TOPIK level decides university admission, visa points and job eligibility in Korea. Here is what each level means in practice and how to plan for one.
TOPIK - the Test of Proficiency in Korean - is the standard measure of Korean ability, and in practice it is a gatekeeper. University admission, scholarship eligibility, F-2 visa points and many job applications are decided by a number on this certificate.
The two tests
TOPIK I covers Levels 1 and 2. Listening and reading only, 100 questions, 200 points.
TOPIK II covers Levels 3 to 6. Listening, reading and writing, 300 points.
You choose which test to sit; the level you receive depends on your score.
| Test | Level | Score needed |
|---|---|---|
| TOPIK I | 1 | 80 / 200 |
| TOPIK I | 2 | 140 / 200 |
| TOPIK II | 3 | 120 / 300 |
| TOPIK II | 4 | 150 / 300 |
| TOPIK II | 5 | 190 / 300 |
| TOPIK II | 6 | 230 / 300 |
What each level actually unlocks
- Level 2 - basic daily communication. Minimum for some language-course extensions.
- Level 3 - the common threshold for undergraduate admission at many Korean universities, and a meaningful boost in F-2 point scoring.
- Level 4 - required for graduation at many universities, and the practical floor for professional work in Korean.
- Level 5-6 - graduate study, professional licensing, naturalisation advantages.
For most Nepali applicants the target is Level 3 for admission and Level 4 by graduation.
Realistic timelines from zero
These assume consistent study, not an intensive programme:
- Hangeul to Level 2: 3 to 5 months at 1-2 hours daily
- Level 2 to Level 3: a further 4 to 6 months
- Level 3 to Level 4: a further 6 to 9 months, and this is where most people stall
The stall at Level 3 is caused by the writing section, which TOPIK I does not test at all. Two 200-300 character responses and one 600-700 character essay account for 100 of the 300 points on TOPIK II, and they cannot be answered by recognition alone.
A study plan
Months 1-2: the script and the sound. Hangeul first, properly, including batchim and the sound-change rules. Do not use romanisation past the first week - it will slow you permanently.
Months 3-6: grammar spine and 1,500 words. Work through a structured series - Sejong Korean or the Seoul National University books are both solid. Learn grammar patterns in sentences, not as isolated rules.
Months 6-12: past papers. Every TOPIK paper since 2014 is published free on the official TOPIK website. Sit them under timed conditions. The exam reuses question types heavily, and familiarity with the format is worth a level on its own.
Throughout: the writing section. Write something in Korean every day, however short, and have it corrected. A language exchange partner or an online tutor at a few dollars an hour is enough. This is the part you cannot self-assess.
Registration and dates
TOPIK is held several times a year in Korea and at overseas centres including Kathmandu. Registration opens roughly two months before each sitting, through the official TOPIK website, and Kathmandu seats fill quickly.
Registration requires a photo meeting a specific format and payment during the open window. There is no late registration.
Results are published online about a month after the exam. The certificate is valid for two years from the announcement date - plan your test date backwards from your application deadline, not forwards from today.
EPS-TOPIK is a different exam
If your goal is employment through the Employment Permit System, you need EPS-TOPIK, which is a separate test run by HRD Korea with its own published question bank and its own schedule. Standard TOPIK does not substitute for it, and vice versa.
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