On November 15, during the 2025 World Chinese Language Conference, the newly upgraded Chinese Proficiency Test (HSK 3.0) was officially released. The new version innovatively integrates level-based and cross-level testing, introducing a new “three-in-one” test for HSK Levels 7–9. It strengthens assessment on Chinese characters and traditional Chinese culture while expanding coverage to texts about contemporary Chinese society, technological advancements, and ecological civilization.
The New HSK Coursebook, designed in full alignment with HSK 3.0 standards, was also unveiled at the event. Ms. Wang Fang, President of Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press (FLTRP), gave a comprehensive introduction to the new series. She emphasized that after over thirty years of development, the HSK has become the world’s most influential and authoritative system for assessing Chinese proficiency and serves as a core benchmark for international Chinese teaching, student evaluation, textbook progression, and Chinese-language studies for foreign students. Building on the wave of educational transformation and technological innovation in the era of intelligent learning, and with the full implementation of the Standards for Chinese Language Proficiency in International Chinese Language Education, HSK has officially entered its 3.0 era, heralding a new stage of standard innovation, technological empowerment, and global collaboration. The New HSK Coursebook is a major achievement jointly developed by FLTRP and Chinese Testing International (CTI) under the guidance of the Center for Language Education and Cooperation. Based on the new HSK syllabus, it is designed to invigorate international Chinese education worldwide.
Comprehensive Coverage and Integrated Teaching–Assessment: Building a New Pathway for Progressive Learning
The New HSK Coursebook fully covers the complete “Three Stages and Nine Levels” framework, with a total of 23 volumes. Levels 1–6 include textbooks and practice books, while Levels 7–9 feature skill-based volumes for listening, speaking, reading and writing. Guided by a learner-centered approach, the series breaks the traditional boundaries between teaching materials and testing, creating an integrated “teaching–learning–assessment–testing” linkage that achieves the key objectives of “promoting teaching, learning, and application through testing.”
AI Empowerment and Multimodal Resources: Unlocking a New Learning Experience
In terms of learning experience and resource support, the New HSK Coursebook introduces multiple innovations. An AI assistant named “Xiaoyu” bridges print textbooks and digital resources, helping learners consolidate knowledge and access extended materials through interactive modules such as “Xiaoyu Assistant” and “Xiaoyu Classroom.” They can also unlock rich extended materials through “Xiaoyu’s Easter Eggs,” making Chinese learning more engaging and interactive. The series also provides a multimodal resource suite, including text and vocabulary audios, pronunciation demonstration videos, Chinese character writing animations, text-based mini-dramas, cultural video clips, and standardized teaching courseware—creating an intelligent and immersive Chinese learning experience for learners worldwide.
Contextual and Lightweight Design: Meeting Diverse Learning Needs
In terms of content presentation and user convenience, the series adopts a “light sitcom” structure, weaving the stories of more than ten Chinese and international characters across authentic settings, from overseas campuses to daily life in China. It vividly depicts learners’ academic journeys and Chinese people’s everyday experiences, helping learners appreciate the beauty of the language and understand real-life China. Each lesson includes objectives, warm-ups, texts, classroom activities, and integrated exercises, suitable for both classroom teaching and independent study.
Platform Support and Open Cooperation: Building a New Educational Ecosystem
Wang also introduced the platform-based support and open ecosystem of the series. The newly launched FLTRP International Smart Education Platformtakes the New HSK Coursebook and related products as its foundation to build an interactive digital textbook system and personalized full-cycle “learning, practice, testing, evaluation” pathway. In collaboration with global HSK partners, FLTRP will establish virtual teaching research hubs and develop localized editions to meet diverse regional and national needs, contributing to high-quality development in international Chinese education.
At the event, Mr. Li Peize, CEO of Chinese Testing International, and Ms. Wang Fang, President of FLTRP, signed cooperation agreements with eight overseas partners to jointly promote the global sharing and in-depth collaboration on HSK examinations and high-quality educational resources.
The release of the New HSK Coursebook is set to transform the global Chinese learning experience. By expanding high-quality educational resources through digital innovation and open collaboration, it establishes a strong bridge for mutual learning among civilizations and for building a new, sustainable ecosystem for international Chinese education.
