TOPIK Test Guide: Levels, Structure & How to Prepare

TOPIK — the Test of Proficiency in Korean — is the standard exam for measuring how well non-native speakers can use Korean. It's run by South Korea's National Institute for International Education (NIIED), and it's the credential universities and many employers ask for. If you're studying Korean seriously, TOPIK gives you a concrete goal and an objective measure of progress.

One clarification up front: this guide covers the academic TOPIK (TOPIK I and TOPIK II), the general proficiency test used for study and most credentials. It is not the same as EPS-TOPIK, a separate employment test for migrant workers under the Employment Permit System. They share a name but have different content and purposes.

TOPIK I vs TOPIK II

TOPIK is split into two separate tests. You choose which one to sit based on your level:

• TOPIK I — for beginners. It covers Levels 1–2 and tests Listening and Reading only (no writing). It's the right starting point if you're early in your studies.
• TOPIK II — for intermediate to advanced learners. It covers Levels 3–6 and adds a Writing section alongside Listening and Reading.

You don't pick a level directly — you pick the test (I or II), and your final score determines which level you're awarded.

The six levels, in plain terms

• Level 1 — Survival basics: simple greetings, introductions, very basic everyday phrases (~800 words).
• Level 2 — Everyday tasks: ordering, shopping, simple conversations about familiar topics (~1,500–2,000 words).
• Level 3 — Comfortable in daily life: can handle most routine social situations and read simple texts.
• Level 4 — Functional in work/study: can follow news, write about familiar abstract topics, use Korean for general professional tasks.
• Level 5 — Advanced: can function in professional and academic settings on specialized topics.
• Level 6 — Near-native fluency: comfortable with complex, abstract, and specialized material with little difficulty.

For context: many university degree programs in Korea ask for Level 3–4 to enroll and Level 4+ to graduate, and Level 6 represents the top of the scale.

Test structure and scoring

TOPIK I has two sections — Listening (30 questions) and Reading (40 questions) — for a combined 200 points. Your level is decided by total score: roughly 80+ for Level 1 and 140+ for Level 2.

TOPIK II has three sections — Listening, Writing, and Reading — for a combined 300 points. Writing includes both short-answer and longer essay-style questions, which is the part most learners find hardest. Levels 3–6 are awarded on a sliding total score, with each level roughly 30 points apart.

The test is offered several times a year at centers worldwide, and an internet-based version (IBT) has expanded availability. Always confirm dates and the exact passing thresholds on the official TOPIK site for the year you plan to sit, since they can be adjusted.

How to prepare (a realistic plan)

1. Diagnose your level with a past paper — official past TOPIK exams are freely available, so start by taking one untimed to see where you land.
2. Build the high-frequency vocabulary the test reuses heavily; consistent daily review beats cramming.
3. Drill grammar patterns in context rather than as isolated rules — TOPIK rewards recognizing patterns quickly under time pressure.
4. For TOPIK II, practice writing every week and get feedback; the Writing section is where prepared candidates separate from unprepared ones.
5. Take full timed mock exams in the final weeks to build pacing and stamina.

Structured study is what carries you up the levels, especially through the grammar and reading that TOPIK leans on. Our Korean courses give you a level-by-level path with grammar lessons and quizzes, and you can pair them with the vocabulary deck to keep your word count growing — the single biggest lever on your TOPIK score.