Background of HSK
In 1990 experts for "Chinese as foreign language" started developing HSK with government support in Beijing.
The HSK certificate is valid without any limitation in The People's Republic of China and gained in importance as a certificate of qualification for applications.
The HSK test approximates the English TOEFL. The test aims to be a certificate of language proficiency for further educational and professional purposes. It is meant to be a test for non-native students and young professionals. The assessment of the examination is done centrally in China.
The HSK received a revision in September 2007, to place the emphasis on practical usage of Chinese, rather than on idiosyncrasies of the language.