How many TOPIK levels are there?

Six. The exam comes in two papers: TOPIK I awards levels 1–2 (beginner) and TOPIK II awards levels 3–6 (intermediate to advanced). Your level is determined by your score, not by which questions you answer.

What is the TOPIK pass mark?

TOPIK I (200 points total): level 1 needs 80+, level 2 needs 140+. TOPIK II (300 points total): level 3 needs 120+, level 4 needs 150+, level 5 needs 190+, level 6 needs 230+. There are no per-section minimums — only the total matters.

Which TOPIK level do I need for university in Korea?

Most Korean universities require TOPIK level 3–4 for undergraduate admission, and level 4+ to graduate; top programs and humanities majors often ask for level 5–6. Many employers expect level 4 or higher.

Does the TOPIK have a speaking section?

The standard TOPIK tests listening, reading and (in TOPIK II) writing — no speaking. A separate internet-based TOPIK Speaking test exists, but most universities and employers still ask for the standard TOPIK score.

How long is a TOPIK score valid?

Two years from the day results are released. If you need the score for a university or visa application, check the expiry date against your application deadline.

TOPIK Levels Explained: 1 to 6 Complete Guide

TOPIK · 11 min read · Updated July 14, 2026

The TOPIK has six levels across two papers: TOPIK I (levels 1–2, beginner) and TOPIK II (levels 3–6, intermediate–advanced). Your level is set by your score: e.g. 140/200 earns level 2, 230/300 earns level 6. For university in Korea aim for level 3–4; for most jobs, level 4+. No speaking section — it’s listening, reading, and writing (TOPIK II only).

The Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) is the standard Korean exam for university admission, jobs and visa points — the Korean equivalent of the JLPT or HSK. Unlike those exams, though, you don’t register for a specific level: you sit one of two papers, and your score decides your level. That one difference confuses almost every first-timer, so let’s make the whole system clear.

TOPIK levels at a glance

Level	Paper	Vocabulary	You can…
1	TOPIK I	~800 words	Introduce yourself, buy things, order food
2	TOPIK I	~1,500–2,000	Handle daily routines: phone calls, banks, favors
3	TOPIK II	~3,000	Everyday conversations, familiar social topics
4	TOPIK II	~4,000	News and abstract topics; work in Korean settings
5	TOPIK II	~5,000+	Professional/academic contexts, unfamiliar topics
6	TOPIK II	~6,000+	Near-native comprehension of complex material

How the exam is structured

Paper	Sections	Total
TOPIK I	Listening (30 questions) · Reading (40 questions)	200 points, ~100 min
TOPIK II	Listening (50) · Writing (4 prompts) · Reading (50)	300 points, ~180 min

Everything is multiple-choice except TOPIK II’s writing section: two sentence-completion items plus a 200–300 character paragraph and a 600–700 character essay. Writing is where most scores are won or lost — it’s the section Korean learners consistently underprepare.

The pass marks

Level	Score needed
Level 1	80+ / 200 (TOPIK I)
Level 2	140+ / 200 (TOPIK I)
Level 3	120+ / 300 (TOPIK II)
Level 4	150+ / 300 (TOPIK II)
Level 5	190+ / 300 (TOPIK II)
Level 6	230+ / 300 (TOPIK II)

Good news compared with the JLPT: there are no per-section minimums. A weak writing day can be rescued by strong listening and reading — only the total counts.

Test dates and registration

TOPIK runs about six times a year in Korea (roughly January, April, May, July, October, November) and two to four times a year at overseas sites, depending on the country. Registration opens about two months before each sitting and popular overseas venues fill quickly. Results come out roughly a month after the exam, and scores are valid for two years.

Which level do you actually need?

University admission: most programs ask for level 3–4; many require level 4+ to graduate, and competitive programs want 5–6.
Jobs in Korea: level 4 is the common baseline for Korean-language workplaces; 5–6 for client-facing or writing-heavy roles.
Visa points (F-2-7 / residency): every TOPIK level adds points — even level 2–3 helps.
Personal milestone: level 2 proves your foundations; level 3 is the classic “I can actually function in Korean” badge.

How to prepare, by paper

TOPIK I is a vocabulary-and-listening game: master the first ~2,000 words and the core particles, and drill past papers for format familiarity. Start from solid Hangul, build vocabulary daily with SRS, and listen to slow Korean every day.

TOPIK II adds the essay. Beyond vocabulary (aim at 4,000–5,000 words), you need timed writing practice with model answers, and reading speed — the reading section is long enough that pacing fails more people than difficulty. Our guide on how long Korean takes maps realistic timelines to each level.

TOPIK in three lines

Two papers: TOPIK I (levels 1–2), TOPIK II (levels 3–6) — your score decides your level.
No section minimums; TOPIK II’s essay is the highest-leverage section to practice.
University: aim level 3–4. Jobs: level 4+. Scores valid two years.

Build your TOPIK level with Hanguljo

Hanguljo structures the whole climb: TOPIK 1–6 lessons covering vocabulary, grammar and particles step by step, a 7-stage SRS that reviews each word right before you forget it, conversation practice by TOPIK level with shadowing, and native audio throughout — in a calm, focused design.

Learn Korean with Hanguljo — Free

Frequently asked questions

Should I take TOPIK I or go straight to TOPIK II?

If you need level 3+ for university or work, register for TOPIK II directly — the papers are independent and TOPIK I is not a prerequisite. Take TOPIK I only if level 1–2 itself is your goal (visa points, motivation milestone).

Is there a speaking test?

The standard TOPIK has no speaking. A separate internet-based TOPIK Speaking exam exists, but most institutions still ask for the standard written TOPIK score. Check what your target university or employer actually requires.

How hard is TOPIK level 6?

It requires comfortable comprehension of news, academic texts and formal writing — typically 2,000+ study hours. Even advanced learners often sit TOPIK II two or three times, since the level depends on the score, and scores climb with format practice.