Paid resource
HSK Workbooks (Reading Sections)
My notes
The reading content is the strongest part of the workbooks in my view. Once you're at a level where comprehension isn't the bottleneck, start timing yourself — that's when you actually improve words-per-minute. Note down every unknown word even if you're skimming; you can build flashcards from them later.
The HSK5 reading sections were the part of the workbooks I returned to most. I timed myself from the beginning rather than waiting until I felt ready, because the test has a fixed duration and you only adapt to that pressure by practising under it. I kept a list of every word that slowed me down — not just words I didn't know, but words I knew but had to consciously recall rather than recognising on sight — because that second category is where reading speed actually breaks down. This distinction between knowing a word and recognising it automatically is the difference between finishing the reading section and running out of time.