posted by silvermondfee on March 17, 2014 | 3 comments
Hi all,

you probably heard this question a couple of times already but I can't seem to find a straightforward answer online: I've heard that you can pass any HSK (computer-based) test without having to be able to write the characters since they're letting you type in via the pinyin system. Based on that I soon stopped learning how to write since my goal is to read Chinese books, not to handwrite them. However, browsing through the forums (and looking at any class offered in university, even for HSK), the writing part is still essential, is that just slow development or do you actually HAVE to handwrite at some point to pass any HSK?

Thanks for your help,

Anna
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katielinder on March 17, 2014 | reply
Hello,

Last year I took the HSK 3 (I took the exam in Spain, but I guess it's standard issue all over the globe). I didn't have the chance to do a computer based exam, so I don't know if you can type and find the characters so easily. Part I of the writing, you are given the sentences jumbled up and you have to write them in the correct order. This part is quite easy since you can copy the character from their jumbled sentence. Part II you are given the pinyin to complete a sentence. You have to write the correct word which completes the sentence. HSK 3 only has characters, there is no pinyin on the whole exam with exception to the writing part II. 比如说〉 他穿红色 yi 服吗?

加油！

Katie