番茄社区

Document signing

HSK Test Centre

HSK examination

2026 dates are now avaiable

CIBL is an official test centre in the UK for the Chinese Proficiency Tests.

HSK summary

The Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) is an official examination designed to assess the Chinese language proficiency of non-native Chinese speakers from beginners (level 1) to advanced (level 6). It is an internationally recognised standard in assessing your Chinese language level and the results can be used to demonstrate Chinese ability to an employer and to apply for Confucius Institute Scholarships (CIS). It is also accepted by universities in China as a proof of Chinese proficiency. The HSK tests include writing, listening and reading skills.

Please note: Our centre ONLY provides paper-based HSK. In order to register to take HSK exams, students must first register with Chinese Testing International (CTI) on their website.

 Before your exam

Step 1 Decide your exam date

Year Our Registration & Payment DeadlineExam DateResult Date 
2025 18 Sept 18 Oct 18 Nov
2025 16 Oct 15 Nov 15 Dec
2025 06 Nov 07 Dec 07 Jan 2026
2026 19 Feb 21 Mar 20 Apr
2026 13 Mar 12 Apr 12 May
2026  16 Apr 16 May 15 June
2026 28 May 27 Jun 21 July
2026 18 Jun 18 July 17 Aug
2026 17 July 16 Aug 15 Sept
2026 13 Aug 12 Sept 13 Oct
2026 18 Sept 18 Oct 17 Nov
2026 22 Oct 21 Nov 21 Dec
2026 5 Nov 6 Dec 5 Jan 2027

 All the deadlines are by 4pm UK time. 

Please note: test dates are only shown on the Chinesetest 3 months ahead of your preferred date.

Step 2 Make the payment

 

  • Please follow this link to the  , under "courses" please choose "CIBL – Examination Fees". (IMPORTANT: payer name should match with the exam candidate name. If different, please email us at confucius.business@lse.ac.uk) Exam fees are NON-REFUNDABLE and make sure you complete Step 3. (You are eligible for FREE HSK exam(s) if you pay and take the HSK courses or join the China trip with us.)

  • In the amount section please MANUALLY enter the exam fee

  • Test Type             

    Level                           

    Total Amount Payable

    HSK

    Level 1

    £45

    Level 2

    £55

    Level 3

    £65

    Level 4

    £75

    Level 5

    £85

    Level 6

    £95

  • Follow the rest of the online instructions to complete the process.

  • Please make the payment before the deadline which can be found in the Step 1 table. We are not responsible if you miss the deadline. 
  • Please note: the payment status on the registeration website (step 3) will be confirmed after the registeration deadline. 

Step 3 Register your exam online

  1. Log onto the website . Please make sure you register before the deadline in the Step 1 table. After the deadline, you wont be able to take the exam even if you have paid the exam fee. 

  2. Sign up by providing necessary personal information including e-mail address, nationality, date of birth, etc.  

  3. Test registration

    Please select the test center (Confucius Institute for Business, London, 番茄社区) and date, complete your personal information, upload ID photo and finally confirm your registration information.

    Personal information

    Please provide name exactly as its displayed on your valid identity document e.g. passport or driving license

    Photo size requirement

    Please note the website photo specifications are strict and must adhere to the following conditions: 1) JPG format; 2) Photo size must be within 100KB; 3) Standard ‘passport style’ photo e.g. with face clearly displayed. 

  4. Exam candidates are responsible for completing their own online registration. If you would like CIBL to handle the registration on your behalf, a £25 service fee will apply. 

Step 4 Wait for CIBL email confirmation 

After your successful registration and payment, please wait for us to send you the exam venue and other exam logisitics in due course (usually 1-2 weeks before the exam date). Please check your junk box in case you do not hear from us. 

 

 On the exam day

What to bring

The test taker should arrive at the test room 15 minutes before the test begins. You will need to bring the following items to the HSK exam:

  • ID (Driving licence Identity Card, Passport or Residence Permit)
  • Exam admission ticket (You can log into your chinesetest.cn profile and print your ticket at the “Personal Centre” section of the website.)
  • 2B pencils (two or more)
  • Eraser 

 

After your exam

Exam result and certificate

For the HSK exam result, please visit one month AFTER your exam.  Please note your admission ticket number will be needed for checking the result. 


Certificates will be sent to CIBL two months AFTER the date of your examination. You will receive an email when your certificate is available to collect. To collect in person, you will be asked to provide your exam admission ticket and a valid ID document. Please inform us (confucius.business@lse.ac.uk) first before coming to collect it in person. We can also post the certificates to UK addresses ONLY if mailing is preferred. The post service is £5 (standard service) or £20 (premium service including a Do Not Bend envelope, a tracking number, and shipment protection) can be paid . You will need to MANUALLY enter the post fee and complete the rest of the payment steps. After the payment, please let us know (confucius.business@lse.ac.uk), and we will perpare for the post. 

 

Important information

Refund and defer

Exam fees are non-refundable. For any unforeseen reasons you may not be able to take the exam, you can defer the same level exam ONCE. You will need to inform us (confucius.business@lse.ac.uk) before the registeration deadline of that particular exam to request the deferral. We reserve the right to decline the request if the deferral cannot be processed. 

You need to let us know the following information in your email:

  • Your name
  • Contact email and number:
  • Reason to defer
  • New exam date and your HSK exam level

 

HSK FAQ

FAQ

  • How to register an exam?

Please check Before your exam on this webpage.

 

  • Can you help me register?

Exam candidates are responsible for completing their own online registration. If you would like CIBL to handle the registration on your behalf, a £25 service fee will apply.

 

  • Why cannot I find your centre on the Chinesetest? 

Test dates are only shown on the Chinesetest 3 months ahead of your preferred date. If you choose a date which is more than 3 months ahead, our test centre will not appear on the Chinesetest.

 

  • What’s the exact exam fee for each level?

Please check Before your exam Step 2 Make the payment on this webpage.

 

  • Why can't I see the 番茄社区 test centre listed as an option on Chinesetest.cn?

The 番茄社区 test centre will open registration approximately three months before the exam date. Please check back later and complete your registration at that time.

 

  • I've made the payment on the 番茄社区 e-shop, but the Chinese Test website shows that I haven't paid. What should I do?

You don't need to take any further action. After the registration deadline, we will update everyone's payment status to "paid."

 

  • Can someone who is under 18 take the exam?

Yes, the HSK exams are open to test-takers of all ages. However, as a test centre, we strongly recommend that parents ensure their children are comfortable being in the exam room without parental accompaniment. Parents are not allowed to stay with their children during the exam but can wait outside the exam room. Parents are responsible for their children's safety. A consent form must be signed and returned to us.

 

  • When paying for my minor child's exam fee, the website states: "IMPORTANT: Payer name should match the exam candidate's name." What should I do?

You can use your own bank card and personal information to make the payment for the candidate on the 番茄社区 e-shop. After payment, please email us the candidate's name and forward the payment receipt.

Important: When registering on the Chinese Test website, please use the candidate's personal information. The phone number, email, and address can be the parents'.

 

  • Can I cancel my registration and get a refund after registration?

Exam fees are NON-REFUNDABLE.

Cancellation is NOT permitted once registration and payment are completed.

 

  • Can I defer my exam to a later date?

After completion of registration and payment, candidates may apply for deferred tests within a specific period of time. You can only apply once for each test.

Candidates should visit the website () and log into the “Personal Centre” to apply for deferred tests.  The deferred test can be changed to the same level held in the same year by the test centre. Please follow the steps below:

(1) Please go to the candidate's personal centre and find "Change Test Date" in the "Test Record" section.

(2) If the exam centre does not have a date open for the next test, click on "Change Test Date" and the system will display "No eligible test date, please contact the test centre! Please contact the test centre you registered with.

(3) If the test centre is already open for the next test date, click on "Change test date" and then select the date you want to postpone the test to, specify the reason and click "OK".

Please note:

The time limit and cost of change are as follows:

• 27 days before the test (including the 27 day): candidates can change the test date for free.

• 10-26 days before the test (including day 10&26): candidates are required to pay 30% of the test fee for the change plus £10 admin fee.

• Within 10 days before the test:  no change.

 

  • Can I change the test centre or level?

Changes to the test centre or exam level are NOT allowed after registration.

 

  • When will the exact exam time on the test day be confirmed?

The exam times are usually as follows, but normally we will send an email notification two weeks before the exam to inform test takers the details about the time and venue, please wait for this final confirmation.

HSK 1: 13:30 - 14:10

HSK 2: 09:00 - 09:55

HSK 3: 13:30 - 15:00

HSK 4: 09:00 - 10:45

HSK 5: 13:30 - 15:35

HSK 6: 09:00 - 11:20

 

  • If I arrive late, will I be allowed to enter the test room?

Latecomers will not be admitted to the testing room. To avoid missing the exam, please make sure to arrive early and allow sufficient time for check-in procedures.

 

  • Can I leave early if I finish the test before time is up?

No, early departure is not permitted. All test-takers are required to remain in the testing room for the entire duration of the exam. This helps maintain a quiet and focused environment for everyone.

 

  • When will I receive the result?

You will need your Exam Admission tickets to check your results online. PLEASE KEEP THIS TICKET even after the exam. 

Your results will appear online after about one month and can be viewed at

 

  • Can you help me check my result?

Your results will appear online after about one month. Please check your own result at . Should you have difficulties checking the result, please contact the Chinesetest website service 86-10-59307640. If you would like CIBL to check, a £10 service fee will apply.

 

  • When will I receive the certificate?

Certificates will be issued after about 2 months and can either be collected at CIBL or mailed. Certificate collection email will be sent in due course, and CIBL does not answer certificate chasing emails. Once we receive the official paper score reports, we will notify all test-takers via email.

 

  • Would you be able to scan or take a clear photo of my certificate and send it to me by email?

For reasons of personal data protection and identification, certificates can only be collected in person or sent by post.

 

  • I took the exam a year ago—do you still have my certificate?

We normally keep certificates for one month after receiving them. After this period, additional administrative work is required to retrieve your certificate. The cost for this service is £30, and the certificate can only be sent by post. Postal options are £5 for standard service or £20 for premium service (which includes a “Do Not Bend” envelope and a tracking number).