HSK is a Chinese proficiency test that held by China mainland for whom Chinese is not the native language since year 1992.

China's Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi, also known as HSK or the Chinese Proficiency Test, is a standardized test designed and developed by the HSK Center of Beijing Language and Culture University to assess the Chinese language proficiency of nonnative speakers including foreigners, overseas Chinese and students from Chinese national minorities. Supervised by the State HSK Commission under the PRC Ministry of Education, HSK is held regularly in China and other countries each year. Certificates are issued to those who have secured the required scores.

It originally created to test the language skill of foreign students. but later it has become a global Chinese test. sometimes people call it "Chinese TOFEL".

HSK is held by China National Comittee of HSK. the comittee responsible for the examinations, markers, score, arrangements of the examination and the release of the certificate.

HSK currently available at the major 3 categories: basic, middle and high grade, and within each grade distinction between A, B, C level.

Most people use the identification of the HSK results to apply for school-based. the other which is inline with the economic business, Due to the rapid economic growth of China in recent years, transnational foreign enterprises to enter the mainland market in droves trend also reflected in the HSK examination. Past candidates approved to Chinese students, job-seekers recently to several candidates for the purpose of the multiplier, it is estimated that account for half of the total candidates.

Apart from the Chinese mainland, now the HSK is established in more than 30 country. alone calendar year more than 50,000 candidates participated in HSK overseas.

The nationality of the candidates from: South Korea first, followed by Japan, the United States third, reflecting "world factory" in the transnational production and manufacturing enterprises in the global distribution of importance. South Korea Samsung, LG as an example, the HSK certificate has been proved with the same importance as English test to the job-seekers.