TOPIK levels explained: TOPIK I and II, scores, IBT and speaking

TOPIK (한국어능력시험, the Test of Proficiency in Korean) is South Korea's official Korean exam for non-native speakers, run by the National Institute for International Education (NIIED) under the Ministry of Education. Understanding the TOPIK levels comes down to one idea: there are two tests, and your total score decides your level. This guide explains TOPIK I and II, the score bands for levels 1 to 6, the paper and internet-based versions, the separate speaking test and the fees, using TOPIK's own pages. Check your starting point with the free Korean level test first.

Updated November 8, 2026 · 5 min read

16Word: the free Korean level test — A1 to B2 in a few minutes, no account needed

Two tests, six levels

You do not register for "level 3". You choose TOPIK I (beginner) or TOPIK II (intermediate and advanced), and your total score places you in a level — or in none, if it is below the lowest band. The paper-based TOPIK page gives these cut-offs:

Test	Level	Total score
TOPIK I (out of 200)	Level 1 (1급)	80–139
TOPIK I (out of 200)	Level 2 (2급)	140–200
TOPIK II (out of 300)	Level 3 (3급)	120–149
TOPIK II (out of 300)	Level 4 (4급)	150–189
TOPIK II (out of 300)	Level 5 (5급)	190–229
TOPIK II (out of 300)	Level 6 (6급)	230–300

If you are around level 2 or 3, choose carefully: a TOPIK I score can never give you more than level 2, and a TOPIK II score below 120 gives you no level at all.

What is tested, and for how long

TOPIK I tests listening and reading; TOPIK II adds writing. In Korea the paper test runs on this timetable (times abroad are set by the local organiser):

Test	Period	Sections	Time in Korea	Minutes
TOPIK I	1st	Listening, reading	10:00–11:40 (in the room by 9:20)	100
TOPIK II	1st	Listening, writing	13:00–14:50 (in the room by 12:20)	110
TOPIK II	2nd	Reading	15:20–16:30 (in the room by 15:10)	70

The current format dates from the 35th test on 20 July 2014, according to the test overview.

Paper or computer: TOPIK IBT

Since 2023 there is also an internet-based test, taken at a test centre on a PC or tablet. The TOPIK IBT page says it has the same validity and the same grades as the paper test, but shorter timings and no break:

TOPIK I IBT: listening 30 minutes + reading 40 minutes = 70 minutes.
TOPIK II IBT: listening 35 + reading 40 + writing 50 = 125 minutes.
Be in the room 40 minutes before the start; after the entry time you cannot go in, and anyone who leaves early gets no score.

The TOPIK Speaking test

Speaking is a separate test (since 2022), not part of TOPIK I or II. It lasts 30 minutes and has six tasks, each with a short preparation time, as the TOPIK Speaking page sets out:

Task	Type	Preparation	Answer
1	Answer questions	20 s	30 s
2	Role play from a picture	30 s	40 s
3	Tell a story from pictures	40 s	60 s
4	Complete a conversation	40 s	60 s
5	Interpret data	70 s	80 s
6	Give an opinion	70 s	80 s

Answers are judged on content and how well the task is done, on language use (range and accuracy of words and expressions) and on delivery — pronunciation, intonation and a natural pace. For the Korean Government Scholarship Programme (GKS), a speaking result of level 4 or above adds 3 points.

Fees in Korea and validity

Test	Fee in Korea
TOPIK I (paper)	40,000 won
TOPIK II (paper)	55,000 won
TOPIK I IBT	70,000 won
TOPIK II IBT	95,000 won
TOPIK Speaking	80,000 won

These are the fees in Korea; abroad, registration runs through each country's organiser, so check the price there. Every TOPIK result is valid for two years from the date the results are published.

What TOPIK is used for

admission to and graduation from Korean universities and graduate schools;
jobs in Korean companies and public bodies, in Korea and abroad;
permanent residence and employment visas;
the Korean Government Scholarship Programme;
credits and graduation requirements in Korean studies at universities abroad.

How often it is held

TOPIK has grown fast: in 2025 there were 15 sittings — six paper, six internet-based and three speaking tests. In Korea the paper test's 2026 dates are 11 January, 12 April, 17 May, 5 July, 18 October and 15 November, as listed on the TOPIK home page; dates and registration abroad differ by country and region.

Build the vocabulary TOPIK reading needs

16 words a day, about five minutes, with spaced repetition and a Blocks break between answers. 16Word is free to start.

Learning Japanese or Chinese too?

Many Korean learners also study Japanese or Chinese. Japan's equivalent works differently — see JLPT levels N5 to N1 — and you can test yourself in Japanese or Chinese, read why learn Japanese and why learn Chinese, or start with Japanese grammar basics and Chinese grammar basics. 16Word teaches both: learn Japanese · learn Chinese.

Keep learning

Questions about TOPIK

What score do I need for each TOPIK level?

In TOPIK I (out of 200): level 1 from 80, level 2 from 140. In TOPIK II (out of 300): level 3 from 120, level 4 from 150, level 5 from 190 and level 6 from 230.

Should I take TOPIK I or TOPIK II?

TOPIK I can only give level 1 or 2, while TOPIK II gives levels 3 to 6. Take TOPIK II only if you expect at least 120 out of 300; otherwise TOPIK I is the safer choice.

How long is a TOPIK result valid?

Two years from the day the results are published. This applies to the paper test, the IBT and the speaking test.

Is TOPIK IBT the same as the paper test?

It has the same validity and the same grading system, but it is taken on a PC or tablet at a test centre and is shorter: 70 minutes for TOPIK I and 125 minutes for TOPIK II, with no break.

Does TOPIK test speaking?

Not in TOPIK I or II. Speaking is a separate 30-minute test with six tasks, from answering simple questions to giving an opinion.

How much does TOPIK cost?

In Korea, 40,000 won for TOPIK I and 55,000 won for TOPIK II on paper; 70,000 and 95,000 won for the IBT; 80,000 won for the speaking test. Abroad, check with the local organiser.