HSK vs JLPT — Which Language Test Should You Take?

HSK and JLPT are the two big standardized tests for East Asian languages. Different structures, different markets, different signaling power. Here's how they actually compare.

The basics

• JLPT — Japanese-Language Proficiency Test. 5 levels (N5 easiest → N1 hardest). Tests reading + listening only. No speaking, no writing. Pass/fail.
• HSK — Hànyǔ Shuǐpíng Kǎoshì. 9 levels in the new HSK 3.0 (HSK 1 easiest → HSK 9 hardest). Tests reading + listening; higher levels add writing. Scored, not pass/fail.

How the levels compare (rough)

CEFR	JLPT	HSK 3.0
A1	N5	HSK 1–2
A2	N4	HSK 3
B1	N3	HSK 4
B2	N2	HSK 5
C1	N1	HSK 6–7
C2	—	HSK 8–9

Career value

• JLPT N2 is the minimum bar for most white-collar jobs in Japan. N1 is preferred. Lower levels rarely move the needle.
• HSK 4–5 is the typical bar for business in China; HSK 6+ for translation/government roles. Chinese universities require HSK 4–5 for undergrad admission.

Difficulty quirks

JLPT N1 is harder relative to its tier than HSK 6 — the jump from N2 to N1 is famously brutal. HSK 7–9 (introduced in 2021) is now the true equivalent of "advanced" in Chinese.

Which to take

Take the one that matches your target language and career direction. There's no overlap — they're language-specific. If you're studying both, both certifications hold independent value.

Free study lists: JLPT vocabulary · HSK vocabulary