best confirmed against the test-center page you see after picking your city on chinesetest.cn. Expect roughly the same range as the table above (USD $20 to 40 equivalent for HSK 1).

Indonesia is in transition from the older HSK 2.0 pricing (Rp 220,000) to the HSK 3.0 pricing (Rp 250,000+), with the new pricing phased in mid-2026 alongside the format change. Confirm the displayed fee on chinesetest.cn after selecting your test center, before paying. Payment is online and most centers accept Visa, Mastercard, or local equivalents (Alipay and WeChat Pay in China).

The HSK 1 Exam at a Glance

Knowing the exact format helps you avoid surprises on test day.

There is no writing or speaking section at HSK 1 - those start at HSK 2 (writing) and the separate HSKK speaking exam. To pass HSK 1 you need 120 out of 200, or 60%.

Step 4: Register, Step by Step

1. Go to chinesetest.cn and create an account with your email and ID number.
2. Select HSK (not HSKK - that is the speaking exam).
3. Choose Level 1. You cannot change this after registration closes.
4. Pick your test center and date. Browse by city; if your country is not listed for a given month, choose the closest centre or wait for the next monthly date.
5. Choose paper-based or internet-based.
6. Upload a passport-style photo (white background, head-and-shoulders) and your ID scan.
7. Pay the fee. You will receive a confirmation email and a digital admission ticket.

Save the confirmation email and bookmark the admission ticket - you will print it before the exam.

Test-Day Checklist

Bring all of the following - turning up without any item can prevent you from sitting the exam:

• Printed admission ticket from chinesetest.cn (or whatever the test center requires; some accept digital).
• Original government-issued photo ID matching the name on your registration. Passport for international candidates.
• 2B pencils, an eraser, and a black/blue pen for paper-based tests. (Internet-based: just yourself; the center provides everything.)
• Arrive 30 minutes early. Doors typically close 10-15 minutes before start time.
• No phones, smartwatches, or notes in the test room. Most centers provide lockers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I register for the HSK 1 exam?

All HSK 1 registrations go through the official site chinesetest.cn, run by Chinese Testing International (CTI) under the Chinese International Education Foundation. Create an account, choose your level (HSK 1), pick a test center and date, then pay the fee.

How much does the HSK 1 exam cost?

Recent published HSK 1 fees: mainland China ¥150 RMB, Vietnam 530,000 VND, Indonesia Rp 220,000 to 250,000, Malaysia RM 120, India ₹1,500, United States $20 to 30. Thailand, Myanmar, and Algeria run authorized centers but local-currency fees are best confirmed against the test-center page on chinesetest.cn.

What's the deadline to register?

Paper-based tests close registration 27 days before the test date. Internet-based and home-edition tests close 10 days before. All three formats use the same monthly test dates, so the only practical difference is how late you can sign up.

What's the difference between paper-based, internet-based, and home edition?

Paper-based (PBT) is taken on paper at a test center. Internet-based (IBT) is taken on a computer at a test center - despite the name, it is not at home. Home edition (居家考试) is taken on your own computer at home with remote proctoring; availability is region-dependent. All three are scored identically and accepted equally. For HSK 1, IBT or home edition give you a later registration deadline and faster score release than paper-based.

What score do I need to pass HSK 1?

120 out of 200 points - 60%. The exam has two sections (Listening and Reading), each scored out of 100. Your overall score determines pass or fail, so a strong section can offset a weaker one.

Do I need to learn Chinese characters for HSK 1?

Under the older HSK 2.0 format (in effect until June 2026), all questions show pinyin alongside characters, so character recognition is not strictly required to pass. From July 2026 onward, HSK 3.0 tracks character knowledge as a separate dimension - start learning characters now if you plan to test after July 2026.

What do I bring on test day?

A government-issued photo ID (passport for international test-takers), your printed registration confirmation, and pencils or pens as your test center specifies. Arrive at least 30 minutes early. No phones or electronics are allowed in the test room.