TOPIK General Information

All about TOPIK and preparing you for TOPIK examination

Objective of TOPIK

TOPIK aims to set a Korean Language learning path for those who do not speak Korean as their native tongue, and to promote the Korean language by officially evaluating their Korean Language proficiency.


Eligibility criteria

Overseas Koreans and foreigners who do not speak Korean as their mother tongue

  • Those learning Korean language and those with intentions to apply for local universities.
  • Those with intention to join/work for domestic/overseas Korean companies and public organizations.
  • Koreans who study or graduated overseas.


Validity

TOPIK results are valid for two(2) years from the time of test result announcements.


Administrator

National Institute for International Education (NIIED), Ministry of Education.


Usability of examination

  • Korean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP) participants taking the Korean language course
  • Entrance into Korean Universities as a non-native Korean Speaker
  • Employment in companies and public institutions in both Korea and abroad
  • Aquisition of a Korean Language Instructor certification as non-native Korean speaker
  • Obtaining permanent residency or other specific Visa types in Korea
  • For use in the ‘Korea Immigration and Integration Program’ operated by the Ministry of Justice


Please view the table in landscape mode on your mobile device.

Type and Level

  • Test Type(level): TOPIK I(novice), TOPIK II(intermediate and advanced)
  • Level: Level 1 ~ Level 6(from basic to advanced)
    The level is determined by the total scores achieved in the respective test type, and range of total scores for each level is as follows:

Type TOPIK I TOPIK II
Level Fail Level 1 Level 2 Fail Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Level 6

Score Range (ponits)

 0 ~ 79 80 ~ 139 140 ~ 200 0 ~ 119 120 ~ 149 150 ~ 189 190 ~ 229 230 ~ 300


Testing Sections Breakdown


Test type Test period Test section (duration) Test item type Number of test item Range of score Total score
TOPIK I 1st Listening(40mins) Multiple-choice 30 0~100 0~200
Reading(60mins) Multiple-choice 40 0~100
TOPIK II 1st Listening(60mins) Multiple-choice 50 0~100 0~300
Writing(50mins) Supply type 4 0~100
2nd Reading(70mins) Multiple-choice 50 0~100
※Test Item Type Description
  • Multiple-choice : Selecting 1 answer among the 4 choices.
  • Supply type question(writing part)
    • Sentence completion type : 2 questions total
    • Essay type
      • I descriptive essay ranging from 200-300 letters (including spaces) for intermediate level.
      • I argumentative essay ranging from 600-700 letters(including spaces) for advanced level.


Evaluation of Written Test Items


Questions Evaluation Category Evaluation Details
Sentence completion
(2 test items)		 Content and Task Achievement
  • Is the response accurately comprehensible?
  • Is the response appropriate to the requirements of the task?
Language Use
  • Does the response reflect correct use of vocabulary and grammar?
Essays
(1 test item)		 Content and Task Achievement
  • Is the reponse appropriate to requirements of the task?
  • Is the response relevant to the topic?
  • Does the response elaborate the topic and task in a detailed and meaningful way?
Coherence and Cohesion
  • Does the response demonstrate clear and logical structure?
  • How organized is the response?
  • Does the response include the use of appropriate written devices to ensure coherent, cohesive progress and logical connection of the presented ideas?
Language Use
  • Does the response demonstrate appropriate syntactic and lexical variety?
  • Does the response reflect an accurate use of vocabulary choice and grammar?
  • Does the response use the right register in accordance with purpose and function of the task?


Linguistic Competence for Each TOPIK Level


Test Type Level Linguistic Competence
TOPIK I Level 1
  • Able to carry out basic conversations related to daily surviving skills such as self-introduction, purchasing, ordering food, etc., and understand the contents related to very personal and familiar subjects such as himself/herself, family, hobby, weather and the like.
  • Able to create simple sentences based on a basic vocabulary of approximately 800 words and possess  understanding of basic grammar.
  • Able to understand and compose simple and useful sentences related to everyday life.
Level 2
  • Able to carry out simple conversations related to daily routines such as making phone calls and asking favour, as well as using public facilities in daily life.
  • Able to use about 1,500 to 2,000 vocabulary and understand personal and familiar subjects in certain order, such as paragraphing.
  • Able to use formal expression and informal expression accordingly, respective to the situation.
TOPIK II Level 3
  • Able to carry out daily routine, with fair use of public facilities and able to socialize without significant difficulty.
  • Able to express or understand social subjects familiar to oneself, as well as specific subjects, based on paragraph.
  • Able to understand and differentiate written language and spoken language based on their distinctive basic characteristics.
Level 4
  • Able to use various public facilities, socialize, and carry out some degree of ordinary work.
  • Able to understand easy parts in news broadcasts and newspapers.
  • Able to understand and use the expressions related to social and abstract subjects relatively correctly and fluently.
  • Able to understand social and cultural subjects, based on the understanding of Korean culture and frequently used idiomatic expression.
Level 5
  • Able to perform linguistic function to some degree which is necessary for research and works in professional fields.
  • Able to understand and use the expressions related to even unfamiliar aspects of politics, economics, society, and culture.
  • Able to use the expression properly, depending on formal, informal, spoken/written context.
Level 6
  • Able to perform linguistic function necessary to the research and works in professional fields relatively correctly and fluently.
  • Able to understand and use the expressions related to even unfamiliar subjects of politics, economics, society, and culture.
  • Able to experience no difficulty in performing the functions or conveying the meaning, although the proficiency has not reached full native speaker proficiency.
Please view the table in landscape mode on your mobile device.

Date of examination


Type Korea Americas, Europe, Africa Asia and Oceania Remark
62nd
examination		 January 13(Sun)     Will be carried out only in Korea
63rd
examination		 April 21(Sun) April 20(Sat) April 21(Sun)  
64th
examination		 May 19(Sun) May 18(Sat) May 19(Sun)  
65th
examination		 July 7(Sun)   July 7(Sun)  
66th
examination		 October 20(Sun) October 19(Sat) October 20(Sun)  
67th
examination		 November 17(Sun) November 16(Sat) November 17(Sun)  

Application period (based on Korea)


Type Period Method for Application Remark
62nd
examination		 From 9:00 December 11(Tue), 2018 to 18:00 December 17(Mon), 2018 (for 7 days) Korea: online application,
collective application		 Will be carried out only in Korea
63rd
examination		 From 9:00 January 24(Thu), 2019 to 18:00 January 31(Thu), 2019 (for 7 days) Korea: online application,
collective application
Overseas: submit to accredited organization designated to accept applications		  
64th
examination		 From 9:00 March 12(Tue), 2019 to 18:00 March 18(Mon), 2019 (for 7 days) Korea: online application,
collective application
Overseas: submit to accredited organization designated to accept applications 		 
65th
examination		 From 9:00 May 21(Tue), 2019 to 18:00 May 27(Mon), 2019 (for 7 days) Korea: online application,
collective application
Overseas: submit to accredited organization designated to accept applications 		 
66th
examination		 From 9:00 August 6(Tue), 2019 to 18:00 August 12(Mon), 2019 (for 7 days) Korea: online application,
collective application
Overseas: submit to accredited organization designated to accept applications 		 
67th
examination		 From 9:00 September 3(Tue), 2019 to 18:00 Sepetember 9(Mon), 2019 (for 7 days) Korea: online application,
collective application
Overseas: submit to accredited organization designated to accept applications 		 
The application period abroad may be different from that of Korea. Therefore, it is necessary to check with accredited local organizations designated to accept applications. The application deadline and payment deadline are same (no extension of payment period).


Result announcement


Type 62nd
examination		 63rd
examination		 64th
examination		 65th
examination		 66th
examination		 67th
examination
Result announcement January 31(Thu), 2019 May 30(Thu), 2019 June 27(Thu), 2019 August 1(Thu), 2019 November 28(Thu), 2019 December 19(Thu), 2019
The examination results will be announced through the TOPIK website(www.topik.go.kr) at 15:00 on the day of announcement.
The examination results announcement date is subject to change, depending on circumstances.