TOPIK exam guide 2026
TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) is the official Korean language test for non-native speakers, run by Korea's National Institute for International Education (NIIED). It comes in two papers: TOPIK I for beginners (levels 1–2) and TOPIK II for intermediate to advanced learners (levels 3–6). A separate TOPIK Speaking test is scored on its own six-level scale.
Universities, employers and immigration offices use TOPIK levels as proof of Korean ability — for admission, scholarships, points-based visas and residency applications. Scores stay valid for two years from the result date, so plan your test date around the deadline you are aiming for.
Dates, fees and cut-off scores on this page were checked against NIIED's official 2026 plan on 2026-09-12. Always confirm the final details on topik.go.kr before you register. Source: NIIED — 2026년 한국어능력시험 시행계획
TOPIK I vs TOPIK II: test structure
You register for one paper, not a level. Your level is decided afterwards by your total score. TOPIK I is a single session of multiple-choice questions; TOPIK II adds a writing section and runs in two sessions on the same day.
TOPIK I
Levels 1–2 · beginner
| Section | Questions | Minutes | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | 30 | 40 | 100 |
| Reading | 40 | 60 | 100 |
| Total | 70 | 100 | 200 |
TOPIK II
Levels 3–6 · intermediate to advanced
| Section | Questions | Minutes | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | 50 | 60 | 100 |
| Writing | 4 | 50 | 100 |
| Reading | 50 | 70 | 100 |
| Total | 104 | 180 | 300 |
TOPIK II session 1 is listening and writing back to back; session 2 is reading. The writing section has two short-answer items and two essays — the long essay is where most intermediate learners lose points.
Level cut-off scores
Your level is set by total points, not by passing each section. The paper-based test (PBT) and the internet-based test (IBT) use different point scales, so compare against the right column.
Paper (PBT)
| Level | Total score |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | 80–139 |
| Level 2 | 140–200 |
| Level 3 | 120–149 |
| Level 4 | 150–189 |
| Level 5 | 190–229 |
| Level 6 | 230–300 |
Internet (IBT)
| Level | Total score |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | 121–235 |
| Level 2 | 236–400 |
| Level 3 | 191–290 |
| Level 4 | 291–360 |
| Level 5 | 361–430 |
| Level 6 | 431–600 |
Speaking
| Level | Total score |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | 20–49 |
| Level 2 | 50–89 |
| Level 3 | 90–109 |
| Level 4 | 110–129 |
| Level 5 | 130–159 |
| Level 6 | 160–200 |
- Level 1
- Basic survival Korean: greetings, shopping, ordering, simple questions. About 800 words.
- Level 2
- Everyday tasks like phone calls, bank visits and post office errands; simple personal topics.
- Level 3
- Daily life plus familiar social topics; can handle public places and basic work conversations.
- Level 4
- Comfortable in most social and some work situations; reads news and understands common idioms.
- Level 5
- Professional and academic use with occasional gaps; formal and informal registers.
- Level 6
- Near-native comprehension of specialised and abstract topics.
2026 test dates and registration
Registration in Korea opens for one week roughly two to three months before each test date and closes fast — popular Seoul venues fill within hours. The status column below updates from today's date.
| Round | Test | Test date | Registration (Korea) | Results | Where | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 104 | TOPIK I · II (paper) | 2026-01-11 | 2025-12-09 – 2025-12-15 | 2026-02-12 | Korea only | Results released |
| 105 | TOPIK I · II (paper) | 2026-04-12 | 2026-01-27 – 2026-02-02 | 2026-05-29 | Korea and overseas | Results released |
| 106 | TOPIK I · II (paper) | 2026-05-17 | 2026-03-10 – 2026-03-16 | 2026-06-25 | Korea and overseas | Results released |
| 107 | TOPIK I · II (paper) | 2026-07-05 | 2026-05-12 – 2026-05-18 | 2026-08-13 | Korea and overseas | Results released |
| 108 | TOPIK I · II (paper) | 2026-10-18 | 2026-08-04 – 2026-08-10 | 2026-12-10 | Korea and overseas | Test held — results pending |
| 109 | TOPIK I · II (paper) | 2026-11-15 | 2026-09-01 – 2026-09-07 | 2026-12-22 | Korea and overseas | Registration closed |
| 11 | TOPIK I · II (internet) | 2026-02-28 | 2025-12-16 – 2025-12-22 | 2026-03-20 | Korea only | Results released |
| 12 | TOPIK I · II (internet) | 2026-03-21 | 2026-01-13 – 2026-01-19 | 2026-04-10 | Korea and overseas | Results released |
| 13 | TOPIK I · II (internet) | 2026-06-13 | 2026-04-07 – 2026-04-13 | 2026-07-03 | Korea and overseas | Results released |
| 14 | TOPIK I · II (internet) | 2026-09-12 | 2026-07-07 – 2026-07-13 | 2026-10-02 | Korea and overseas | Results released |
| 15 | TOPIK I · II (internet) | 2026-10-24 | 2026-08-18 – 2026-08-24 | 2026-11-13 | Korea and overseas | Test held — results pending |
| 16 | TOPIK I · II (internet) | 2026-11-28 | 2026-09-15 – 2026-09-21 | 2026-12-18 | Korea and overseas | Registration closed |
| 10 | TOPIK Speaking | 2026-03-21 | 2026-01-13 – 2026-01-19 | 2026-04-13 | Korea only | Results released |
| 11 | TOPIK Speaking | 2026-06-13 | 2026-04-07 – 2026-04-13 | 2026-07-06 | Korea only | Results released |
| 12 | TOPIK Speaking | 2026-10-24 | 2026-08-18 – 2026-08-24 | 2026-11-16 | Korea only | Test held — results pending |
Outside Korea, registration windows and sometimes test dates differ by country. Check with the Korean embassy, Korean Cultural Center or the local institution that runs the test where you live.
NIIED normally publishes the next year's calendar in October or November. This page will be updated when the 2027 plan is released.
Fees (Korea)
Fees below are for test centres in Korea and must be paid online on the day you register. Overseas fees are set by each country's test organiser.
- TOPIK I · paper
- 40,000 KRW
- TOPIK II · paper
- 55,000 KRW
- TOPIK I · internet
- 70,000 KRW
- TOPIK II · internet
- 95,000 KRW
- TOPIK Speaking
- 80,000 KRW
The internet-based test costs more but has more sessions per year and releases results sooner.
How to register
- Create an account on topik.go.kr (Korea) or contact your local test organiser (overseas). You will need a passport or Korean alien registration card and a recent photo file.
- When the registration window opens, choose TOPIK I or TOPIK II, then pick a test area and venue. Seats in Seoul and Gyeonggi go first — log in at the opening time.
- Pay the fee online before midnight on the same day. Unpaid applications are cancelled automatically.
- Print your admission ticket about a week before the test and bring it with the same ID you registered with.
- Results appear on topik.go.kr on the announcement date. Official score reports can be printed from the site while the score is valid.
How to prepare for each level
Match your study to the paper you will sit. Listening and reading make up most of the points on both papers, so build daily listening and timed reading habits before anything else.
Levels 1–2 (TOPIK I)
Master Hangul and the ~800 most common words, then drill short dialogues: greetings, numbers, time, shopping and directions. Practise reading signs, menus and short notices under time pressure — the reading section is long for beginners.
Levels 3–4 (TOPIK II)
Learn the core intermediate grammar patterns and connectors, and practise the writing section every week: two short answers and a 200–300 character explanatory paragraph. Read one news article a day and summarise it in Korean.
Levels 5–6 (TOPIK II)
Work on long academic and editorial passages, advanced vocabulary and the 600–700 character argumentative essay. Timed full mock exams matter most at this stage — pacing the reading session is what separates level 5 from level 6.
Practise with TOPIK-style questions, mock exams and a level test on WeBring Korean — free.
TOPIK FAQ
- Should I take TOPIK I or TOPIK II?
- Take TOPIK I if you are a beginner aiming for level 1 or 2. If you need level 3 or above — the usual threshold for university admission and many visas — register for TOPIK II. You cannot get a level 3+ result from TOPIK I.
- What is the difference between PBT and IBT?
- Both test the same skills. PBT is on paper at a test centre; IBT is on a computer at a designated centre, is offered more often, and releases results faster. IBT uses a different point scale and its own cut-off scores, so a level is comparable but the numbers are not.
- How long is a TOPIK score valid?
- Two years from the result announcement date. Institutions usually require a certificate that is still valid on their application deadline.
- Can I take TOPIK outside Korea?
- Yes. Most paper-based rounds and several IBT rounds are held overseas, but each country sets its own registration window and may skip some rounds. The TOPIK Speaking test is currently held in Korea only.
- Which level do universities and visas require?
- Requirements are set by each institution. Common benchmarks are level 3 for undergraduate admission, level 4 for graduation or graduate school, and higher levels for more points on points-based visas. Always check the specific programme's rules.
- What should I bring on test day?
- Your admission ticket, the ID you registered with (passport or alien registration card), and for the paper test a computer-scored answer pen; centres usually provide one. Arrive before the entry deadline — late entry is not allowed once listening starts.