Hello Everybody (:
My name is Mikel, I've been living and studying Chinese for the past 4 months in Beijing and now in Dali.
I'm planning on passing the exam between April-June.
I have a few questions regarding the Hsk test:

1. Can I pass the test in Dali or do I have to go to Kunming?

2. I'm aiming on the hsk 5 but I would like to pass the hsk 4 just as a guarantee. can I do both exams in the same date? are different levels in different date or time?

3. Can I study for the exams by my self with the necessary books or would you strongly recommend to study in a specific program (I'm correctly studying in a little Chinese school in Dali school that don't have a specific hsk program)?

4. I've seen that in the hsk 5 there is a writing drill that you have to write a paragraph, do I use a pencil for writing the paragraph or a computer keyboard?

5. any other things you think I should know?

Thanks a lot In advance for any help!

i found the books at mandarin bookshop are quite useless, all in chinese and it seems just many many test

any other references or links would b appreciated, thank you

I would take lessons, if I were looking for a higher grade. The reason I say this is that an HSK tutor will give lessons in the exam technique, as well as content, something the Chinese have down to a fine art.

Thanks a lot!

well,you can actually buy a test paper which had been tested before, then you ll basiccally know a lot infomations u want。as far as i know,theres two kinds of examinations of hsk, computer one or writing one。more informations from baidu and i can help you to translate,whats more,you might need to come back to Kunming to take part in the examination。 good luck

Also, where can one take the hsk in Kunming?

I took it at the Caijing Daxue, there are several institutes that organise it. You can just check on the HSK website when you register.