TOPIK and Learning Korean | WeBring Korea Study Hub

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TOPIK Overview

TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) is a state-accredited exam that evaluates the Korean language ability of non-native speakers. Since its first administration in 1997, it has been held in more than 90 countries worldwide, with about 500,000 people taking it each year.

Item	Details
Administered by	National Institute for International Education (NIIED)
Frequency	6 times a year (in Korea), 4 times a year (overseas)
Score Validity	2 years
Exam Fee	TOPIK I: 40,000 KRW / TOPIK II: 55,000 KRW

Why TOPIK Matters

University admission: most Korean universities require a TOPIK level as an admission condition
Scholarships: scholarships are awarded at different tiers based on your TOPIK level
Work visas: bonus points or a mandatory requirement when applying for visas such as E-7 and F-2-7
Official certification: internationally recognized proof of Korean language ability

Exam Types

TOPIK I (beginner): awards levels 1–2, evaluates basic Korean ability
TOPIK II (intermediate/advanced): awards levels 3–6, evaluates practical Korean ability

Exam Structure

TOPIK I (Beginner)

Section	Questions	Time	Points
Listening	30 questions	40 minutes	100 points
Reading	40 questions	60 minutes	100 points

200 points total

TOPIK I evaluates only listening and reading; there is no writing section. It consists entirely of multiple-choice questions, making it relatively easy to prepare for.

TOPIK II (Intermediate/Advanced)

Section	Questions	Time	Points
Listening	50 questions	60 minutes	100 points
Writing	4 questions	50 minutes	100 points
Reading	50 questions	70 minutes	100 points

300 points total

TOPIK II includes a writing section, which makes it more difficult. In the writing section, questions 51–52 are fill-in-the-blanks, question 53 is a chart description, and question 54 is a 600–700 character essay.

TOPIK II Writing Section in Detail

Questions 51–52 (10 points each): fill-in-the-blanks — complete the sentence to fit the context
Question 53 (30 points): data description — write 200–300 characters based on a graph/table
Question 54 (50 points): essay — write 600–700 characters on the given topic

Time Management Strategy

TOPIK I: Listening 40 min → Reading 60 min (100 min total)
TOPIK II: Session 1 (Listening + Writing, 110 min) → break → Session 2 (Reading, 70 min)

Level Criteria

TOPIK I (Levels 1–2)

Level	Score	Ability Level
Level 1	80 points or higher	Basic communication, self-introduction, simple everyday expressions
Level 2	140 points or higher	Everyday conversation, using public facilities such as post offices and banks

TOPIK II (Levels 3–6)

Level	Score	Ability Level
Level 3	120 points or higher	No difficulty in daily life, understanding of familiar social topics
Level 4	150 points or higher	Understanding news and newspapers, performing general work tasks
Level 5	190 points or higher	Conducting research/work in specialized fields, understanding politics/economics/society
Level 6	230 points or higher	Near-native level, capable of professional language functions

Practical Use of Each Level

Levels 1–2: language institute admission, basic daily life possible (insufficient for admission/employment)
Level 3: minimum requirement for undergraduate admission (at some universities), everyday life manageable
Level 4: admission standard at most universities, basic requirement for part-time work/employment
Level 5: preferred for jobs at large companies/professional fields, expanded scholarship benefits
Level 6: the highest level, essential for translation/interpretation jobs and applications to large companies

Estimated Study Time per Level

This varies by individual, but here are rough estimates based on intensive study at a language institute.

Levels 1–2: 6 months to 1 year of Korean study
Levels 3–4: 2–3 semesters at a language institute (6–9 months)
Levels 5–6: 4 or more semesters at a language institute (1 year or more) + self-study

Pass Rate by Level (as of 2023)

Level 1: about 8%
Level 2: about 15%
Level 3: about 22%
Level 4: about 26%
Level 5: about 18%
Level 6: about 11%

Where It's Used

University Admission

Program	Typically Required Level
Undergraduate admission	TOPIK level 3 or higher
Graduate admission	TOPIK level 4 or higher
English-taught programs	TOPIK waived or level 2 or higher

Top-tier universities such as SKY (Seoul National University/Korea University/Yonsei University) often require TOPIK level 4 or higher.

Employment and Visas

Purpose	Required Level
Work visa (E-7) application	TOPIK level 4 or higher (some occupations)
Points-based visa (F-2-7)	TOPIK level 5–6 earns bonus points
Naturalization application	Completion of the Social Integration Program or TOPIK level 4

TOPIK Points for the F-2-7 Points-Based Visa

TOPIK level 3: 10 points
TOPIK level 4: 15 points
TOPIK level 5: 20 points
TOPIK level 6: 25 points

Scholarships

GKS scholarship: TOPIK scores are given preference (bonus points during selection)
University scholarships: tiered by level, e.g. TOPIK level 4 for 30%, level 5 for 50%, level 6 for 70–100%
Foundation scholarships: preference for holders of advanced TOPIK levels
TOPIK achievement scholarship: a separate award for advancing a level (at some universities)

TOPIK in the Job Market

Large companies: level 5 or higher preferred, level 6 given preference in interviews
Small and medium-sized companies: you can apply with level 4 or higher
Trade/marketing: business-level Korean valued, level 5 or higher recommended
IT field: technical skills come first; level 4 is often enough

Exam Schedule

2024 Domestic Exam Schedule

Round	Registration Period	Exam Date	Results Announced
93rd	February	April 14	May 30
94th	March	May 12	June 27
95th	June	July 14	August 29
96th	August	October 13	November 28
97th	September	November 10	December 26

Scheduling Tips

For university admission: for fall enrollment, take the April–May exam; for spring enrollment, the October–November exam is recommended
For employment: choose an exam whose results come out before the hiring seasons (March, September)
Watch the registration deadline: popular test centers can fill up on the first day of registration
Checking results: on the results announcement date, check online at www.topik.go.kr

TOPIK IBT (Internet-Based Test)

Since 2023, TOPIK IBT has been offered in some countries. You take it on a computer and can check your results immediately. It is expected to gradually expand within Korea as well.

Exam Registration

Domestic Registration

Registration site: www.topik.go.kr
How to register: register online, then pay
Required documents: passport or alien registration card

Domestic Registration Process

Step 1: sign up at www.topik.go.kr (alien registration number or passport number required)
Step 2: choose the exam type (TOPIK I or TOPIK II)
Step 3: choose a test center (note that popular centers close early)
Step 4: pay (credit card, bank transfer, etc.)
Step 5: print your admission ticket (available from one week before the exam)

Overseas Registration

Register through your country's TOPIK administering body
Contact the Korean embassy or a Korean language education center
Overseas registration systems differ from country to country
Registration start dates may be earlier than in Korea (be sure to check local notices)

Major Test Centers (in Korea)

Seoul: Seoul National University, Korea University, Yonsei University, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, etc.
Gyeonggi: Kyung Hee University Global Campus, Suwon University, etc.
Busan: Pusan National University, Dong-A University, etc.
Daejeon: Chungnam National University, KAIST, etc.

How to Learn Korean

University-Affiliated Language Institutes

Regular program: intensive study over one semester (10 weeks), 5 days a week, 4 hours a day
Tuition: 1,500,000 KRW to 2,000,000 KRW per semester
Visa: a D-4-1 visa can be issued
Level structure: levels 1–6 (each level is a 10-week course)
Extra programs: cultural experiences, field trips, speech contests, etc.

Popular Language Institutes (well-established programs)

Seoul National University Language Education Institute: systematic curriculum, strong in Korean for academic purposes
Yonsei University Korean Language Institute: Korea's first language institute, rich history
Korea University Korean Language Center: offers a variety of special programs
Ewha Womans University Language Education Institute: popular with female international students
Kyung Hee University Institute of International Education: campuses outside the metropolitan area, linked to dormitories

Online Learning Resources

Site/App	Features	Cost
King Sejong Institute	Government-run online courses	Free
Talk To Me In Korean	Podcast, YouTube	Partly free
Coursera/edX	Linked to university courses	Partly free
TOPIK ONE	TOPIK practice tests	Paid

Recommended YouTube Channels

Talk To Me In Korean: explained in English, systematic curriculum
Korean Unnie: focused on practical conversation
Billy Go's Korean: detailed grammar explanations
King Sejong Institute: official free lessons

Recommended Learning Apps

Duolingo (basics): learn in a fun, game-like way
Drops (vocabulary): memorize words in 5 minutes a day
HelloTalk (language exchange): one-on-one conversations with Koreans
Anki (flashcards): optimized for repetition-based learning
TOPIK past-exam apps: practice with real questions

Effective Study Methods

Watch dramas/variety shows: practice listening without subtitles or with Korean subtitles
Language exchange: make Korean friends through HelloTalk, Tandem, etc.
Keep a journal: practice writing with a short daily journal in Korean
Read the news: improve your reading with Naver News
Solve past exams: repeatedly work through TOPIK past exam questions

TOPIK Prep Tips

Strategy by Prep Period

3 months before: set your target level, analyze past exams, identify weaknesses
2 months before: focus on each section, start taking practice tests
1 month before: repeat full practice tests, practice time management
1 week before: review the questions you got wrong, get your condition in shape

Tackling the Listening Section

Get used to different intonations by listening to Korean dramas and news
Listen to past exams repeatedly (practicing at 1.2–1.5x speed is recommended)
Improve accuracy with dictation practice
Practice identifying the key keywords for each question type
Read the answer choices before the audio starts (saves time)

Tackling the Reading Section

Practice time management (within 1 minute 30 seconds per question)
Read faster by identifying conjunctions and sentence structure
Read texts on a variety of topics (news, editorials, advertisements, etc.)
Practice inferring the meaning of unknown words
For long passages, check the first and last sentences first

Tackling the Writing Section (TOPIK II)

Questions 51–52: grasp the context, then complete grammatically (within 5 minutes each)
Question 53: memorize a template for describing graphs/tables (15–20 minutes)
Question 54: thoroughly practice essay structure (introduction-body-conclusion) (25–30 minutes)
Watch your spelling and spacing (they cost points)
Get corrections: feedback from a teacher or tutor is essential

Basic Structure of the Question 54 Essay

Introduction (50–70 characters): introduce the topic, present your opinion
Body 1 (150–200 characters): first supporting point + example
Body 2 (150–200 characters): second supporting point + example
Conclusion (50–70 characters): summarize and restate

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q. Should I take TOPIK I or TOPIK II?

A. If your goal is university admission or employment, we recommend TOPIK II from the start. TOPIK I only awards levels 1–2, which have limited use for admission or employment. That said, if you're early in your Korean studies, starting with TOPIK I to build confidence is also fine.

Q. How long is a TOPIK score valid?

A. A TOPIK score is valid for 2 years from the announcement date. For university admission or visa applications, only scores within the validity period are recognized. It's a good idea to retake the exam before yours expires.

Q. Starting with no Korean at all, how long does it take to reach level 4?

A. It varies by individual, but with intensive study at a language institute, it takes about 1 to 1.5 years. A common goal is to reach level 4 after completing four semesters (one year) at a language institute.

Q. Can I get a high score without the writing section?

A. In TOPIK II, the writing section is worth 100 points. If you give up on writing, you can earn at most 200 points (listening + reading), which allows you to reach level 5 (190 points or higher) but not level 6 (230 points or higher). It's best to practice writing alongside the other sections.

Q. Can I use a dictionary at the test center?

A. No, all types of dictionaries (including electronic dictionaries) are prohibited. Electronic devices such as mobile phones and smartwatches are also not allowed.

Q. Can I take TOPIK overseas as well?

A. Yes, TOPIK is held in about 90 countries worldwide. The overseas exam is held 4 times a year, and registration is handled by each country's TOPIK administering body (mainly King Sejong Institutes, Korean Education Centers, and embassies).