TOCFL and HSK both measure Mandarin proficiency, but they're run by different bodies for different purposes. TOCFL (Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language) is issued by Taiwan and uses traditional characters. HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi) is issued by mainland China and uses simplified characters.
At a glance
| TOCFL | HSK | |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | SC-TOP, Taiwan Ministry of Education | Hanban / CTI, China Ministry of Education |
| Characters | Traditional (a simplified version is offered) | Simplified |
| Levels | Band A (1–2), Band B (3–4), Band C (5–6), mapped to CEFR A1–C2 | Levels 1–6 (old system), 1–9 (2021 standard) |
| Sections | Listening + Reading (Speaking and Writing are separate tests) | Listening + Reading + Writing (from level 3); HSKK for speaking |
| Used for | Taiwan MOE scholarships, HES, university and jobs in Taiwan | CSC scholarships, university in China, Chinese companies |
| Availability | A few sittings a year via Taiwan's offices and partner centres | More frequent, via Confucius Institutes and official test centres |
Level equivalence
| CEFR | TOCFL | HSK (old) | Approx. vocabulary |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | Band A Level 1 | HSK 1–2 | 300–500 |
| A2 | Band A Level 2 | HSK 3 | 800–1,000 |
| B1 | Band B Level 3 | HSK 4 | 1,500–2,500 |
| B2 | Band B Level 4 | HSK 5 | 2,500–5,000 |
| C1 | Band C Level 5 | HSK 6 | 5,000–8,000 |
| C2 | Band C Level 6 | HSK 7–9 (new) | 8,000+ |
Vocabulary counts are estimates. What surprises beginners: TOCFL Band A Level 2 and HSK 3 feel equivalent even though the numbers differ. Never compare level numbers across the two exams.
Which one do you need?
- Bachelor's/Master's or a scholarship in Taiwan: TOCFL. Most Mandarin-taught programmes ask for at least Band B Level 3; English-taught programmes are often fine with Band A.
- University or a CSC scholarship in China: HSK 4 for a bachelor's, HSK 5 for a Mandarin-taught master's.
- Working for a Taiwanese company abroad: HR knows TOCFL better, but HSK is usually accepted too.
- Not sure where you're heading: HSK is easier to sit in most countries, the certificate is more widely recognised, and there's more study material.
They need different preparation
TOCFL leans on longer reading passages in traditional characters, so practising with articles and notices in traditional is essential. Lower HSK levels are heavily based on the official vocabulary lists; knowing the list for your level almost guarantees the reading section. Listening is similar on both: short dialogues, natural speed, played once.
Mixora AI has mock tests and listening tests for TOCFL and HSK by level, plus the official vocabulary deck for each level ready to review.
