TOPIK (Korean Proficiency Test)
NIIED
Complete guide to passing the TOPIK (Korean Proficiency Test) exam on your first attempt.
$40-$55
~50-60%
2 years
Global
NIIED
Study/work in Korea
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Complete Overview
TOPIK, the Test of Proficiency in Korean, is a written examination run by Korea's National Institute for International Education (NIIED) that measures a non-native speaker's ability to comprehend and express themselves in Korean, and it costs 40,000 KRW for TOPIK I or 55,000 KRW for TOPIK II inside Korea, with every other country's fee set by its own administering body. It is taken by applicants to Korean universities, by workers seeking Korean visas and jobs, and by learners who want a government-recognised certificate, and eligibility is limited to non-Koreans and overseas Koreans whose native language is not Korean. The test splits into two papers. TOPIK I awards grades 1 and 2 and runs 100 minutes in a single period: Listening, 30 multiple-choice questions in 40 minutes for 100 points, and Reading, 40 multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes for 100 points, giving a 200-point total. TOPIK II awards grades 3 to 6 and runs 180 minutes across two periods: Listening, 50 multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes for 100 points, and Writing, four short-answer questions in 50 minutes for 100 points, then a second period of Reading, 50 multiple-choice questions in 70 minutes for 100 points, giving a 300-point total across 104 questions. You do not pick a grade, you pick a paper, and the grade falls out of your total score. On TOPIK I, a total 80 or above gives grade 1 and 140 or above gives grade 2. On TOPIK II, 120 or above gives grade 3, 150 or above gives grade 4, 190 or above gives grade 5, and 230 or above gives grade 6. Because grading is on the total, a very weak Writing paper can still be carried by strong Listening and Reading, which is why many candidates target the multiple-choice sections first. NIIED published six paper-based administrations for 2026, the 104th to the 109th, held on 11 January, 12 April, 17 May, 5 July, 18 October, and 15 November, plus six internet-based rounds and three Speaking assessments, on 21 March, 13 June, and 24 October. Results come slowly for the paper test: the 108th round on 18 October 2026 has results scheduled for 10 December 2026 at 15:00, roughly seven and a half weeks later. The internet-based test is much faster, with the 14th IBT on 12 September 2026 releasing results on 2 October 2026, about three weeks. NIIED states that scores are valid for two years from the results release date, not from the test date, and that certificates are issued only through the TOPIK website, never by post, fax, or email. Fees are published per country: NIIED lists 40,000 KRW for TOPIK I and 55,000 KRW for TOPIK II on paper inside Korea, rising to 70,000 and 95,000 KRW for the internet-based test and 80,000 KRW for Speaking, while the Korean Education Centre in the UK charges £55 and £65 and Hong Kong charges HK$500 and HK$600. NIIED does not publish an overall pass rate for TOPIK on its public site, and because there is no pass mark, only grade thresholds, the idea of passing depends entirely on which grade your university or employer requires.
Why Get TOPIK (Korean Proficiency Test) Certified?
TOPIK is the Korean government's own certificate, issued through NIIED, and Korean universities and immigration processes reference its grades 1 to 6 directly rather than any private test.
You get six paper-based chances a year plus six internet-based rounds, so a missed target is at most a couple of months from another attempt.
There is no limit on how many times you may sit TOPIK, and no waiting period beyond the next scheduled administration.
The internet-based test returns results in about three weeks, compared with five to eight weeks for the paper test, which matters when an application deadline is close.
Two thirds of the TOPIK II score, 200 of 300 points, comes from multiple-choice Listening and Reading, so a candidate weak at composition can still reach grade 4.
The certificate is valid for two years, and every past paper NIIED has released is free to download from the official site.
Fees are modest by international test standards and published per country: 40,000 KRW for TOPIK I and 55,000 KRW for TOPIK II on paper inside Korea, £55 and £65 through the Korean Education Centre in the UK, HK$500 and HK$600 in Hong Kong.
Exam Format & Structure
Duration
TOPIK I: 100 minutes in one period (Listening 40 minutes, Reading 60 minutes). TOPIK II: 180 minutes across two periods (period 1 is Listening 60 minutes then Writing 50 minutes; period 2 is Reading 70 minutes).
Questions
TOPIK I: 70 questions (30 Listening, 40 Reading). TOPIK II: 104 questions (50 Listening, 4 Writing, 50 Reading).
Passing Score
There is no pass mark. Grades are awarded on the total score. TOPIK I PBT: grade 1 for 80 to 139 points, grade 2 for 140 to 200, out of 200. TOPIK II PBT: grade 3 for 120 to 149, grade 4 for 150 to 189, grade 5 for 190 to 229, grade 6 for 230 to 300, out of 300. The internet-based test uses different totals and different boundaries: TOPIK I IBT is marked out of 400 with grade 1 at 121 and grade 2 at 236, and TOPIK II IBT is marked out of 600 with grade 3 at 191, grade 4 at 291, grade 5 at 361, and grade 6 at 431. TOPIK Speaking is marked out of 200 with six grade bands starting at 20 points.
Question Types
- Multiple choice for all Listening and Reading items in both papers
- Short-answer constructed response for the four Writing items, which appear only in TOPIK II
Delivery Method
Paper-based at authorised centres in Korea and overseas, plus an internet-based version (TOPIK IBT) with its own schedule. A separate TOPIK Speaking assessment runs on its own dates and is not part of TOPIK I or TOPIK II.
- Levels: TOPIK I covers grades 1 and 2. TOPIK II covers grades 3 to 6. You register for a paper, not for a grade.
How scoring works
Score scale
Each section is marked out of 100 points. TOPIK I totals 200 points across Listening and Reading; TOPIK II totals 300 points across Listening, Writing, and Reading. Grades run 1 to 6, with TOPIK I awarding grades 1 and 2 and TOPIK II awarding grades 3 to 6.
Score needed to pass
TOPIK I: 80 or above for grade 1, 140 or above for grade 2, out of 200. TOPIK II: 120 or above for grade 3, 150 or above for grade 4, 190 or above for grade 5, 230 or above for grade 6, out of 300. There is no pass mark below grade 1 or grade 3 respectively; a total under the lowest threshold means no grade is issued.
Roughly what that means raw
Raw section marks are the reported marks: each section is worth 100 points, so no conversion table is needed or published. What NIIED does publish is the grade boundary on the total, which is the number that actually decides your certificate.
When results arrive
NIIED publishes the exact release date and time alongside each administration in the annual schedule, typically 15:00 Korean time. Paper-based result gaps in the 2026 schedule run from 32 to 53 days, so five to eight weeks: the 107th round on 5 July 2026 released on 13 August 2026, while the 108th round on 18 October 2026 releases on 10 December 2026. Internet-based results take about three weeks: the 14th IBT on 12 September 2026 releases on 2 October 2026. Results and certificates can be retrieved from the official site only within the two-year validity period.
How the scale is built
Grading is compensatory and based on the total score, not on section minimums, so strength in Listening and Reading can carry a weak Writing paper. Listening and Reading items are machine-marked multiple choice; the four TOPIK II Writing items are constructed responses marked by human raters against published criteria. NIIED does not publish a raw-to-scaled conversion, because each section is already reported out of 100 points, and nothing in the published structure indicates a penalty for incorrect answers.
Pacing and time budget
104 questions in 180 minutes gives you TOPIK II averages 104 seconds per question across 180 minutes, but the sections are nothing alike: Reading gives 84 seconds per question, Listening is paced entirely by the audio across 60 minutes for 50 items, and Writing gives 50 minutes for just four constructed responses. TOPIK I is far gentler at 100 minutes for 70 questions. per question.
Period 1, minute 30 of the 60-minute Listening section
Roughly half the 50 Listening items, with the answer options for the next item already read
Period 1, minute 60, Listening ends and Writing begins
All 50 Listening bubbles filled, including guesses, before the paper moves on
Period 1, minute 80, twenty minutes into the 50-minute Writing section
The short Writing items finished, leaving the remaining 30 minutes for the extended response
Period 2, minute 35 of the 70-minute Reading section
About 25 of 50 Reading questions, which is the 84 seconds per question pace
Period 2, minute 65, five minutes before the end
Every Reading bubble filled, with the last five minutes spent only on flagged items and answer-sheet checks
| At this point | You should have answered |
|---|---|
| Period 1, minute 30 of the 60-minute Listening section | Roughly half the 50 Listening items, with the answer options for the next item already read |
| Period 1, minute 60, Listening ends and Writing begins | All 50 Listening bubbles filled, including guesses, before the paper moves on |
| Period 1, minute 80, twenty minutes into the 50-minute Writing section | The short Writing items finished, leaving the remaining 30 minutes for the extended response |
| Period 2, minute 35 of the 70-minute Reading section | About 25 of 50 Reading questions, which is the 84 seconds per question pace |
| Period 2, minute 65, five minutes before the end | Every Reading bubble filled, with the last five minutes spent only on flagged items and answer-sheet checks |
- Listening and Writing sit back to back inside period 1 with no break, so the extended writing item is attempted after an hour of concentrated listening. Rehearse the pair together.
- Reading is the only section in period 2 and the last thing you do, at 84 seconds per question for 50 questions. Accuracy in the final 15 items is usually a pacing problem, not a vocabulary problem.
- The Writing section rewards a fixed plan. Fifty minutes for four items means the extended response needs about 30 of them, which only works if the short items are drilled to near-automatic.
- Nothing in the published structure indicates negative marking, so budget the last minute of each multiple-choice section to fill every remaining bubble.
- TOPIK I candidates get a single 100-minute period covering both sections, 40 minutes for 30 Listening items and 60 minutes for 40 Reading items, which is 90 seconds per Reading question and considerably less pressured than TOPIK II.
Where the marks are
TOPIK II Reading
100 of 300 points, one third of the TOPIK II total
50 questions in 70 minutes moving from notices and advertisements to newspaper headlines, sentence insertion, writer attitude, and literary extracts. The largest single block of recoverable marks.
TOPIK II Listening
100 of 300 points, one third of the TOPIK II total
50 questions in 60 minutes rising from short exchanges to interviews, discussions, and lectures. Upper items ask about speaker intention rather than literal content.
TOPIK II Writing
100 of 300 points, one third of the TOPIK II total
Only four items but a full third of the grade, marked by human raters. Partial credit across all four is usually worth more than perfection on one, which is why abandoning the section is so costly.
TOPIK I Reading
100 of 200 points, half of the TOPIK I total
40 questions in 60 minutes on topic words, notices, particle and ending gaps, sentence ordering, and agreement with a short text. Ninety seconds per question makes accuracy the constraint, not speed.
TOPIK I Listening
100 of 200 points, half of the TOPIK I total
30 questions in 40 minutes on single exchanges, place and relationship identification, numbers and times, and polite endings by ear. Slower audio than TOPIK II and mostly one-turn dialogue.
Connective endings and particles across every section
not published
They carry the logical relationships that sentence-insertion, sentence-ordering, and gap-fill items all test, and misreading one usually flips the answer regardless of vocabulary.
Formal written register for the Writing section
not published
TOPIK II Writing requires the plain declarative written style. Conversational endings learned from drama or speaking practice read as register errors and cost marks that vocabulary cannot recover.
Speaker intention items in upper Listening
not published
The highest-difficulty Listening questions ask why something was said rather than what was said, so they turn on tone and pragmatics rather than on catching every word.
| Topic | Weight | Why it scores |
|---|---|---|
| TOPIK II Reading | 100 of 300 points, one third of the TOPIK II total | 50 questions in 70 minutes moving from notices and advertisements to newspaper headlines, sentence insertion, writer attitude, and literary extracts. The largest single block of recoverable marks. |
| TOPIK II Listening | 100 of 300 points, one third of the TOPIK II total | 50 questions in 60 minutes rising from short exchanges to interviews, discussions, and lectures. Upper items ask about speaker intention rather than literal content. |
| TOPIK II Writing | 100 of 300 points, one third of the TOPIK II total | Only four items but a full third of the grade, marked by human raters. Partial credit across all four is usually worth more than perfection on one, which is why abandoning the section is so costly. |
| TOPIK I Reading | 100 of 200 points, half of the TOPIK I total | 40 questions in 60 minutes on topic words, notices, particle and ending gaps, sentence ordering, and agreement with a short text. Ninety seconds per question makes accuracy the constraint, not speed. |
| TOPIK I Listening | 100 of 200 points, half of the TOPIK I total | 30 questions in 40 minutes on single exchanges, place and relationship identification, numbers and times, and polite endings by ear. Slower audio than TOPIK II and mostly one-turn dialogue. |
| Connective endings and particles across every section | not published | They carry the logical relationships that sentence-insertion, sentence-ordering, and gap-fill items all test, and misreading one usually flips the answer regardless of vocabulary. |
| Formal written register for the Writing section | not published | TOPIK II Writing requires the plain declarative written style. Conversational endings learned from drama or speaking practice read as register errors and cost marks that vocabulary cannot recover. |
| Speaker intention items in upper Listening | not published | The highest-difficulty Listening questions ask why something was said rather than what was said, so they turn on tone and pragmatics rather than on catching every word. |
The numbers
104 questions and 300 points across 180 minutes: Listening 50 questions in 60 minutes for 100 points, Writing 4 questions in 50 minutes for 100 points, Reading 50 questions in 70 minutes for 100 points
TOPIK II structure
Source: Korean Education Centre in the UK, TOPIK structure of questions table
70 questions and 200 points across 100 minutes: Listening 30 questions in 40 minutes for 100 points, Reading 40 questions in 60 minutes for 100 points
TOPIK I structure
Source: Korean Education Centre in the UK, TOPIK structure of questions table
TOPIK I PBT: 80 to 139 for grade 1, 140 to 200 for grade 2. TOPIK II PBT: 120 to 149 for grade 3, 150 to 189 for grade 4, 190 to 229 for grade 5, 230 to 300 for grade 6. IBT boundaries differ: TOPIK I IBT is out of 400 (grade 1 at 121, grade 2 at 236) and TOPIK II IBT is out of 600 (grade 3 at 191, grade 4 at 291, grade 5 at 361, grade 6 at 431)
Grade thresholds
Source: Ministry of Education notice 2025-2, 2026 TOPIK implementation plan, published by NIIED
Six paper-based rounds (104th to 109th), six internet-based rounds (11th to 16th), and three Speaking assessments (10th to 12th)
2026 administrations
Source: topik.go.kr, 2026 Korean language proficiency test schedule
Paper test 32 to 53 days across the six 2026 rounds (107th tested 5 July, results 13 August; 108th tested 18 October, results 10 December at 15:00); internet-based test about 20 days (14th IBT tested 12 September 2026, results 2 October 2026)
Result turnaround
Source: topik.go.kr, 2026 schedule with published result release dates
PBT: 40,000 KRW for TOPIK I and 55,000 KRW for TOPIK II. IBT: 70,000 KRW for TOPIK I and 95,000 KRW for TOPIK II. TOPIK Speaking: 80,000 KRW. Overseas fees are set by each administering body and differ, for example HK$500 and HK$600 in Hong Kong
Published test fees in Korea
Source: Ministry of Education notice 2025-2, 2026 TOPIK implementation plan, section 2; TOPIK Hong Kong site for the HK figures
£55 for TOPIK I and £65 for TOPIK II
UK test fees
Source: Korean Education Centre in the UK, TOPIK test fees
Copying, using prohibited materials, or refusing an invigilator's lawful instruction voids the paper and suspends eligibility for 2 years. Sitting for someone else or having someone sit for you suspends eligibility for 4 years
Misconduct penalties
Source: Ministry of Education notice 2025-2, 2026 TOPIK implementation plan, prohibited conduct table
If you fail
Wait before retaking
None beyond the calendar. NIIED sets no waiting period between attempts, so the next opportunity is simply the next administration your country offers. In Korea that meant six paper-based rounds and six internet-based rounds in 2026; in Hong Kong four paper rounds; in the UK two.
Attempt limit
None published. You may sit TOPIK as many times as you like, and there is no cap per year and no restriction after achieving a grade.
Retake fee
The full fee again, set by your country's administering body. NIIED publishes 40,000 KRW for TOPIK I and 55,000 KRW for TOPIK II inside Korea; the Korean Education Centre in the UK charges £55 and £65 per sitting; Hong Kong charges HK$500 and HK$600.
Each attempt is a separate application inside a fixed registration window, and windows are short: domestic Korean registration for the 109th round ran 1 to 7 September 2026 for a 15 November test. Some regions refuse all changes after submission; the Hong Kong administration states the fee is neither refundable nor transferable and that the date, level, and candidate cannot be changed once the form is in. Scores from separate sittings cannot be combined, because the grade is derived from a single administration's total. NIIED states that scores are valid for two years from the results release date rather than the test date, and that certificates are issued only through the website, so download the PDF while the window is open. NIIED also publishes a penalty schedule that limits future attempts: copying, holding prohibited materials, or ignoring an invigilator's lawful instruction voids the paper and suspends eligibility for two years, and sitting the test for someone else or having someone sit it for you suspends eligibility for four years. Carrying a device with AI translation or writing functions, or using such tools during the internet-based test, falls in the two-year band.
Exam Domains & Topics
50 multiple-choice questions in 70 minutes, sat alone in the second period. The longest single section in the test and the one where time management decides the most marks, at about 84 seconds per question.
Key Topics to Master:
- Signs, notices, advertisements, and short functional texts at the start of the paper
- Newspaper headlines and the sentence that best explains them
- Inserting a given sentence into the correct position in a passage
- Identifying the writer's purpose and attitude
- Essays and opinion pieces at grade 5 and 6 difficulty
- Literary passages where the question asks about a character's feeling
50 multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes, sat first in period 1 and immediately followed by Writing with no break between them. Paced entirely by the audio, so the pressure is on recovery rather than on speed.
Key Topics to Master:
- Short everyday exchanges and choosing the natural continuation
- Announcements, broadcasts, and public information
- Interviews and discussions with two speakers holding different views
- Lectures and documentary-style talks at the upper grades
- Identifying the speaker's intention rather than the literal content
- Reading ahead to the answer options while the audio plays
Four short-answer questions in 50 minutes, worth 100 points in total, sat straight after the 60-minute Listening section. The only constructed-response section in TOPIK and the one candidates most often abandon, which is a mistake because it carries a full third of the TOPIK II score.
Key Topics to Master:
- Completing sentences so they fit the grammar and register of the surrounding text
- Describing data presented as a chart or table in connected prose
- Writing an extended piece that states and supports a position
- The plain declarative style used for formal writing rather than conversational endings
- Connectives that signal contrast, cause, and consequence
- Manuscript-paper conventions, since the answer sheet is ruled by character
40 multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes, the second half of the single 100-minute TOPIK I period. Ninety seconds per question, which is generous compared with TOPIK II.
Key Topics to Master:
- Choosing the topic word for a short sentence
- Reading simple notices, timetables, and price lists
- Filling a gap with the correct particle or ending
- Ordering four sentences into a coherent short paragraph
- Matching a short text to the statement that agrees with it
- Core beginner vocabulary across daily-life themes
30 multiple-choice questions in 40 minutes, the first half of the TOPIK I period. Audio is slower and shorter than in TOPIK II, and most items are single exchanges rather than extended talks.
Key Topics to Master:
- Yes or no questions and their natural answers
- Identifying where a conversation is taking place
- Identifying the relationship between two speakers
- Simple requests, offers, and refusals
- Numbers, times, dates, and prices
- Beginner honorific and polite endings by ear
Recommended Study Plan
- 1Decide between TOPIK I and TOPIK II by grade target, not by comfort: TOPIK I caps at grade 2, so anyone needing grade 3 or above must sit TOPIK II
- 2Download a full past paper from the official TOPIK website and sit it under real timing
- 3Score it against the grade thresholds: 80 and 140 out of 200 for TOPIK I, 120, 150, 190, and 230 out of 300 for TOPIK II
- 4Note which of the three TOPIK II sections is furthest from a third of your target total
- 5Check your local administering body's application window, because domestic Korean registration periods run about seven days and overseas windows differ by country
- 1Build a list of the connective endings that carry most of the meaning in TOPIK II Reading, and drill them until you can read past them without stopping
- 2Work through subject, topic, and object particles until the choice is automatic rather than deliberate
- 3Learn the plain declarative written style, which the Writing section requires and conversation practice never teaches
- 4Practise honorific forms by ear, since TOPIK I Listening tests them constantly
- 5Add 30 new words a day organised by theme rather than alphabetically
- 1Drill the opening item types: topic words, notices, advertisements, and price lists
- 2Time yourself at 84 seconds per question, which is what 50 items in 70 minutes means on TOPIK II
- 3Practise sentence-ordering items, which reward finding the sentence that cannot be first rather than reading all four
- 4Rework every wrong answer and label it vocabulary, grammar, or misread question
- 5Read one short Korean news article a day and summarise it in two Korean sentences
- 1Drill sentence-insertion items, which turn on connectives and pronoun reference rather than on comprehension of the whole passage
- 2Practise writer-attitude and writer-purpose questions, which are the commonest source of near-miss answers
- 3Work through literary extracts and the character-feeling questions that follow them
- 4Practise abandoning an item at two minutes and marking the sheet, since 50 questions leaves no room for a long fight
- 5Sit one timed 70-minute Reading section from a past paper
- 1Drill the opening exchanges where you choose the natural reply, which should take seconds each
- 2Practise identifying place and speaker relationship from a single turn of dialogue
- 3Train yourself to read the four answer options before the audio starts, using the pause between items
- 4Practise recovering after a missed sentence rather than replaying it mentally and losing the next question
- 5Listen to 30 minutes of Korean radio or news a day with no subtitles
- 1Drill interviews and discussions where two speakers disagree, and practise tracking who said what
- 2Practise the speaker-intention questions, which ask why something was said rather than what was said
- 3Work through lecture and documentary items at grade 5 and 6 difficulty
- 4Practise the full 60-minute Listening section straight into Writing, because that is the real sequence with no break
- 5Rework every wrong item and note whether the failure was vocabulary, speed, or attention
- 1Drill sentence-completion items, matching the register and grammar of the text around the gap
- 2Practise the written declarative style consistently, since mixing conversational endings into formal writing costs marks
- 3Build a bank of set phrases for introducing, contrasting, and concluding
- 4Write out answers by hand on ruled manuscript paper, because the real answer sheet is ruled by character
- 5Time yourself so the short items never eat into the time the long item needs
- 1Write one full extended response a day against a past-paper prompt, timed
- 2Practise describing chart and table data in prose, naming the trend before the numbers
- 3Use a fixed three-part plan so you never spend time inventing structure under pressure
- 4Have a Korean speaker or teacher mark at least three of your pieces against the official criteria
- 5Count characters as you write until you can judge length by eye
- 1Sit a complete past paper in one sitting with the real period structure and no break between Listening and Writing
- 2Score it and convert to a grade using the published thresholds
- 3Work out how many marks you are short of your target grade and which section can supply them most cheaply
- 4Rebuild the next fortnight's plan around that section only
- 5Confirm your registration is submitted, since applications cannot be transferred to another date or level after submission in some regions
- 1Spend at least 60 percent of the week on the single weakest section
- 2Redo every past-paper question you have got wrong across the whole course
- 3Rebuild your vocabulary list around the words that have cost you marks rather than the words in a textbook chapter
- 4Practise the Reading section late in the day, because on the real paper it comes after two hours of testing
- 5Check the identification you will bring: overseas centres require original photo identification showing name, photograph, and date of birth
- 1Sit two more complete past papers on separate days under exam timing
- 2Track whether your Reading accuracy drops in the last 15 questions, which indicates a pacing problem rather than a knowledge problem
- 3Practise transferring answers to an OMR-style sheet, since the paper test is machine-marked
- 4Read your test centre's prohibited items rules, which typically bar phones, smart watches, electronic dictionaries, and media players from the room
- 5Confirm the exact start time at your centre and plan to arrive well before it
- 1Do section practice only, no full papers, in the last three days
- 2Review your own error log rather than new material
- 3Rehearse the Writing plans so structure costs you no thinking time on the day
- 4Print your admission slip if your local body requires you to, as several overseas administrations do
- 5Note your results date: NIIED publishes it with the schedule, and paper-test results take five to eight weeks while IBT results take about three
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Best Study Resources
Official TOPIK website (topik.go.kr)
Official siteRun by NIIED. Carries the annual schedule with test dates, registration windows and result release dates and times, the registration system, results lookup, and certificate printing.
Free
Official TOPIK past papers
Official practice materialNIIED publishes released past papers with audio and answer keys on the TOPIK site. These are the only practice materials written by the people who write the live test, and they are the reference point every commercial book works from.
Free
TOPIK IBT tutorial screens
Official interface walkthroughNIIED hosts separate practice interfaces for TOPIK I and TOPIK II on the internet-based test, showing login, room and seat confirmation, and the answering interface. Worth running once before an IBT sitting so the mechanics are not new.
Free
Korean Education Centre in the UK
Official regional administratorThe Korean Embassy's education office in the UK. Publishes the UK test dates, application windows, venues, fees, the full question structure table, and the special exam arrangements procedure.
Free information; test fees £55 for TOPIK I and £65 for TOPIK II
TOPIK Hong Kong (topik-hk.org)
Official regional administratorPublishes Hong Kong test dates, the prohibited items rules, the identification requirements for candidates from outside Hong Kong, and the notice that results and certificates are only retrievable inside the two-year validity period.
Free information
NIIED (National Institute for International Education)
Governing bodyThe Korean government agency that owns TOPIK and also administers Korean government scholarship programmes that reference TOPIK grades.
Free
Sejong Institute network (King Sejong Institute)
Government-backed Korean language schoolsThe Korean government's overseas Korean-language teaching network, which runs classes structured around the same proficiency levels TOPIK grades measure.
Varies by centre
University Korean language institute programmes in Korea
Intensive coursesTen-week intensive terms at Korean university language institutes are levelled to the same 1 to 6 scale as TOPIK grades, which makes course level a usable proxy for the grade you are ready to attempt.
Varies by institution
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Registering for TOPIK I when the requirement is grade 3 or higher
TOPIK I cannot produce a grade above 2 no matter how well you score, because its maximum total is 200 and grade 2 is awarded 140 or above. If a university asks for grade 3 or 4, you must sit TOPIK II even if you expect to score near the bottom of its range.
Writing off the Writing section as unreachable
Writing is 100 of the 300 TOPIK II points, a full third of the grade. Even partial marks across the four items can be the difference between 150 and 120, which is the difference between grade 4 and grade 3. Attempt every item.
Practising Listening and Writing separately
In the real paper they are back to back inside period 1, 60 minutes of Listening straight into 50 minutes of Writing with no break. Rehearse the pair together, because arriving at the extended writing item already tired is the actual exam condition.
Assuming a strong section can be traded against a missing grade
It can, because grading is on the total score rather than on section minimums, but only within one paper. There is no compensation across sittings and no equivalent of a best-of combination: each administration produces one total and one grade.
Learning conversational Korean and expecting it to transfer
TOPIK II Writing requires the plain declarative written style, and TOPIK Reading is built on newspaper, essay, and literary registers. Drama and variety-show Korean trains the wrong register, and the mismatch shows up hardest in the extended writing item.
Leaving multiple-choice answers blank
Nothing in the published TOPIK structure indicates a penalty for wrong answers, and every Listening and Reading item is machine-marked multiple choice. A blank cannot outscore a guess, so fill every bubble before time is called.
Booking the paper test when the deadline is close
Paper results take five to eight weeks depending on the round. NIIED scheduled the 108th round for 18 October 2026 with results on 10 December 2026, a gap of nearly eight weeks. The internet-based test is far quicker: the 14th IBT on 12 September 2026 releases results on 2 October 2026. Match the format to your deadline.
Missing the registration window
TOPIK registration windows are short and fixed. Domestic Korean registration for the 109th round ran 1 to 7 September 2026, seven days for a test on 15 November. Overseas windows are set separately by each country's administering body and can open months ahead, as the UK's July window for an October test does.
Bringing an electronic device into the test room
Regional administrators publish prohibited items lists covering phones, tablets, digital and smart watches, pagers, media players, and electronic dictionaries. In Hong Kong, a device that makes a sound during the test is recorded as cheating, and devices must be switched off and bagged before the test starts.
Expecting to retrieve an old certificate years later
NIIED's 2026 notice states that scores are valid for two years from the results release date and that certificates are issued only through the TOPIK website, never by post, fax, or email. Download and store the PDF as soon as results are released rather than assuming you can fetch it later.
Planning to step outside during the gap between TOPIK II periods
NIIED states that TOPIK II paper candidates may not leave the test centre building during the break after period 1. The internet-based test and TOPIK Speaking have no break at all. Plan food, water, and bathroom around a building you cannot leave.
Exam Day Tips
- 1
Know which period you are sitting. TOPIK I is a single 100-minute period; TOPIK II is two periods, with Listening and Writing first and Reading after a gap.
- 2
Bring original photo identification showing your name, photograph, and date of birth. Regional administrators state that candidates without valid identification are not permitted to test, and that the name must match the one used on the application.
- 3
Print your admission slip in advance if your centre requires it. Several overseas administrations expect you to print your own receipt and candidate slip and bring them.
- 4
Leave every electronic device out of the room. Prohibited item lists typically cover phones, tablets, digital watches, smart watches, pagers, media players, and electronic dictionaries, and devices are collected and bagged before the test begins.
- 5
You cannot leave once the paper starts. NIIED states that leaving mid-test is not permitted in principle, that anyone who does leave waits in a separate room until the test ends, and that a candidate who leaves early receives no score at all.
- 6
Expect instructions in Korean. The Hong Kong administration states that invigilators explain in Korean, with Cantonese or English only as a fallback, and that no other language support is provided.
- 7
In Listening, read the four answer options during the gap before the audio, not while it plays. This is the single largest source of recoverable marks in the section.
- 8
Do not stop for a missed sentence in Listening. The audio does not wait, and chasing one item usually costs the next one as well.
- 9
Attempt all four Writing items even if you are short of time. Partial credit across four items worth 100 points in total is worth more than a perfect answer to one of them.
- 10
Mark the multiple-choice sheet with the thick end of the double-ended computer marker the invigilator gives you, one filled circle per item. NIIED scores any item with two marks or an incomplete mark as zero. Write the Writing answers with the thin end, inside the printed answer box, because anything outside the box earns nothing.
- 11
Bring your own correction tape. NIIED stopped supplying it at test centres with the 68th administration in January 2020, and responsibility for using it correctly is yours.
- 12
Write on the ruled answer sheet in the plain declarative style and keep to the printed space. The paper test is hand-marked for Writing and machine-marked for the multiple-choice sections.
- 13
Fill in every multiple-choice bubble before time is called. There is no published penalty for a wrong answer, so leaving a blank cannot help you.
- 14
Note the exact result release date and time from the schedule before you leave. NIIED publishes it in advance, for example 15:00 on 10 December 2026 for the 108th round.
- 15
Download and save your certificate as soon as results appear, because after two years the result can no longer be viewed or printed from the official site.
Career Paths & Salary Ranges
Korean to English interpreter or translator
The most direct professional use of a grade 5 or 6 certificate. TOPIK itself publishes no salary data, so the nearest verifiable benchmark is the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, which reported a median annual wage of $59,440 for interpreters and translators in May 2024, with sector medians from $59,020 in professional and technical services to $69,950 in government.
$59,020 to $69,950 depending on sector
University Korean language instructor
Teaching Korean at postsecondary level, usually after a graduate degree in Korean studies or applied linguistics. BLS reported this median for foreign language and literature teachers at postsecondary level in May 2024, within a postsecondary teacher population of 1,415,600.
US median $77,010 (BLS, May 2024)
Localisation and technical content specialist
Adapting software, games, and documentation between Korean and English, where reading register matters more than conversational fluency. BLS reported this median for technical writers in May 2024, an occupation that typically requires a bachelor's degree.
US median $91,670 (BLS, May 2024)
Simultaneous captioner or court interpreter
Real-time language work in legal and broadcast settings, which demands the listening speed TOPIK II tests at grade 6. BLS reported this median for court reporters and simultaneous captioners in May 2024, an occupation entered through a postsecondary non-degree award.
US median $67,310 (BLS, May 2024)
International education programme administrator
Running exchange, admissions, and study-abroad programmes with Korean partner institutions, where reading Korean documentation is part of the job. BLS reported this median for postsecondary education administrators in May 2024, an occupation that typically requires a master's degree.
US median $103,960 (BLS, May 2024)
Prerequisites & Requirements
- Eligibility is restricted. The test is for non-Koreans and overseas Koreans whose native language is not Korean, as stated by the Korean Education Centre in the UK.
- There are no academic prerequisites, no prior certificate requirement, and no published minimum age.
- You choose a paper rather than a grade. TOPIK I can only award grades 1 and 2; grades 3 to 6 require TOPIK II.
- You must apply within your region's registration window. Domestic Korean windows run about seven days; overseas windows are set separately by each administering body and can be months earlier.
- You need original photo identification showing your name, photograph, and date of birth, with the name matching the one you registered under.
- In several regions you must print your own admission slip and receipt and bring them to the centre.
- Fees are set per country. NIIED publishes the Korean domestic fees, 40,000 KRW for TOPIK I and 55,000 KRW for TOPIK II on paper, 70,000 and 95,000 KRW for the internet-based test; the Korean Education Centre in the UK charges £55 and £65; Hong Kong charges HK$500 and HK$600.
- Special exam arrangements require an application submitted alongside the online form, with supporting evidence such as a disability certification or a doctor's written diagnosis issued within the past two years, and approval rests with the TOPIK head office.
Frequently Asked Questions
How soon can I retake TOPIK?
At the next scheduled administration. NIIED sets no limit on attempts and imposes no waiting period, so the constraint is the calendar rather than a rule. In 2026 NIIED scheduled six paper-based rounds, the 104th to the 109th, on 11 January, 12 April, 17 May, 5 July, 18 October, and 15 November, plus six internet-based rounds. Each attempt needs a fresh application and a fresh fee.
How much does TOPIK cost?
It depends on where you sit it. NIIED sets and publishes the Korean domestic fees, 40,000 KRW for TOPIK I and 55,000 KRW for TOPIK II on paper, 70,000 and 95,000 KRW for the internet-based test, and 80,000 KRW for Speaking. Every other country's administering body sets its own price: the Korean Education Centre in the UK charges £55 and £65, and TOPIK Hong Kong charges HK$500 and HK$600. Check the body that runs TOPIK in your country before assuming a figure from another region applies.
Is there a pass mark?
No. TOPIK awards a grade from 1 to 6 based on your total score, and there is no separate pass or fail. On TOPIK I, a total 80 or above out of 200 gives grade 1 and 140 or above gives grade 2. On TOPIK II, 120 or above out of 300 gives grade 3, 150 or above gives grade 4, 190 or above gives grade 5, and 230 or above gives grade 6. Falling below the lowest threshold means no grade is awarded.
What is the pass rate?
NIIED does not publish an overall TOPIK pass rate on its public site, and because the test has no pass mark, a single rate would not be meaningful anyway. What matters is the proportion reaching a specific grade, and NIIED does not publish that breakdown either. Treat any percentage you see quoted without a NIIED citation as unverified.
Should I take TOPIK I or TOPIK II?
Take the paper that can produce the grade you need. TOPIK I caps at grade 2, so if a university or employer requires grade 3 or above you have to sit TOPIK II, even if you expect to score in its lower range. TOPIK II also carries the only Writing section, so it is a longer and harder day: 180 minutes across two periods against TOPIK I's single 100-minute period.
How is the score built?
Each section is worth 100 points. TOPIK I has two sections and a 200-point total; TOPIK II has three and a 300-point total. Your grade comes from the total, not from section minimums, so the system is compensatory: a weak section can be carried by strong ones. NIIED does not publish a raw-to-scaled conversion, because the sections are marked out of 100 directly.
Is there a penalty for guessing?
Nothing in the published TOPIK structure indicates negative marking. Every Listening and Reading item is machine-marked multiple choice, and NIIED describes the sections as scored out of 100 points each. Leave nothing blank, because an unanswered item cannot score better than a guess.
When do results come out?
NIIED publishes the exact date and time with the annual schedule, usually 15:00 Korean time. For the paper test the wait runs from five to eight weeks depending on the round: the 107th round on 5 July 2026 released results on 13 August 2026, five and a half weeks later, while the 108th round on 18 October 2026 releases on 10 December 2026, nearly eight weeks later. The internet-based test is much faster, at roughly three weeks: the 14th IBT on 12 September 2026 releases on 2 October 2026.
How long is a TOPIK certificate valid?
Two years, and NIIED counts that window from the results release date, not from the test date. NIIED also states that certificates are issued only through the TOPIK website and are never sent by post, fax, or email. Download and store your certificate PDF as soon as results are released rather than relying on retrieving it later.
What identification do I need on test day?
Original photo identification carrying your name, photograph, and date of birth, with the name matching the one you used on your application. Regional administrators state that candidates who cannot present valid identification are not allowed to sit the test. Several regions also require you to print your own admission slip and receipt in advance and bring them with you.
Can I take TOPIK online at home?
No. TOPIK IBT is an internet-based test taken at authorised centres on computers, not a home-proctored test. NIIED hosts separate tutorial interfaces for TOPIK I and TOPIK II IBT showing the login, room and seat confirmation, and answering screens, which is worth running once before an IBT sitting.
What can I take into the room?
Very little. Regional administrators publish prohibited item lists covering phones, tablets, digital watches, smart watches, pagers, multimedia players, and electronic dictionaries, and require devices to be switched off and collected before the test starts. In Hong Kong, a device that makes any sound during the test is recorded as cheating, and devices are returned only after the final period.
Are accommodations available?
Yes, through a special exam arrangements application submitted alongside the online application form. The Korean Education Centre in the UK requires supporting documentation such as an NHS-issued certification of disability or a doctor's written diagnosis issued within the past two years, states that late applications will not be considered, and notes that arrangements are not guaranteed because the TOPIK head office decides them under international TOPIK policy.
Can I change my level or test date after applying?
In some regions, no. The Hong Kong administration states that once an application is submitted the fee is neither refundable nor transferable, and that the test date, level, and candidate cannot be changed. Check your own administering body's rule before you pay, because this varies by country.
What is the TOPIK Speaking assessment?
A separate evaluation with its own schedule, distinct from TOPIK I and TOPIK II. NIIED scheduled three Speaking rounds in 2026, on 21 March, 13 June, and 24 October, with results on 13 April, 6 July, and 16 November. It is marked out of 200 points and awards the same 1 to 6 grades, with grade 1 from 20 points and grade 6 from 160. The Korean domestic fee is 80,000 KRW and there is no mid-test break. Sitting TOPIK II does not include a speaking component, so if an institution asks for a speaking result you must register for that assessment separately.
How many chances do I get each year?
In 2026, NIIED ran six paper-based rounds and six internet-based rounds in Korea, but the number available to you depends on your country. Hong Kong hosted four paper-based rounds in 2026, on 12 April, 5 July, 18 October, and 15 November. The UK hosted two, on 11 April and 17 October. Check your administering body rather than assuming the Korean domestic schedule.
Does TOPIK test speaking or writing at the beginner level?
Neither. TOPIK I contains only Listening and Reading, both entirely multiple choice. Writing appears only in TOPIK II, as four short-answer questions worth 100 points in 50 minutes, and speaking is not part of either paper. That is why a grade 2 certificate evidences comprehension rather than production.
What grade do Korean universities ask for?
Requirements are set by each institution and each programme rather than by NIIED, so there is no universal answer, and the same university can ask for different grades for undergraduate entry, graduate entry, and graduation. Because the grade is derived from a total score with published thresholds, check the specific grade in the programme's own admissions page and work backwards to the total you need.
How does TOPIK compare with the paper-based and internet-based versions of itself?
The content structure is the same test, but the logistics differ in two ways that matter. Results arrive in about three weeks for the internet-based test against five to eight weeks for the paper test. Availability also differs: NIIED runs both six times a year in Korea, but many overseas centres offer only the paper test, and IBT availability is set by local administering bodies such as the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority.
Who is eligible to sit TOPIK?
Non-Koreans and overseas Koreans whose native language is not Korean. That eligibility rule is published by the Korean Education Centre in the UK on behalf of NIIED. There are no other stated eligibility conditions: no age limit, no prior qualification, and no requirement to have studied at a particular institution.
Success Stories
“K-drama sparked my interest, but serious study got me the scholarship. TTMIK + past papers + daily Korean content consumption. Took me 2 years from zero.”
Emma J.
KGSP Scholar
“The writing section is what separates Level 5 from 6. Practice essays with feedback - I used Korean tutors on iTalki to improve my composition skills.”
Daniel P.
Level 6 Holder
“TOPIK 4 helped me land a job at a Korean tech company. They appreciated the effort to learn Korean even for an engineering role. Cultural understanding matters.”
Yuki T.
Korean Company Employee
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