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Q: HSK 5, paper vs. computer version
Hi there,
I am planning to take HSK 5 exam soon, but I am still thinking which version I should choose. I’ve tried paper versions with former HSKs I took, but I’ve heard that once you answer a question on a computer version you can’t change it afterwards, plus there is some writing.
Any suggestions?
7 years 13 weeks ago in Teaching & Learning - China
To be honest with you, I've taken HSK 6, but never 5. That being said, the set up is very similar. Both tests have a composition component, regardless of whether its the computer or written version. I don't know about you, but my typing skills are far better than my character writing skills haha.
About your other concern, you can change your answers from my experience with the 6. It just depends on whether or not you have time to do so. Hope this was of some help.
heymikey:
Hey. Thanks a lot. I guess I will try computer version then. Could you please also let me know how to prepare to HSK 6 (rather distant plan considering my present level of Chinese)? Is it as tiresome as it seems? I am planning to stay in China 2 more years, so guess it could be just enough to make it.
carramsd:
So, the HSK 6 is in fact tiring. You need to not only be good at test taking skills, but also get really good at time management and also have a strategy. A big part of my strategy came in at the 病句 section. Basically I just gave up on any of the 病句 that I didn't know the answer to immediately, because you have to allot time according to the value of the questions you're answering. You cannot just spend tons of time on a section that isn't worth it.
The reading section is long and will wear you out unless your reading level is phenomenal. There are many words and sayings （成语、俗语等) that you will not know, and you have to learn to either figure them out with some degree of basic accuracy or skip over them when you read and look at the bigger picture. The reading section also has a bunch (6?) articles at the end. You have to allot your time here and be strict with yourself.
The first time I took the six, my writing skills were poor so the essay section was hard. It involves a summary. You are simply meant to summarize the article and do not (DO NOT) write any extra details, thoughts or opinions. This is for ease of grading. The goal is to grade only your writing and comprehension, not your understanding or critical thinking on the piece of writing provided as the topic.
All this sounds scary, but in all honesty its doable. I did it (probably) before I really should have and I still passed. If I had to give one piece of advice it would be to get a practice test booklet and do it (HSK 6 模拟考试 if you wanna TaoBao it). Then come up with a strategy to get you through certain sections or over words that you won't be familiar with. There is no avoiding those words/phrases you don't understand unfortunately, they purposefully include these to test your ability to think through them (ie I had an article about diamond mining and uses of diamonds). You can pass it though and it just takes some preparation time. As long as you take some time to prepare, you'll pass!
Preparation and test-taking strategy. These are the keys to passing the HSK 6
To be honest with you, I've taken HSK 6, but never 5. That being said, the set up is very similar. Both tests have a composition component, regardless of whether its the computer or written version. I don't know about you, but my typing skills are far better than my character writing skills haha.
About your other concern, you can change your answers from my experience with the 6. It just depends on whether or not you have time to do so. Hope this was of some help.
heymikey:
Hey. Thanks a lot. I guess I will try computer version then. Could you please also let me know how to prepare to HSK 6 (rather distant plan considering my present level of Chinese)? Is it as tiresome as it seems? I am planning to stay in China 2 more years, so guess it could be just enough to make it.
carramsd:
So, the HSK 6 is in fact tiring. You need to not only be good at test taking skills, but also get really good at time management and also have a strategy. A big part of my strategy came in at the 病句 section. Basically I just gave up on any of the 病句 that I didn't know the answer to immediately, because you have to allot time according to the value of the questions you're answering. You cannot just spend tons of time on a section that isn't worth it.
The reading section is long and will wear you out unless your reading level is phenomenal. There are many words and sayings （成语、俗语等) that you will not know, and you have to learn to either figure them out with some degree of basic accuracy or skip over them when you read and look at the bigger picture. The reading section also has a bunch (6?) articles at the end. You have to allot your time here and be strict with yourself.
The first time I took the six, my writing skills were poor so the essay section was hard. It involves a summary. You are simply meant to summarize the article and do not (DO NOT) write any extra details, thoughts or opinions. This is for ease of grading. The goal is to grade only your writing and comprehension, not your understanding or critical thinking on the piece of writing provided as the topic.
All this sounds scary, but in all honesty its doable. I did it (probably) before I really should have and I still passed. If I had to give one piece of advice it would be to get a practice test booklet and do it (HSK 6 模拟考试 if you wanna TaoBao it). Then come up with a strategy to get you through certain sections or over words that you won't be familiar with. There is no avoiding those words/phrases you don't understand unfortunately, they purposefully include these to test your ability to think through them (ie I had an article about diamond mining and uses of diamonds). You can pass it though and it just takes some preparation time. As long as you take some time to prepare, you'll pass!
Preparation and test-taking strategy. These are the keys to passing the HSK 6
This is good, I am going to try for the HSK 4 or 5 in a few months. Thanks.
carramsd:
Go for it man. I don't think there is a writing portion for the 4, so if you take that you're golden. 4 isn't actually all that tough. Also if you need to beef up on vocab for it, there were like vocab official vocab lists in the form of spreadsheets up somewhere. you can try searching or I can try to find them for you if I still have em. Good luck man!
heymikey:
If you are not sure, I would advise you to take HSK 4 first. I don't know your level, but there is some big difference between levels 4 and 5 (at least in my opinion). If you plan to stay in China for at least 1.5 years more then I would suggest you to take HSK 4 and prepare for 5 without any hush.
