HSK 3 Workbook: Exercises for All 12 Lessons, with Answers

By the end you can

• Say how things are changing and what you can or can't make out. Use 越来越 for change over time, and verb + 得 / 不 + result, as in 看得清楚 and 听不懂.
  汉语课越来越容易了，可是我还听不懂中国电视。 · Hànyǔ kè yuè lái yuè róngyì le, kěshì wǒ hái tīng bu dǒng Zhōngguó diànshì. · Chinese class is getting easier, but I still can't understand Chinese TV.
• Set up a new flat and say where things go. Put things in place with 把……放在, and order your steps with 先, 然后 and 刚.
  我把沙发放在电视旁边，把灯放在沙发后面。 · Wǒ bǎ shāfā fàng zài diànshì pángbiān, bǎ dēng fàng zài shāfā hòumian. · I'd put the sofa next to the TV and the lamp behind the sofa.
• Find your way and give directions. Give directions with compass points like 西边 and 向南走, and add other options with 除了……以外.
  我家在学校的西边，除了地铁以外，还可以坐公交车。 · Wǒ jiā zài xuéxiào de xībian, chúle dìtiě yǐwài, hái kěyǐ zuò gōngjiāochē. · My home is west of the school. Besides the subway, you can also take the bus.
• Talk about work, rules and timing. Say what you must, should or needn't do with 必须, 应该 and 不用, and early or late with 就 and 才.
  经理，我星期五想请假。今天我必须把邮件都发完。 · Jīnglǐ, wǒ xīngqīwǔ xiǎng qǐngjià. Jīntiān wǒ bìxū bǎ yóujiàn dōu fāwán. · Manager, I'd like Friday off. Today I must send all the emails.
• Shop for clothes and be a good dinner guest. Compare with A 跟 B 一样, describe with 又……又……, praise food with 极了 and 挺……的, and make offers with 如果……就…….
  这个菜好吃极了！如果还有米饭的话，我就再吃一碗。 · Zhège cài hǎochī jí le! Rúguǒ hái yǒu mǐfàn dehuà, wǒ jiù zài chī yì wǎn. · This dish is delicious! If there's more rice, I'll have another bowl.
• Tell the story of a day out or a trip. Say how long you did something, compare with 比……更 and 比……还, say what happened to you with 被, and give conditions with 只要……就…….
  我的伞被风刮走了。 · Wǒ de sǎn bèi fēng guāzǒu le. · My umbrella was blown away by the wind.
• Talk about colds, check-ups and staying well. Use 只有……才…… for the one way something works, and 为了 for a goal, with the words for the body and health.
  为了身体健康，我每个星期游泳两次。 · Wèile shēntǐ jiànkāng, wǒ měi ge xīngqī yóuyǒng liǎng cì. · For my health, I swim twice a week.
• Describe people, feelings and interests. Add a second point with 不但……而且……, start an action with verb + 起来, do two things at once with 一边……一边……, and talk about topics with 对, 关于 and 根据.
  我对历史很感兴趣，常看关于历史的书。 · Wǒ duì lìshǐ hěn gǎn xìngqù, cháng kàn guānyú lìshǐ de shū. · I'm very interested in history and often read books about it.
• Make plans and keep going. Give options with 或者 in statements and 还是 in questions, and say you'll keep at something with verb + 下去.
  新年我可能在家，或者去看朋友。 · Xīnnián wǒ kěnéng zài jiā, huòzhě qù kàn péngyou. · At New Year I might stay home or go and see friends.

What’s inside

• Lesson 1: Words: Back to Class: Words · Grammar: Back to Class: Grammar · Read: Lin Hao's Evening Class · Write: Back to Class: Write
• Lesson 2: Words: A New Flat: Words · Grammar: A New Flat: Grammar · Read: The Washing Machine · Write: A New Flat: Write
• Lesson 3: Words: Finding Our Way: Words · Grammar: Finding Our Way: Grammar · Read: Xiaoyu Takes a Wrong Turn · Write: Finding Our Way: Write
• Lesson 4: Words: A Part-time Job: Words · Grammar: A Part-time Job: Grammar · Read: Lin Hao's Busy Monday · Write: A Part-time Job: Write
• Review A: Test Yourself: Settling In: Test Yourself
• Lesson 5: Words: A Coat and Shoes: Words · Grammar: A Coat and Shoes: Grammar · Read: Two Pairs of Shoes · Write: A Coat and Shoes: Write
• Lesson 6: Words: Dinner at Ms Zhao's: Words · Grammar: Dinner at Ms Zhao's: Grammar · Read: Lin Hao Cooks for Friends · Write: Dinner at Ms Zhao's: Write
• Lesson 7: Words: Seasons, Hills and Parks · Grammar: How Long and Even More · Read: A Lazy Day at the Zoo · Write: Write About a Day Out
• Lesson 8: Words: Trains, Bags and Photos · Grammar: It Happened: 被 and 只要 · Read: An Umbrella in the Wind · Write: Write About a Trip
• Review B: Test Yourself: Shopping, Dinners and Trips
• Lesson 9: Words: Colds, Check-ups and the Body · Grammar: Only If and For a Goal · Read: Xiaoyu Gets a Cold · Write: Write About Staying Well
• Lesson 10: Words: Gifts, Couples and Feelings · Grammar: Not Only, But Also; Starting Up · Read: The Wedding Party · Write: Write About Someone You Love
• Lesson 11: Words: Matches, Shows and History · Grammar: Two at Once; Interests and Topics · Read: Sports Day at Work · Write: Write About Your Interests
• Lesson 12: Words: Plans, Habits and Changes · Grammar: Or, and Keep On: 或者, 还是, 下去 · Read: Xiaoyu's New Year List · Write: Write Your Plans
• Review C: Test Yourself: Health, Feelings, Shows and Plans

How to use this book

Each lesson has four pages, Words, Grammar, Read and Write, and takes about 30 minutes. Do each one after the same lesson of the HSK 3 Course Book, or use the workbook on its own.

1. Each lesson, part 1: Words and Grammar. Choose meanings and fill gaps with the new words, then build sentences with the lesson's pattern and fix the mistakes.
2. Each lesson, part 2: Read and Write. Read the short text about Lin Hao and Xiaoyu, answer the questions, then write about your own life on the Write page.
3. Every page: Say it out loud. Each practice page ends with a speaking task. Say it aloud, then once more from memory.
4. After each lesson: Check your answers. Mark your work with the key, which starts on page 54. Open writing tasks have a model answer to compare with.
5. After Lessons 4, 8 and 12: Test yourself. Take the review on page 19, 36 or 53 to see what you remember.
6. After Lesson 12: Try a full paper. Take one of SayMei's HSK 3 mock tests, practice tests in the new HSK format.

Who it’s for

Learners working through the free HSK 3 Course Book who want written practice for each lesson, self-learners preparing for HSK 3 on the new HSK 3.0 exam, and teachers who need homework with an answer key.

Before you start: The HSK 1 and HSK 2 words and grammar. Grammar exercises and readings are in characters with English, while the word exercises and speaking tasks add pinyin.

Frequently asked questions

What's in each lesson?

Four pages, Words, Grammar, Read and Write, for about 30 minutes. Lesson 2, A New Flat, for example, practises 把……放在 and 先, 然后 and 刚, with a short reading about a washing machine. Review tests on pages 19, 36 and 53 come after Lessons 4, 8 and 12.

Do I need the HSK 3 Course Book?

It helps, since the workbook follows its 12 lessons in order with the same people and stories. You can also use it on its own: every page names its words and grammar pattern and shows a worked example.

Is there pinyin?

Partly. The word exercises and the speaking tasks print pinyin, and each reading gives three key lines in pinyin. Grammar exercises and the readings themselves are in characters, with English to help.

Are the answers included?

Yes. The answer key at the back, from page 54, covers every exercise and the three review tests, with model answers for the open writing tasks.

What should I do after Lesson 12?

The book suggests a full paper. The HSK 3 Mock Test is a practice test in the new HSK format, with 70 questions plus the speaking paper and free audio. After that, the HSK 4 Course Book starts the next level.

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 3 Course Book: 12 Lessons for the New HSK 3 · HSK 3 Reading Practice: Stories, Notices & Everyday Decisions · HSK 3 Vocabulary in Context Workbook · HSK 3 Guided Writing Workbook: Sentences to Short Paragraphs · Browse all 294 workbooks