Who takes the TOPIK? What is the general purpose of this test?
- This test is for anyone who doesn’t speak Korean as their language. This includes Koreans who are overseas and foreign Korean language-learners. As students expand their knowledge of the language, the test also allows them to track their progress.
- The test measures students’ proficiency in Korean. The results may be used to enter a university, including graduate school, and/or to get a job.
Why take the TOPIK? How can I use my test results?
- You can use your results:
- apply for and obtain government scholarship(s) and foreign certification(s)
- To study at a higher education institution (undergraduate or graduate school) in Korea. This includes foreigners or Koreans who lived overseas and completed 12 years of education in a foreign country.
- To add a work visa and/or be hired by a Korean company
- To be approved for a medical license in Korea if the test taker has a foreign medical license
- To obtain a Korean language teaching license (2-3 level), which would allow a foreigner to teach Korean
- To get permanent residency
- To apply for a spousal visa
Test timetable
Generally the Beginner level test (TOPIK-I) is held in the morning and Intermediate-Advanced level test (TOPIK-II) in the afternoon. TOPIK-I is a 100 minutes test (40 minutes for Listening section and 60 minutes for Reading section) and will be finished in 1 session. TOPIK – II is a 3 a 3-hour exam, which is split into two sessions with a short break in between. The first session paper (110 minutes) consists of two sections: Listening and Writing and the second session paper (70 minutes) has one section – Reading.
| Period | Subject | Korea | Test time(min) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designated time for assembling | start | finish | ||||
| TOPIK 1 |
1st | Listening Reading |
09:20 | 10:00 | 11:40 | 100 |
| TOPIK 2 | 1st | Listening Writing |
12:20 | 13:00 | 14:50 | 110 |
| 2nd | Reading | 15:10 | 15:20 | 16:30 | 70 | |
