Taking the HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi) is a rite of passage—and an excellent way to prove your linguistic superiority over FOB laowai (just kidding, we hate those guys). But don't think it's just for eternal students hanging out in the Wu. The HSK is essential if you want to enter a Chinese language-based program of study here in China. Also, no matter on your career plans, proven proficiency in a foreign language is always good resume fodder.

For most purposes, the New HSK will be the test you want to sign up for. The older version is still around, but only at some universities. It’s really only for those who want challenge the legendary monstrosity that was the HSK of years past.

If you’re a student, your university will help you sign up to the HSK. Also, those regularly commuting to a language institution will have no problem finding someone to help. But for the rest of us, signing up online is probably the easiest option. It’s actually pretty easy—and for the most part, you can do it in English (yeah, we know, if we’re truly hard-core, we’d do it all in Chinese). Here’s a schedule for the New HSK 2012--the next exam will take place on April 14 with a March 18 registration deadline.

First, go to www.chinesetesting.cn/goliuchengtu.do and click on the level you want to take. There’s a detailed explanation for each level (six in all) and information on speaking tests. Go here to get an idea of the sort of questions appearing at each level.

You’ll then create a new user account and fill in some basic details about yourself. Fill in all the necessary details and click submit. You’ll then be registered with the HSK website.

Next comes the hardest part. None of the testing center names are given in English—and to make matters worse, you can’t filter out other Chinese cities. We suggest going here and figuring out the most convenient place to take your exam. We suggest bigger names like Jiatong University and East China Normal University to make the process easier.

After that, you’ll need to fill in more detailed personal information (while dodging the annoying image link). Make sure you get it right, because this is the information that's going on your test admission ticket. It's going to have to be a match with your passport. Next, you'll need to upload a photo. Sounds like a pain, but actually isn't. You can just snap a photo with your webcam right then and there.

After that, you just confirm your registration, check your inbox and go pay registration fees at your chosen test center. Now all you have to do is get down to the the real hard work: studying to pass that HSK.