If you plan to study in South Korea, TOPIK is the test that proves your Korean. Universities use it for admission, scholarships use it to rank applicants, and the level you hold can decide whether you start your degree straight away or spend a year learning Korean first.
What is TOPIK?
TOPIK, the Test of Proficiency in Korean, is run by Korea’s National Institute for International Education (NIIED). It is really two tests: TOPIK I for beginners and TOPIK II for intermediate and advanced learners. You choose which one to sit, and your total score on it decides your level.
There is no pass or fail. If your score reaches a level’s cut-off, you are awarded that level; if it falls short of the lowest one, you receive no level at all.
TOPIK I: levels 1 and 2
TOPIK I tests listening and reading in a single 100-minute sitting. Every question is multiple choice.
| Section | Questions | Time | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | 30 | 40 min | 100 |
| Reading | 40 | 60 min | 100 |
| Total | 70 | 100 min | 200 |
TOPIK II: levels 3 to 6
TOPIK II adds a writing section of four tasks, building from short sentence completions to a 600–700 character essay. The test runs for 180 minutes across two sessions: listening and writing first, then reading.
| Section | Questions | Time | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | 50 | 60 min | 100 |
| Writing | 4 | 50 min | 100 |
| Reading | 50 | 70 min | 100 |
| Total | 104 | 180 min | 300 |
The score you need for each level
| Level | Test | Score needed | Roughly means you can… |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | TOPIK I | 80 of 200 | Handle basic everyday phrases |
| Level 2 | TOPIK I | 140 of 200 | Hold simple everyday conversations |
| Level 3 | TOPIK II | 120 of 300 | Manage daily life and familiar social topics |
| Level 4 | TOPIK II | 150 of 300 | Follow the news and general academic topics |
| Level 5 | TOPIK II | 190 of 300 | Work and study in professional settings |
| Level 6 | TOPIK II | 230 of 300 | Use Korean fluently in professional and academic settings |
What Korean universities usually ask for
- Korean language programmes: no TOPIK needed to enrol. Many students start here and sit TOPIK during the course.
- Bachelor’s degrees taught in Korean: level 3 is the most common entry requirement, and many universities expect level 4 by graduation.
- Master’s degrees taught in Korean: usually level 3 or 4, depending on the university and programme.
- Programmes taught in English: TOPIK is often not required, but a level strengthens your application and makes part-time work and daily life far easier.
TOPIK and scholarships
A higher level also helps with costs. Many universities tie their tuition discounts for international students to TOPIK level, and the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) favours applicants who already hold one. GKS scholars with level 5 or 6 can usually skip the scholarship’s one-year Korean language course.
Validity and test dates
TOPIK results are valid for two years from the day they are announced. The test is held several times a year, but overseas centres offer fewer dates than Korea and registration windows are short, so check this year’s schedule on the official TOPIK website (topik.go.kr) well before your university’s deadline.
Our TOPIK I and TOPIK II classes in Chabel follow the exam section by section. If you’re not sure which test to start with, talk to our counsellors.