Three months to HSK 4 is realistic with phases: Month 1 builds the base — core HSK 1-3 vocabulary (~600 words) and basic grammar; Month 2 tackles HSK 4 vocabulary (~1,200 words), 20-30 new words daily with review; Month 3 is full mock exams under timed conditions, fixing weak spots.
Vocabulary: group + spaced repetition. Split the official word list into daily groups (20-30 words), review groups again on days 2, 4 and 7 via flashcards or apps. Chinese is a character-based script — practice both recognition (see-and-know) and writing of common characters.
Listening improves fastest: 20-30 minutes daily of focused listening — full pass, then sentence-by-sentence shadowing, then a no-text pass. For HSKK speaking, shadow news and podcasts and record yourself to compare.
Reading and writing need input: 1-2 HSK-4-level passages daily (official sample tests), collecting high-frequency sentence patterns; for writing, practice picture description and letter templates. In the final two weeks, do one timed full test per day. And sleep and confidence beat cramming every time.
