Newcastle University charges £10 for an HSK 1 paper in 2026, while Crestar in Singapore charges S$165 for the same level, prep course included. Both run the exam operated worldwide by Chinese Testing International (CTI).
This brief sets out HSK fees by testing center across the UK, Austria, Singapore and Japan, and what the HSK 3.0 speaking-test pairing adds to the bill.
HSK Fees by Testing Center
What HSK Fees Each Test Center Charges in 2026
Seven centers with published 2026 schedules price the exam in four currencies. Figures below are local-currency fees as published, with no conversion applied.
Three of the seven sell HSK 3 and above as a written-plus-oral package. Their higher-level prices therefore cover two exams, not one.
| Test center | Country | HSK 1 | HSK 3 | HSK 6 | HSK 3–6 price covers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newcastle Confucius Institute | UK | £10 | £30 | £60 | Written only |
| Sheffield Confucius Institute | UK | £10 | £30 | £60 | Written only |
| Cardiff Confucius Institute | UK | £20 | £40 | £70 | Written only (individual rate) |
| Glasgow Confucius Institute | UK | £20 | £40 | £70 | Written only, plus £10 enrolment fee |
| Confucius Institute, University of Vienna | Austria | €20 | €50 | €85 | Written + HSKK |
| Crestar HSK Centre | Singapore | S165 | S265 | S$315 | Written + HSKK + live prep course |
| HSK Japan Committee | Japan | ¥3,850 | ¥6,600 | ¥11,550 | Written only |
Source: Newcastle University, University of Sheffield, Cardiff University, University of Glasgow, Confucius Institute at the University of Vienna, Crestar HSK Centre and HSK Japan Committee fee schedules, 2026
Centers set these prices, not CTI. The University of Colombo’s Confucius Institute tells candidates to contact their chosen center for test fees.
Price does not change what a certificate proves; Lingobright’s chart of HSK levels mapped against CEFR bands covers that side.
Spanish learners face a similar spread, shown in DELE and SIELE pricing data.
Four UK Centers, One Exam: HSK Fees Side by Side
Newcastle and Sheffield charge £10 to £60 across HSK 1–6. Cardiff and Glasgow charge £20 to £70 at individual rates.
Glasgow adds a £10 enrolment fee to each exam, listed apart from the exam price.
| UK center | 2026 HSK sittings listed | HSKK Basic / Intermediate / Advanced | Reduced rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newcastle | 22 Mar, 16 May, 18 Jul, 13 Dec | £15 / £25 / £35 | None listed |
| Sheffield | 22 Mar, 16 May, 5 Dec | £15 / £25 / £35 | None listed |
| Cardiff | 21 Mar, 18 Jul, 7 Nov, 12 Dec | £25 / £35 / £45 | Student rate, £5 below individual |
| Glasgow | 11 paper-based dates, plus 20 Sep HSK 3.0 trial | £25 / £35 / £45 | Group and student rate, £5 below individual |
Source: Newcastle University, University of Sheffield, Cardiff University and University of Glasgow Confucius Institute test pages, 2026
Glasgow lists the most 2026 sittings of the four, from 24 January to 13 December. Cardiff’s student rate runs from £15 for HSK 1 to £65 for HSK 6.
The same city-to-city gaps show up in the cost of language courses across major US cities.
Do HSK Fees Include the Speaking Test?
Not under HSK 2.0 at most centers, where the HSKK speaking test carries its own fee. CTI’s notice for the 20 September 2026 global trial states that HSK levels 3–6 must be registered together with the matching speaking test.
Registration for that trial opened on 3 August 2026. It closed on 24 August for paper tests and 10 September for internet-based tests, Beijing time.
| Center (sold separately) | HSK 4 written | HSKK Intermediate |
|---|---|---|
| Newcastle | £40 | £25 |
| Sheffield | £40 | £25 |
| Cardiff | £50 | £35 |
| HSK Japan Committee | ¥7,920 | ¥7,150 |
Source: Newcastle University, University of Sheffield, Cardiff University and HSK Japan Committee fee schedules, 2026
Bundling centers quote one figure instead. Vienna charges €60 for HSK 4 with the intermediate speaking test, and Crestar charges S$275.
Glasgow’s HSK 3.0 Trial Price List
Glasgow published a bundled schedule for the 20 September 2026 trial. HSK 6 cost £65 written plus £45 oral, a £110 total before the £10 enrolment fee.
HSK 1 and HSK 2 had no oral part in that schedule, priced at £15 and £25. HSK 3 totalled £60, HSK 4 £80 and HSK 5 £100.
Source: University of Glasgow Confucius Institute, HSK 3.0 trial fee schedule, September 2026
Crestar Singapore’s HSK Fees Across Its 2023, 2024 and 2026 Schedules
Crestar’s GST-inclusive fees rose at every level shown across these three schedules. HSK 6 with the advanced oral moved from S290in2023toS300 in 2024 and S$315 in 2026.
Each Crestar fee includes a live online preparation course. Crestar says written-plus-oral registration at HSK 3 and above has applied since 2023, citing the HSK organizer.
Its 2022 schedule, before bundling, listed HSK 6 at S190andeachorallevelatS100.
Source: Crestar HSK Centre registration fee schedules, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2026 (2025 schedule not included)
Japan’s HSK Fees by Level
The HSK Japan Committee prices HSK 1 at ¥3,850 and HSK 6 at ¥11,550, for written papers only. Speaking tests are booked and paid for apart.
| HSKK level | Fee |
|---|---|
| Beginner | ¥6,050 |
| Intermediate | ¥7,150 |
| Advanced | ¥8,250 |
Source: HSK Japan Committee fee schedule, as published in Hokuriku University extension notices, current schedule
Ritsumeikan’s Confucius Institute subsidizes fees for its students through an agreement with the committee. The discount covers only the July, September, December and March sittings.
Learners weighing Japanese-language exams too can compare the JLPT’s N5 to N1 levels.
When Do Test Centers Switch to HSK 3.0?
CTI set 13 December 2026 as the worldwide launch of HSK 3.0, per a notice carried by the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission on 15 September 2026. Paper-based registration closes 16 November and internet-based registration closes 3 December, Beijing time.
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| Nov 2025 | HSK 3.0 syllabus released |
| 31 Jan 2026 | First global HSK 3.0 trial |
| 20 Sep 2026 | Second global HSK 3.0 trial |
| 7 Nov 2026 | Vienna’s last HSK 2.0 sitting |
| 5 Dec 2026 | Sheffield’s final HSK 2.0 sitting |
| 13 Dec 2026 | HSK 3.0 official worldwide launch |
| Early spring 2027 | Sheffield’s planned first HSK 3.0 sitting |
Source: CTI notices; Shanghai Municipal Education Commission; Confucius Institute at the University of Vienna; University of Sheffield, 2025–2026
Vienna will hold its 13 December HSK 3.0 sitting at its HSK 2.0 prices. That means €20 for HSK 1 and €85 for HSK 6 with speaking.
HSK 3.0 also raises the HSK 1 word list to 300, up from 150 under HSK 2.0, per Sheffield’s comparison table. Beginners can work through free beginner Chinese worksheets before booking.
719,000 Paid HSK Candidates in 2024: The Demand Behind the Fees
China’s Ministry of Education reported 719,000 paid HSK candidates in 2024, up from 32,000 in 2004. Over the same span, test centers grew from 61 in 34 countries to 1,477 in 168 countries.
| Metric | 2004 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Annual paid HSK candidates | 32,000 | 719,000 |
| HSK test centers | 61 | 1,477 |
| Countries with test centers | 34 | 168 |
Source: Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, November 2025
Paid candidates reached 414,000 in the first half of 2025, up 19.6% year on year. The ministry projected 750,000 for the full year.
French exams show a comparable regional spread in DELF and DALF candidate numbers.
Mandarin’s wider position appears in learner counts for the most studied foreign languages.
FAQs
How much does the HSK test cost in 2026?
It depends on the center. HSK 1 costs £10 at Newcastle and Sheffield, ¥3,850 in Japan and S165atCrestarSingapore.HSK6runsfrom£60atNewcastletoS315 with oral at Crestar.
Is the HSKK speaking test mandatory with the HSK?
For levels 3–6 at the 20 September 2026 HSK 3.0 trial, yes. CTI required registration with the matching speaking test. Vienna and Crestar already sell levels 3–6 as written-plus-oral packages.
When does HSK 3.0 start?
On 13 December 2026, worldwide. Paper-based registration closes 16 November 2026 and internet-based registration closes 3 December 2026, Beijing time.
Why do HSK fees quoted on Reddit vary so much by country?
Each test center sets its own fee, and some prices bundle extras. Crestar’s S$315 HSK 6 fee includes the oral test and a live prep course, while Japan’s ¥11,550 covers the written paper alone.
How many people take the HSK each year?
719,000 paid candidates sat the HSK in 2024, according to China’s Ministry of Education. The first half of 2025 recorded 414,000, up 19.6% year on year.
