Guide
TOPIK Explained: Levels, Test Dates, and What Score You Need
TOPIK is the Korean proficiency test that quietly governs admissions, scholarships, and graduation. Here is what it is, the six levels, how often you can take it, and the exact level you need for each goal.
TOPIK, the Test of Proficiency in Korean, is the standardised exam that Korean universities, scholarship programs, and immigration use to measure your Korean. You do not always need it (many degrees are taught in English), but it shapes admission, can exempt you from a scholarship's language year, and is often required to graduate. This guide explains how it works and, crucially, what level you actually need.
- There are two tests: TOPIK I (covers levels 1 to 2) and TOPIK II (covers levels 3 to 6). Your level is decided by your score on a single test.
- Six levels in total, from level 1 (basic) to level 6 (advanced).
- It runs several times a year in Korea in paper-based and internet-based formats, and at fewer dates abroad.
- What you need varies by goal: Korean-taught admission often wants level 3 to 4, GKS expects you to reach level 3+, level 5 to 6 can exempt you from a funded language year, and graduation often requires level 4+.
- If you study in English, you may still need TOPIK for graduation or to convert from a language program. See study in Korea in English.
The two tests and six levels
TOPIK is split into two exams, and your numeric level comes from how you score:
| Test | Levels awarded | Roughly means |
|---|---|---|
| TOPIK I | Level 1 or 2 | Basic Korean: greetings, simple daily situations |
| TOPIK II | Level 3, 4, 5, or 6 | Intermediate to advanced: study, work, and abstract topics |
You do not pick a level. You sit the test (TOPIK I or TOPIK II) and your total score places you at a level within that test. There is also a separate TOPIK Speaking test, in addition to the traditional written exam.
How often it runs and the formats
TOPIK is offered multiple times a year in Korea, in two formats: the traditional paper-based test (PBT) and the newer internet-based test (IBT), which tends to return results faster. Outside Korea, it is held at fewer dates and centers, so if you are testing abroad, plan well ahead. Registration opens in advance of each sitting and seats can fill, so book early.
What level do you actually need?
This is the question that matters. The level depends entirely on your goal:
| Goal | Typical level |
|---|---|
| Admission to a Korean-taught degree | Often TOPIK level 3 to 4 |
| GKS scholarship (during the program) | Reach level 3 or higher to maintain the scholarship |
| Skip a funded scholarship's Korean year | Level 5 or 6 (e.g. GKS language-year exemption) |
| Graduate from a Korean-taught degree | Often level 4 or higher to graduate |
| English-taught degree admission | Sometimes none required, but check each program |
These are typical thresholds, not universal rules. Individual universities, departments, and scholarship cycles set their own requirements, so always confirm the exact level against the official source for your program.
How to prepare and raise your level
- A university language institute is the structured route, taking you up roughly one TOPIK level per 10-week term. See Korean language programs in Korea.
- Self-study with past papers works well for TOPIK because the format is consistent; practising real past exams is the highest-value preparation.
- Target the level you need, then test. Do not over-study one level past your goal if a deadline is close; reach the required level, certify it, and move on.
What to do next
- Studying in English? Confirm whether you still need TOPIK in study in Korea in English.
- Building Korean from scratch? See Korean language programs in Korea.
- Aiming for GKS? Check how TOPIK affects the funded language year.