TOPIK & Korean Learning

Universities typically require TOPIK 3-4 for undergraduate programs and TOPIK 4-5 for graduate programs. For work, TOPIK 3-4 is often sufficient for international companies, while Korean companies may prefer TOPIK 5-6. Government jobs usually require TOPIK 6.

TOPIK is held 6 times per year in Korea (January, April, May, July, October, November) and 2-4 times per year internationally. Registration opens about 2 months before each test. The test fee is 40,000 KRW in Korea.

TOPIK I (levels 1-2) tests listening and reading with 70 questions in 100 minutes. TOPIK II (levels 3-6) tests listening, reading, and writing with 50 questions plus 4 writing tasks in 180 minutes. Most people take TOPIK II for university/work requirements.

Practice the 4 question types: fill-in-the-blank (Q51), short essay 200-300 characters (Q52), chart description 300-600 characters (Q53), and argumentative essay 600-700 characters (Q54). Focus on proper grammar, connecting words, and formal Korean style.

Official TOPIK guide and past papers from NIIED website, Korean Grammar in Use series, TTMIK (Talk To Me In Korean), Sogang Korean PDF series, and apps like Drops Korean and Anki for vocabulary. Join study groups for motivation and speaking practice.

With consistent daily study: TOPIK 1-2 (3-6 months), TOPIK 3 (6-12 months), TOPIK 4 (1-2 years), TOPIK 5 (2-3 years), TOPIK 6 (3+ years). Progress depends on your native language, study intensity, and immersion level in Korea.