When are the tests conducted? 

Although Chinese Testing International (CTI) Headquarters has a monthly schedule of HSK tests for centres all over the world, we have only chosen twice each year due to low demand in Canberra: late March and early December. This year’s December test is on 3 December 2023. These dates can be found at

Registration for the tests is open throughout the year and closes around one month prior to the testing date.

Do students have to take the test in your centre or they can do this in the school they are studying in?

The registered test taker will have to take the test at the location we specify. This may be at Griffin Centre in Civic, our training centre at 28 Mort Street Braddon, UC Senior Secondary College at Lake Ginninderra Belconnen, Snow Centre at Canberra Grammar School, or Melrose High School at Woden. The location is usually determined closer to the testing date, depending on the number of test takers.

If a school has students participating in HSK/YCT (Youth Chinese Test, for primary and junior secondary students) regularly, we may add the venue at their school to the list of testing locations, depending on approval by the CTI Headquarter.

How much is the cost of taking a test and what are the formats and question types?

Test registration fees for different tests are varied from $35 to $90, as listed at http://www.standardchineseschool.act.edu.au/content/hsk-registration/

As to the format, for HSK levels 1-2, two strands are tested: listening and reading. For level 3-6, it includes listening, reading and writing. Sample test paper may be provided to the test taker who has registered with us for a test.

Do my students have to do the tests level by level?

A test taker can take any level of test for that they are ready, i.e. it does not have to be level by level.

In addition to HSK, we also run YCT for younger Chinese learners (primary students). YCT tests are usually scheduled on the same day of HSK in March and November (instead of December) later in the year.