HSK runs year-round in China and overseas: domestic sittings 1-2 per month (written tests on weekends), overseas by centre calendar - check the official chinesetest.cn schedule.
Registration: opens 1-2 months ahead, closes 1-2 weeks before the test; popular centres (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou) fill fast - register early.
Centres: Chinese universities (BLCU, Fudan) and local Hanyu-test partners; overseas Confucius Institutes and Chinese teaching centres. Times vary by centre even in the same city.
How: register on chinesetest.cn, pick level and centre, pay online; fees run about 150-550 yuan in China by level.
Results: scores in 2-4 weeks, score report and certificate mailed (free domestically, paid abroad); certificate valid indefinitely, score report 2 years.
Planning: back-time your preparation from the target score (see the level guides); do full past papers in the final 3 weeks to master pacing.
