If you’re preparing for HSK4, the official HSK Standard Course books (4A & 4B) are one of the most effective resources you can use. They follow the official syllabus, match the exam structure, and include audio for listening practice. If you use them correctly, you can prepare for the exam without needing dozens of extra materials.
This blog will guide you step-by-step on how to study HSK4 using only the Standard Course books.
The HSK Standard Course series was designed by Beijing Language and Culture University Press specifically for exam preparation.
Benefits:
Aligned with the exam: Vocabulary and grammar follow the official HSK4 syllabus.
Audio included: Perfect for listening practice.
Real exam-style exercises: Reading, listening, and writing practice in every lesson.
Cultural notes: Helps you understand context for reading and listening passages.
HSK Standard Course 4A: Lessons 1–10 → About 600 vocabulary words.
HSK Standard Course 4B: Lessons 11–20 → Remaining 600 words.
Each lesson has:
Text 1–3 (课文) – Reading/listening dialogues or passages.
New words (生词) – With pinyin and example sentences.
Grammar points (语法) – Detailed explanation with examples.
Practice activities – Listening comprehension, sentence ordering, short writing.
Read 生词表 (new words) before the lesson.
Write each word with character + pinyin + meaning in your notebook.
Practice saying them aloud 3 times.
Review yesterday’s words before starting new ones.
Play the Text 1–3 audio without looking at the book.
Listen again while reading the pinyin, then the Chinese characters.
Finally, listen without pinyin and try to understand naturally.
For each 语法 section, make 3–5 original example sentences.
Compare them with the examples in the book.
Complete 听力 (Listening) exercises using the MP3 files.
Practice 阅读 (Reading) by timing yourself to improve speed.
Finish 书写 (Writing) tasks—especially sentence ordering.
If you study 5 days a week for 2 hours per day:
Weeks 1–10: Cover HSK4A (1 lesson per week)
Weeks 11–20: Cover HSK4B (1 lesson per week)
Weeks 21–24: Review all 20 lessons + do mock tests.
Listen to the dialogues while commuting or cooking.
Repeat sentences out loud to improve pronunciation.
Write down key words you hear without looking at the text—this improves listening memory.
After finishing HSK4A, take your first full mock test (e.g., H41110) to check your progress.
After finishing HSK4B, take at least 3–4 full mock tests before the real exam.
Only reading without listening: You need both skills for the exam.
Skipping writing tasks: Writing helps reinforce grammar and vocabulary.
Ignoring time limits: The real exam is timed—you must train under pressure.
✅ Conclusion:
You don’t need hundreds of random resources to pass HSK4. By focusing on the HSK Standard Course 4A & 4B and following a structured plan, you can confidently master the vocabulary, grammar, listening, and writing skills required for the exam.
