HSK 1 Reading Practice 2: Notes, Chats & Exam-Style Questions

By the end you can

• Match a sentence to a picture by its key word. For Part 1, find the one word you could photograph, a thing like 猫 or an action like 打电话, and read past little words like 在, 了 and 很.
  妹妹在喝牛奶。 · Mèimei zài hē niúnǎi. · My little sister is drinking milk.
• Pick the right reply from the question word. 几 wants a number, 谁 a person, 哪儿 a place and 什么 a thing, while 吗 wants a yes or a no. Practised on the replies from a dinner at Wang Yue's home.
  你在哪儿工作？ · Nǐ zài nǎr gōngzuò? · Where do you work?
• Fill a gap from a word bank by the words around it. After a number you need a measure word, after 很 a describing word, and after 去 or 在 a place. Practised on Lin Hao and Xiaoyu's weekend chat.
  你星期六做什么？ · Nǐ xīngqīliù zuò shénme? · What are you doing on Saturday?
• Answer ★ questions on tiny texts. Read the ★ question first, circle its question word, then find the line that answers it in a calendar note, a message, a weather line or a train time.
  火车几点开？ · Huǒchē jǐ diǎn kāi? · What time does the train leave?
• Read dates, times and prices in Chinese order. Dates and times go from big to small: month, date, day, 上午 or 下午, then the hour. You also learn to say 两点, never 二点.
  明天星期几？ · Míngtiān xīngqī jǐ? · What day is it tomorrow?
• Follow who, where and when in a short story. Tell 他, 她 and 它 apart by the character, then read the questions before a longer text about Grandma's month-long visit, since the answers come in order.
  星期天上午，她在家看书。 · Xīngqītiān shàngwǔ, tā zài jiā kàn shū. · On Sunday morning she reads at home.
• Sit a 12-minute mini test and fix the common traps. A mini test in exam order, then two Fix-It pages: 不 or 没, 几 or 多少, and where time words and 在 + place go in a sentence.
  你有几个孩子？你们公司有多少人？ · Nǐ yǒu jǐ ge háizi? Nǐmen gōngsī yǒu duōshao rén? · How many children do you have? How many people are at your company?

What’s inside

• Unit 1: Learn: Picture Match: Find the Key Word · Text: A Morning at Home · Practice: Which Picture Is It?
• Unit 2: Learn: Replies: Follow the Question Word · Text: Dinner at Wang Yue's Home · Practice: Who Says What at Dinner?
• Unit 3: Learn: Word Bank: Look Around the Gap · Text: Plans for Saturday · Practice: Sunday Plans: Fill the Gaps
• Unit 4: Learn: ★ Questions: Find the Line First · Texts: Five Tiny Texts · Practice: Five ★ Questions
• Reference: Seven Question Words
• Unit 5: Learn: Dates and Times: Big to Small · Texts: Xiaoyu's Week in Numbers · Practice: Days, Times and Money
• Unit 6: Learn: Who, Where, When in a Story · Text: The New Cat · Practice: The New Cat: Who, Where, When
• Unit 7: Learn: Longer Texts: Questions First · Text: Grandma Comes to Stay · Practice: Five Questions About Grandma
• Mini Test: Parts 1–2: Mini Test: Parts 1 and 2 · Parts 3–4: Mini Test: Parts 3 and 4
• Fix-It 1: Fix-It: 不 or 没? 几 or 多少?
• Fix-It 2: Fix-It: 在 and Time Words
• Planner: Ready for HSK 1 Reading
• Review: Checking the Mini Test

How to use this book

Seven units of three pages: learn one strategy, read the new texts, then answer exam-style questions. Then a mini test, two Fix-It pages and a checklist before the exam.

1. Units 1–4: The four question types. Picture match, replies, word bank and ★ questions, in the order of the new HSK 1 reading section. Cross out each picture or reply once you use it.
2. Second read: Cover the pinyin. Every text has full pinyin. On your second read, cover it with a card and look only when you're stuck on a character.
3. Units 5–7: Extra reading. Dates, times and money, a micro-story about a new cat, and a longer text about Grandma. Read the questions before the longer text.
4. Pages 25–26: Mini test. Do both pages in one sitting with a 12-minute timer, then check your answers with the key.
5. Pages 27–30: Fix-It and review. Work through the two Fix-It pages, tick the checklist on page 29, and act out the mini test check with Mei Lin on page 30.
6. After the book: A full reading section. Try the reading part of HSK 1 Mock Test 3, a practice test in the new HSK format, free with a SayMei account.

Who it’s for

Beginners preparing for the reading section of new HSK 1 (HSK 3.0) who want fresh texts and every question type, on their own or in a class.

Before you start: Know most HSK 1 words. Every text has full pinyin, and new words are on cards with pinyin and English. The texts are new, so you can use it with or without HSK 1 Reading Practice.

Frequently asked questions

What's inside?

Seven units of three pages: a strategy, new texts, then exam-style questions. Units 1 to 4 follow the four parts of the new HSK 1 reading section: picture match, replies, word bank and ★ questions. Units 5 to 7 add dates, times and money, a story about a new cat and a longer text about Grandma's visit. Then a mini test, two Fix-It pages and a checklist.

Do I need the first HSK 1 Reading Practice book?

No. Every text here is new and the units teach each question type from the start. If you've done the first book, this one gives you more practice on the same exam parts.

Does every text have pinyin?

Yes. Every text has full pinyin, and new words are on cards with pinyin and English. The book suggests covering the pinyin with a card on your second read and looking only when you're stuck.

Are these real HSK 1 exam questions?

No. SayMei wrote every text and question. They are practice questions in the new HSK format and follow the four parts of the new HSK 1 reading section.

How does the mini test work?

Pages 25 and 26 are in exam order: do both in one sitting with a 12-minute timer, then check them with the key. The two Fix-It pages after it cover 不 or 没, 几 or 多少, and where time words and 在 + place go.

What should I do after this book?

Try the reading part of HSK 1 Mock Test 3, a practice test in the new HSK format. When HSK 1 reading feels easy, HSK 2 Reading Practice moves on to short stories and everyday dialogues.

Do I need a SayMei account?

Yes, to download the PDF, and the account is free: sign up with Google, Apple or your email address. With it we email you a copy of the workbook, keep every workbook you download on your account on all your devices, save your place in the free online practice, and you can practise speaking with Mei Lin, SayMei's AI tutor.

How do I print it?

The PDF is US Letter size. On A4 paper, choose "Fit to page" (or "Scale to fit") in the print dialog so nothing is cut off. Print the whole workbook or only the pages you need; colour looks best, and black and white works too.

Keep going

HSK 1 Reading Practice: Signs, Messages & Micro-Stories · HSK 1 Vocabulary Recall & Speaking Workbook · HSK 1 Guided Writing Workbook: Characters to Sentences · HSK 1 Mock Test: Practice Test in the New HSK Format · Browse all 294 workbooks