Key facts
| Full name | Test of Proficiency in Korean (한국어능력시험), abbreviated TOPIK [1] |
|---|---|
| Run by | National Institute for International Education (NIIED), Ministry of Education, Republic of Korea [1] |
| Tests | TOPIK I (levels 1 and 2), TOPIK II (levels 3 to 6) and a separate TOPIK Speaking test [3] |
| Format | Paper test (PBT) or computer test at a test centre (IBT). Speaking is computer only. TOPIK cannot be taken at home. [7] |
| Score validity | 2 years from the score announcement date [4] |
| First held | 1997 [5] |
| Where | Korea and 89 countries (Ministry of Education figure, October 2025) [11] |
Who runs TOPIK, and why does it exist?
NIIED, an institute of the Korean Ministry of Education, runs TOPIK. Its stated purpose is to guide Korean learning for overseas Koreans and foreigners whose native language is not Korean, and to measure their Korean so the result can be used for study in Korea, jobs and similar purposes.
The test has a legal basis in the Higher Education Act (Article 34-7) and its Enforcement Decree (Article 42-5). The decree requires at least one test a year in Korea and abroad and tells the Minister of Education to publish the next year's plan by the end of October, which is why the schedule appears each autumn.
The Korea Research Foundation ran the test from 1997 to 1998, KICE from 1999 to 2010, and NIIED since the 21st test in 2011. TopikIQ is an independent app made in Busan and is not affiliated with NIIED or the Ministry of Education.
Who can take TOPIK?
Anyone who wants their Korean assessed may apply. The current operating regulation (Article 6, revised 24 September 2025) bars only people who have been sanctioned for cheating.
The test is designed for overseas Koreans and foreigners whose native language is not Korean, and older pages still word eligibility that way, but the current rule is open to everyone.
You register for TOPIK I or TOPIK II, not for a level. TOPIK I can only give level 1 or 2, TOPIK II only level 3 to 6, and the level follows from your total score. See what score each level needs.
What are TOPIK I, TOPIK II and TOPIK Speaking?
TOPIK I is the beginner test (levels 1 and 2) with listening and reading. TOPIK II covers levels 3 to 6 with listening, writing and reading. TOPIK Speaking is a separate 30-minute computer test with six speaking tasks.
| Test | Levels | Sections | How it is taken |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOPIK I | 1 and 2 | Listening, reading | On paper (PBT) or on a computer at a test centre (IBT) |
| TOPIK II | 3 to 6 | Listening, writing, reading | On paper (PBT) or on a computer at a test centre (IBT) |
| TOPIK Speaking | 1 to 6 | 6 speaking tasks, 30 minutes | Computer at a test centre, answers recorded through a headset |
Both formats are taken in person at a test site. NIIED announced plans in 2024 for a future home test, but as of 28 September 2026 it has not launched, so TOPIK cannot be taken at home. Details are in the exam format guide.
What is TOPIK used for?
NIIED lists five uses: university admission and graduation in Korea, jobs at companies and public institutions, visas such as permanent residency and work visas, the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS), and credits or graduation requirements in Korean departments at universities abroad.
- University in Korea. Seoul National University asks international undergraduate applicants for TOPIK 3 (Spring 2027 guide); Kyungpook National University requires TOPIK 4 before graduation.
- Scholarships. In the 2026 GKS, TOPIK 3 or higher earns extra points worth 10% of the total, and TOPIK 5 or 6 lets scholars skip the one-year language course.
- Visas. For a D-2 student visa at visa-restricted universities, TOPIK 3 is required for associate degrees and TOPIK 4 for bachelor's degrees and above (document of 26 September 2024).
- Integration program. A valid TOPIK certificate places you directly into a stage of the Korea Immigration and Integration Program (KIIP): TOPIK 1 into stage 2, up to TOPIK 4 to 6 into stage 5.
Requirements change by year and institution, so check the current guide of the university or authority you are applying to.
How long is a TOPIK score valid?
Two years from the date the scores are announced, not from the test date. This applies to the paper test, the IBT and the Speaking test.
Results are published on topik.go.kr at 15:00 Korea time on the announced date, and you print the score report yourself; it is not mailed. Everyone who sat the test receives a report, whether or not a level was reached.
After the two years end, the report can no longer be viewed or printed on the TOPIK site, so save a copy while it is valid. Universities can set their own windows: Seoul National University's Spring 2027 guide accepts tests taken on or after 9 July 2024. Dates, fees and result days are in the test dates guide.
How has TOPIK changed since 1997?
The test was first held in 1997, was split into TOPIK I and TOPIK II in 2014, added a Speaking test in 2022 and a computer-based version in 2023.
- 1997: first test, run by the Korea Research Foundation.
- 20 July 2014 (35th test): the old Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced tests become TOPIK I and TOPIK II, and the per-section minimum is dropped; the level now depends on the total score only.
- 2022: TOPIK Speaking is introduced.
- 18 November 2023: first regular computer-based test (IBT) in Korea, after pilots in 2022 and 2023.
- 11 May 2025: the 100th TOPIK.
- 2026: 15 sittings in Korea (6 paper, 6 IBT, 3 Speaking).
How does TopikIQ fit in?
TopikIQ is a practice app for TOPIK I and TOPIK II on Android and iPhone. It is independent of NIIED, and its questions are original TOPIK-style questions, not past exam papers.
The free plan gives you 20 practice questions a day in sessions of 10 at every level, with an explanation in your language for each one (10 languages), plus 3,000+ vocabulary flashcards, mistake review and 3 AI tutor chats a day. Once you have 20 answers in each scored section, the app shows an estimated score; it is an estimate, not an official result.
Related guides: TOPIK levels and scores, exam format, 2026 test dates, how to prepare.
Frequently asked questions
Is TOPIK the same as EPS-TOPIK?
No. TOPIK is the general proficiency test run by NIIED, while EPS-TOPIK is a separate selection test for E-9 workers run by HRD Korea, and it does not give TOPIK levels. The comparison guide below explains the differences.
Can I take TOPIK online or at home?
No. The paper test and the computer-based IBT are both taken in person at test sites. A home test was announced as a plan in 2024, but it had not launched as of 28 September 2026.