@zodjones,

We did a quick write-up on the state of the HSK in our last newsletter/announcement, which went out I think around the beginning of the month:

http://popupchinese.com/lessons/announcements/all-hail-the-year-of-the-rabbit

The short version is that the Chinese government is slowly coming around behind the new test. A good way of understanding the differences level wise is that levels 1-3 on the new exam correspond to the old basic level, although they are much easier at the lower level. Levels 4 and 5 correspond roughly to the intermediate level and level 6 to the upper intermediate level.

We have materials for the new HSK coming onto the site over time. You can already see some new tests listed on our Chinese lessons page (right-hand column). We are also putting up the wordlists, etc. for the new exam (which differ from the previous exam). There is a lot of confusion though.