TOPIK Levels Guide — Passing Scores & Requirements
Everything you need to know about the Test of Proficiency in Korean: how the six levels are structured, how scores are awarded, and what each level certifies you can do.
What is the TOPIK?
The Test of Proficiency in Korean (한국어능력시험, TOPIK) is the official Korean-language exam administered by the National Institute for International Education (NIIED). It certifies your Korean ability on a 1–6 scale and is used for university admission, Korean visa categories, and employment in Korea.
TOPIK is split into two papers: TOPIK I (beginner, certifying Level 1 or 2) and TOPIK II (intermediate-to-advanced, certifying Level 3, 4, 5, or 6). You choose the paper that matches your target band — the level you receive depends on your total score.
Exam structure
| Paper | Sections | Items | Time | Total score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOPIK I | Listening, Reading | 70 | 100 min | 200 |
| TOPIK II | Listening, Reading, Writing | 104 | 180 min | 300 |
Passing scores by level
| Level | Paper | Minimum score | What it certifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TOPIK I | 80 / 200 | Basic survival Korean — greetings, numbers, simple personal topics. |
| 2 | TOPIK I | 140 / 200 | Routine daily-life and tourism Korean; ~1,500–2,000 word vocabulary. |
| 3 | TOPIK II | 120 / 300 | Public-life Korean — workplace basics, common social tasks. |
| 4 | TOPIK II | 150 / 300 | News, current affairs, abstract topics; widely accepted for Korean university admission. |
| 5 | TOPIK II | 190 / 300 | Specialised research and professional fields; accurate written expression. |
| 6 | TOPIK II | 230 / 300 | Near-native fluency across academic, professional, and cultural contexts. |
Scores are totals across all sections — there is no per-section minimum. Your certified level is the highest band whose threshold your total meets.
TOPIK I vs TOPIK II — which to take?
Choose TOPIK I if you are still building core vocabulary, particle usage, and present/past tense fluency. It has no writing section and uses simpler audio.
Choose TOPIK II if you can already read short news articles, follow standard-speed dialogue, and write structured short essays. The writing section (Tasks 51–54) demands paragraph-level composition and a 600–700-character argumentative essay.
Practise on TOPIK Prep
- TOPIK I drills — Level 1–2 vocabulary and grammar with a 100-minute timer.
- TOPIK II drills — Level 3–6 advanced grammar, idioms, and proverbs.
- Writing Crucible — Tasks 51–54 with rubric-based scoring.
- TOPIK I mock · TOPIK II mock — Full-length timed reading papers.