What is TOPIK?
TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) is a national test that is conducted by the National Institute for International Education to evaluate ability of Korean. This test aims to set a right Korean Language learning path for overseas Koreans and foreigners who do not speak Korean as their mother tongue and promote the use of Korean language. The result of evaluation can also be used for local university applications as well as employment purposes.
How to apply for TOPIK
There are two ways to apply for this test in Korea, online and offline. Photo, English name, date of birth, examination venue and level of examination are required to apply for the test. In Cheon-an, there are two examination venues, at Sunmoon University and Namseoul University.
If applicants want to apply off-line, there are 8 locations where applicants can apply. However, the period for off-line application is generally considered to be too short and detailed information about off-line application noticed on only Korean bulletin boards (check for “Information Service-Announcements” on TOPIK’s homepage). Therefore, online application is recommended.
To apply through homepage (www.topik.go.kr), you should register a user account, and installation of “active X” software is necessary for security reasons. If you need help for online application, you can receive remote support by pressing the ‘ 원격지원 (remote support)’ link placed on the upper right side of the TOPIK homepage.
Renewal of TOPIK
TOPIK was partially renewed from the 35 th test that conducted at 20 th of July.
The four original areas of assessment that included vocabulary and expression, writing, listening, and reading were reduced to listening and reading for TOPIK I, and listening, reading and writing for TOPIK II. This reduction will lighten the burden of stress for test-taking and still evaluate practical Korean language abilities. Especially, TOPIK II is integrated intermediate and high levels can now allow applicants who originally had to apply separately for these two levels to save money and time.
[Structure by difficulty level]
Examination level |
slot |
area/examination hour |
type |
number of questions |
TOPIK I |
1st slot |
listening(40 minute) |
multiple-choice question |
30 |
reading(60 minute) |
multiple-choice question |
40 | ||
TOPIKII |
1st slot |
listening(60 minute) |
multiple-choice question |
50 |
writing(50 minute) |
short-answer question |
4 | ||
2nd slot |
reading(70 minute) |
multiple-choice question |
50 |
Test times will be expanded from 4 testing times a year (2 domestic, 2 domestic/overseas) to 6 testing times a year (2 domestic, 4 domestic/overseas). This expansion of test times will provide many additional opportunities for people to take the TOPIK worldwide.
[Date of examination]
Type |
Korea |
Americas, Europe, Africa |
Asia and Oceania |
38rd examination |
January 18(Sun) |
Will be carried out only in Korea | |
39th examination |
March 22(Sun) |
March 21(Sat) |
March 22(Sun) |
40th examination |
April 26(Sun) |
April 25(Sat) |
April 26(Sun) |
41st examination |
July 19(Sun) |
Will be carried out only in Korea | |
42nd examination |
October 18(Sun) |
October 17(Sat) |
October 18(Sun) |
43rd examination |
November 15(Sun) |
November 14(Sat) |
November 15(Sun) |
Other tips
Anyone who is preparing for TOPIK can download previous tests including listening files and answers at TOPIK’s homepage from the 7 th to the 37 th test that were taken in the past. But, as TOPIK will expand its test times, they will not release every previous test’s question in order to build the test question bank. They will randomly provide just one test per year.