TOPIK Korean Level Test: How the 6 Levels and 2 Exams Work
TOPIK is the official Korean proficiency test, organized into 6 levels across 2 exams — TOPIK I (Levels 1-2) and TOPIK II (Levels 3-6). This guide explains how the levels map to your score, what each exam contains, and how to pick the right test for you.
TOPIK is the official Korean proficiency test, organized into 6 levels across 2 exams — TOPIK I (Levels 1-2) and TOPIK II (Levels 3-6). This guide explains how the levels map to your score, what each exam contains, and how to pick the right test for you.
The TOPIK (한국어능력시험, Hanguk-eo Neungryeok Siheom) is the official Korean proficiency test, administered by NIIED (a South Korean government institute). It divides proficiency into 6 levels, delivered across 2 different exams. The level you qualify for is determined by your score on whichever exam you take.
The two exams
- TOPIK I — covers Levels 1 and 2 (beginner). Listening + Reading only.
- TOPIK II — covers Levels 3, 4, 5, and 6 (intermediate to advanced). Listening + Writing + Reading.
You choose which exam to register for. Your score determines which level you're certified at:
| Exam | Score range | Level |
|---|---|---|
| TOPIK I | 80–139 | Level 1 |
| TOPIK I | 140+ | Level 2 |
| TOPIK II | 120–149 | Level 3 |
| TOPIK II | 150–189 | Level 4 |
| TOPIK II | 190–229 | Level 5 |
| TOPIK II | 230+ | Level 6 |
TOPIK I is scored out of 200, TOPIK II out of 300.
What each level roughly means
- Level 1 — Hangul fluent, ~800 words, survival phrases
- Level 2 — Daily life conversations, ~1,500–2,000 words
- Level 3 — Familiar-topic discussions, simple writing, ~3,000 words
- Level 4 — Workplace-level comprehension, essay writing, ~4,000 words
- Level 5 — News, specialty topics, presentations, ~5,000–8,000 words
- Level 6 — Near-native comprehension, formal academic Korean
Many Korean universities expect Level 3 or 4 for admissions; graduate programs often expect Level 5.
How TOPIK II differs from TOPIK I
TOPIK II adds a writing section (쓰기 sseugi) that TOPIK I lacks. The writing section includes:
- 2 short-answer questions (filling blanks in a given text)
- 1 "describe this chart/graph" paragraph
- 1 essay (600–700 characters) on a given argumentative topic
The writing section scares many learners more than reading or listening because it demands both grammar accuracy and structured argument.
Which exam should you take?
- If you're still learning Hangul or you just started → TOPIK I
- If you can comfortably read a magazine article and write short paragraphs → TOPIK II
- If you're aiming at university admission in Korea → TOPIK II
TOPIK I and TOPIK II are held on the same days. You can only register for one per cycle.
Vocabulary for registering
Related on Korean TokTok
Quick cheat sheet
Expressions in this post
