This comprehensive study investigates the consequential validity of the central Chinese Proficiency Test- HSK from micro- (classroom) to macro- (society) perspectives. It advances the scope of validity studies and addresses pedagogical and methodological issues in Chinese as a Second/foreign/heritage (CSL) teaching and learning, but also complements efforts made to broaden the understanding of foreign language education. This work also provides implications for HSK's future development and revision, and will also help HSK developers clarify how the test can be used and help the test users to build their assessment literacy.