If international students would like to study in Korea for a regular degree course, it is generally required to submit his/her TOPIK score (Level 3 or higher) accompanied by the admission documents to the corresponding college or university and reach Level 4 or higher to graduate (not including college).

The test is held in around 200 test centers in 70 countries including 36 test centers in Korea. The test is held six times a year (in January, March, April, July, October and November) and the yearly test schedule is notified on the TOPIK website at the beginning of every year.

The levels are divided into I and II: beginner level for TOPIK I (Levels 1 and 2), advanced level for TOPIK II (Levels 3, 4, 5 and 6). For more information about the test, please refer to the TOPIK website (http://www.topik.go.kr).

한국어능력시험 TOPIK
TOPIK Test of Proficiency of Korean

Test administrator: National Institute for International Education (NIIED)

Objective of Examination:

This examination aims to set a right Korean Language learning path for overseas Koreans and foreigners who do not speak Korean as their mother tongue and promote the use of Korean language. The result of evaluation can also be used for local university applications as well as employment purpose.

Usability of examination:

  • University admission and academic management of foreign Korean Government Scholars.
  • Local university admission for foreigners and overseas Koreans who have completed 12 years of education abroad.
  • Obtaining working visa for those who want to be employed at Korean companies, and serving as a standard for selecting and managing the employees.
  • Recognizing domestic practitioner license for foreigners with medical doctor qualification.
  • Application for Korean Language Teaching Qualification test (level 2 and 3) and acquisition of certificate.
  • Acquisition of permanent residency right.
  • Application for the issuance of marriage-based immigrant visa.

Timetable of examination

Type

 Period Area China, etc. Korea, Japan Other countries examination hour(minute)
Entry time By Start End Entry time By Start End Entry time By Start End

TOPIK I

 1st period listening
reading		 By 08:40 09:00 10:40 By 09:20 10:00 11:40 By 09:10 09:30 11:10

100
TOPIK II

1st period

 listening
writing		 By 11:40 12:00 13:50 By 12:20 13:00 14:50 By 12:10 12:30 14:20

110
2nd period reading By 14:10 14:20 15:30 By 15:10 15:20 16:30 By 14:40 14:50 16:00

70

※ China, etc: China(including Hong Kong), Mongolia, Taiwan, Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia

※ The examination hour is based on local time / Candidates can apply for both TOPIK I and TOPIK II.

※ TOPIK I will be carried out during the first slot only

※ TOPIK II in China starts at 13:00.

Level and grade of examination

  • Level of examination: TOPIK I, TOPIK II
  • Evaluation grade: 6 grades(1st to 6th grades)
    The evaluation is based on the total scores earned, and the cut-off scores by grade is as follows:

Type

 TOPIK I TOPIK II

1st grade

 2nd grade 3rd grade 4th grade 5th grade

6th grade
Determination of grade Over 80 scores Over 140 scores Over 120 scores Over 150 scores Over 190 scores

Over 230 scores

※ Based on the difficulty level before the 35th examination, TOPIK I is the basic level and TOPIK II is intermediate/advanced level.

Structure of questions

1) Structure by difficulty level

Examination level

 slot area/examination hour type number of questions scoring

total scores

TOPIK I

 1st slot listening(40 minute) multiple-choice question 30 100

200

reading(60 minute)

 multiple-choice question 40

100

TOPIKII

 1st slot listening(60 minute) multiple-choice question 50 100 300
writing(50 minute) short-answer question 4

100

2nd slot

 reading(70 minute) multiple-choice question 50

100

2) Type of questions

  • Multiple-choice question(selecting 1 answer among the 4 choices).
  • Short-answer question(writing part).
    • · Sentence completion type(short-answer): 2 questions
    • · Essay type (1 descriptive essay ranging from 200-300 words for intermediate level, and 1 argumentative essay ranging from 600-700 words for advanced level.

Evaluation of writing part

Questions   Evaluation Category                                                         Evaluation Details
   51-52 Content and task execution
  • Are the written contents suitable for the presented task?
       Use of language
  • Are the vocabulary, words, etc., correct?
   53-54 Content and task execution
  • Has the given task been performed adequately?
  • Is the related writing rich in content and being constructed in a diversified way?
  Development structure
  • Is the wring structure clear, logistic, and conveying the key idea well?
  • Was the discourse cover used properly which is helpful for the development of logic?
        Use of language
  • Were the vocabulary, grammar, etc., used correctly and in a diversified way?
  • Does the writing suit the purpose and function according to formalities?

    For Marrage spouse visa

    TOPIK I

    Level 1

    University admission

    TOPIK II

    Level 3

    University graduation

    TOPIK II

    Level 4

    Job requirement

    TOPIK II

    Level 5 or higher

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