If you are asking what is the TOPIK exam, start here. TOPIK is the Test of Proficiency in Korean, the official Korean-language test used for university, work, and many visa files in Korea. This guide explains TOPIK I vs TOPIK II in plain English so you pick the right paper, not the one that sounds harder.
Read once. Then open a past paper on Test and walk the clock, not just the grammar notes. Related Korean grammar lives in the intermediate and advanced series.
What TOPIK is (and is not)
TOPIK is run by Korea’s National Institute for International Education (NIIED). You sit a paper, get a total score, and — if you clear a cut-off — receive a level from 1 to 6. It is not a conversation class, and it is not a pass/fail school exam. Immigration officers and admissions staff read the level, not a story about how many hours you studied.
- Official name: Test of Proficiency in Korean (한국어능력시험).
- Papers: TOPIK I (beginner), TOPIK II (intermediate to advanced), plus a separate Speaking test.
- Formats: paper-based (PBT) and internet-based (IBT). Speaking is IBT-only.
- Register on the official site for your country, not on random “mock TOPIK” shops.
TOPIK I vs TOPIK II at a glance
You choose the paper. The paper caps the level you can earn. TOPIK I can never award Level 3. TOPIK II never awards Level 1 or 2 — a weak TOPIK II score can leave you with no certificate at all.
| Paper | Sections | Time | Max score | Levels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOPIK I | Listening 30 + Reading 40 | 100 min | 200 | 1–2 |
| TOPIK II | Listening 50 + Writing 4 + Reading 50 | 180 min | 300 | 3–6 |
| TOPIK Speaking | 6 speaking tasks | 30 min | 200 | 1–6 (separate) |
What each paper actually tests
TOPIK I is multiple choice only: 40 minutes of listening, then 60 minutes of reading, in one sitting. TOPIK II is three sections: 60 minutes listening, 50 minutes writing, then 70 minutes reading after a short break. Writing is the only constructed-response section on the standard papers — two short completions, a 200–300 character description, and a 600–700 character opinion essay.
- TOPIK I listening: pictures, short talks, everyday notices.
- TOPIK I reading: signs, emails, short articles, inference.
- TOPIK II listening: news, interviews, lectures, implied attitude.
- TOPIK II writing: grammar accuracy plus 습니다-style formal Korean.
- TOPIK II reading: longer texts, graphs, academic-ish claims.
Which paper should English speakers sit?
If a job, school, or visa asks for Level 3 or higher, you must sit TOPIK II even if you “feel like Level 2.” If you only need proof of beginner Korean, TOPIK I is the safer first certificate. Do not sit TOPIK II as a practice run unless you can already write a short paragraph in 합니다-style Korean under a clock.
Common mistakes
These are the traps English-speaking candidates hit first. Fix the plan, not just the vocabulary list.
Watch-out
❌ I’ll take TOPIK II so I look serious, even if I can’t write yet.
✅ Sit TOPIK I for Levels 1–2. Sit TOPIK II only when writing is already a weekly habit.
A blank writing section can drop you under 120/300. TOPIK II below the Level 3 cut-off is no level.
Watch-out
❌ TOPIK Speaking replaces TOPIK II writing.
✅ Speaking is a separate test with its own score. Universities usually still want TOPIK I or II.
Never assume a speaking result substitutes for the paper unless the programme says so in writing.
Five-minute TOPIK drill
Do this without looking up “what is TOPIK exam” again.
- Say out loud: TOPIK I = listening + reading, 100 minutes, 200 points, Levels 1–2.
- Say out loud: TOPIK II = listening + writing + reading, 180 minutes, 300 points, Levels 3–6.
- Write which paper your next goal needs (visa, school, job) and the minimum level.
- Open one past-paper listening track and sit 10 questions with a timer.
Starter lines / tasks for today:
- I need TOPIK II Level 4 for university, so I will sit TOPIK II, not TOPIK I.
- TOPIK I cannot give me Level 3.
- Writing is the section that decides Level 5 vs Level 4 for most people.
Lesson summary
- Search topic: what is TOPIK exam
- TOPIK is Korea’s official Korean proficiency test with six levels.
- TOPIK I awards Levels 1–2. TOPIK II awards Levels 3–6.
- Pick the paper your document asks for, then train the clock.
- Drill on Practice and time a mock on Test.
Homework
- Write your target level and the paper (I or II) on a sticky note.
- Download one official sample paper and label each section with minutes.
- If writing is your gap, read the TOPIK writing guide in this series next.
what is TOPIK exam: quick answers
Is TOPIK the same as a Korean class final?
No. TOPIK is a national proficiency test. Schools may use it, but the certificate is issued by NIIED, not your teacher.
Can I take TOPIK I and TOPIK II on the same day?
Usually no. You register for one paper per sitting. Check the notice for that round.
Does TOPIK expire?
The printed result is typically valid for two years from the test date. Some employers still ask for a recent sitting even if they accept an older copy.
Keep going
- TOPIK I or TOPIK II: Which Test Should You Take?
- TOPIK Passing Score: Levels 1–6 Cut-Off Chart (PBT)
- How to Register for TOPIK: Dates, Fees, and topik.go.kr
Need a study path, not one exam article? Open Learn, drill on Practice, or browse the rest of this series in TOPIK.