TOPIK IBT – The Complete Guide (Test Structure, Application Process, Levels)

TOPIK I IBT

TOPIK II IBT

TOPIK Speaking

KRW 70,000

KRW 95,000

KRW 80,000

Question

Question Type

Preparation Time

Answer Time

1

Answering a simple question

20 seconds

30 seconds

2

Playing a role based on images

30 seconds

40 seconds

3

Creating a story based on images

40 seconds

60 seconds

4

Completing a story

40 seconds

60 seconds

5

Analyzing the given material

70 seconds

80 seconds

6

Presenting opinions on a given topic

70 seconds

80 seconds

Levels

TOPIK Speaking

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Level 5

Level 6

Score

20~49

50~89

90~109

110~129

130~159

160~200

Levels

Score

Level Descriptors

Level 1

20 ~ 49

• Able to give simple answers to questions on familiar everyday topics.
• Language use is extremely limited and mostly incorrect
• Pronunciation, intonation, and pace are unnatural, and they have trouble expressing themselves

Level 2

50 ~ 89

• Able to ask and answer questions on everyday activities in familiar settings.
• Language use is limited and sometimes out of context, and often incorrect. Pronunciation, intonation, and pace are unnatural, and they have some trouble expressing themselves

Level 3

90 ~ 109

• Able to express themselves about familiar social issues in a relatively detailed manner.
• Occasionally makes mistakes but capable of using some vocabulary and expressions that reasonably fit the discourse context.
• Pronunciation, intonation, and pace are somewhat unnatural, they have no trouble expressing themselves.

Level 4

110 ~ 129

• Able to express themselves about some social issues in a relatively detailed and coherent manner.
• Occasionally makes mistakes, capable of using a variety of vocabulary and expressions that generally fit the discourse context.
• Pronunciation, intonation, and pace are somewhat unnatural, they have no trouble expressing themselves.

Level 5

130 ~ 159

• Able to express themselves about social issues or some abstract concepts in a relatively logical and consistent manner. 
• Makes some mistakes, but capable of using a variety of vocabulary and expressions that fit the discourse context.
• Pronunciation, intonation, and pace are mostly natural, and their delivery is good.

Level 6

160~200

• Able to express themselves about social issues or abstract concepts logically and persuasively.
• Makes nearly no mistakes and is capable of using a wide variety of vocabulary and grammar in discourse contexts.
• Pronunciation, intonation, and pace are natural, and their delivery is excellent.

Test Types

Section

Question

Type

Number of

Questions

Scores

Total

Scores

TOPIK Ⅰ

(Level 1~2)

Listening(30 mins)

Multiple

Choice

26

200

400

Reading(40 mins)

26

200

TOPIK Ⅱ

(Level 3~6)

Listening(35 mins)

30

200

600

Reading(40 mins)

30

200

Writing(50 mins)

Writing

3

200

Test Type

TOPIK I IBT

TOPIK II IBT

Levels

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Level 5

Level 6

Scores

121-235

236-400

191-290

291-360

361-430

431-600

시험

등급

점수

등급 기술

토픽 Ⅰ

1급

121 ~
235

207

• Capable of using basic language skills necessary for everyday activities, such as introducing themselves, shopping, and ordering food, and understanding and expressing themselves when conversing about their family or pastimes, the weather, or other casual or familiar topics.
• Knows about 800 basic words and can form simple sentences with an understanding of basic grammar.
• Capable of understanding and forming practical sentences and simple sentences used in everyday life.

2급

236 ~
400

400

• Capable of using the language skills necessary for everyday life, such as calling and asking for a favor, and using public facilities, such as the post office or banks.
• Able to use 1,500 to 2,000 words to understand and compose paragraphs about a casual or familiar topic.

• Able to distinguish which linguistic form to use in formal and informal situations.

토픽 Ⅱ

3급

191 ~
290

261

• No problem engaging in normal day-to-day activities and has the basic language skills necessary to use various public facilities and maintain interpersonal relationships.
• Understand and express themselves regarding not only familiar and specific topics but also familiar topics in paragraphs. Capable of understanding the basic features of literary and colloquial language and using them in different contexts.

4급

291 ~
360

330

• Has language skills to use public facilities, maintain interpersonal relationships, and apply their skills to work situations to a certain extent.
• Able to understand the news or news articles provided in relatively plain language.
• Understand and express themselves about a general social issue or abstract concept in a relatively accurate and fluent manner.

• Understand and express themselves about socio-cultural content based on an understanding of frequently used idiomatic expressions and Korean culture.

5급

361 ~
430

411

• Has the language skills to use professionally or to conduct research in a specialized field to a certain extent
• Understand and express themselves regarding unfamiliar topics concerning politics, the economy, social issues, and culture. Able to use different forms of language appropriately depending on formal or informal contexts or colloquial or written contexts.

6급

431 ~
600

600

• Has the language skills to use professionally or to conduct research in a specialized field fairly accurately and fluently
• Understand and express themselves regarding unfamiliar topics concerning politics, the economy, social issues, and culture.

ID Cards

Adult

Undergraduate student

Primary or Secondary Student

A valid passport, foreigner residence card, overseas Korean resident card, permanent resident card, or a welfare card (disability registration card)

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Resident registration card (or Confirmation of Application for the Issuance of a Resident Registration Card), mobile resident registration card (issued since July 1 2), driver’s license, mobile driver’s license

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High schoolers only

Student ID, Youth ID Card (or Confirmation of Application for the Issuance of a Youth ID Card)

×

×

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Identity verification certificate

×

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A. Test takers who have submitted their ID cards to public institutions, such as the Korean Immigration Service, to apply for a change of resident status or extend their visa may take the test if they have documents such as the Confirmation of Application for Residence Permit or Confirmation of Visa Issuance (The confirmation sheet must include the test taker’s name, date of birth, and photograph).

B. Student IDs should include the name of the school, the test taker’s name and photo, and an official seal of the school’s principal (The official seal of the school principal is not required if a Korean bank has issued the student ID card, which also functions as a debit card and includes the bank name, student name, and account number).

C. Mobile ID cards can only be used for verification through applications authorized by the issuing organizations (the Ministry of the Interior and Safety or the National Police Agency).

3. Aside from passports, all accepted ID cards must be issued by domestic (Korean) institutions.

4. Test takers must have original ID cards, laminated and stamped with official seals.

5. The proof of identity for TOPIK must be filled out in the attached form, and the photograph must be stamped with an official seal and covered with transparent tape.

6. Test takers taking the test outside Korea should follow the ID regulations of the administering organizations of each country, but all ID cards must include the test taker’s photo, name, and date of birth.

※ The Ministry of Education plans to accept only physical passports and alien registration cards as ID in future. Always check the ID rules in the official notice for your test.