Examius
🌍 Korean · subject
Korean Korean Language Proficiency Testing Syllabus
Every chapter and topic of Korean Language Proficiency Testing examined in Korean — 2 chapters, 4 topics, plus 50 flashcards written against it.
Korean Language Proficiency Testing syllabus — full chapter and topic list
Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Korean Language Proficiency Testing in Korean, not a summary of it.
-
TOPIK Preparation
2 topics- Understanding the Test Format
- Practice Tests and Strategies
-
Other Proficiency Tests
2 topics- KIIP (Korean Immigration and Integration Program)
- OPIc (Oral Proficiency Interview - computer)
Korean Language Proficiency Testing flashcards for Korean
23 of 50 cards from the Korean Language Proficiency Testing deck — real questions with worked answers.
What does the acronym TOPIK stand for?
Test of Proficiency in Korean (한국어능력시험), the official standardized Korean language exam administered by the National Institute for International Education (NIIED) of South Korea.
How many levels does TOPIK have, and how are they grouped into the two tests TOPIK I and TOPIK II?
TOPIK has 6 proficiency levels. TOPIK I covers Levels 1-2 (beginner); TOPIK II covers Levels 3-6 (intermediate to advanced).
Which sections make up TOPIK I, and how many questions does it contain?
TOPIK I has two sections: Listening (30 questions) and Reading (40 questions), for a total of 70 questions. It has no writing section.
Which sections make up TOPIK II?
TOPIK II has three sections: Listening (50 questions), Writing (4 questions), and Reading (50 questions).
What is the maximum total score for TOPIK I and for TOPIK II?
TOPIK I is scored out of $200$ points (Listening $100$ + Reading $100$). TOPIK II is scored out of $300$ points (Listening $100$ + Writing $100$ + Reading $100$).
What score ranges correspond to TOPIK I Level 1 and Level 2?
Out of $200$: Level 1 requires at least $80$ points; Level 2 requires at least $140$ points.
What score thresholds (out of 300) determine TOPIK II Levels 3, 4, 5, and 6?
Level 3: $\geq 120$; Level 4: $\geq 150$; Level 5: $\geq 190$; Level 6: $\geq 230$.
How is a test-taker's TOPIK level determined from their total score?
Levels are awarded automatically by total score bands; you do not register for a specific level. Your final level is the highest band your combined section score reaches.
What question format is used throughout TOPIK's Listening and Reading sections?
Multiple-choice with 4 answer options per question. There is no penalty for wrong answers, so every item should be answered.
What are the two writing tasks types in TOPIK II's Writing section?
Short-answer sentence completion (fill-in items 51-52), a mid-length descriptive/graph-based writing (item 53, ~200-300 characters), and a long essay (item 54, ~600-700 characters).
Approximately how long is the TOPIK I test?
About 100 minutes total: Listening (~40 minutes) followed immediately by Reading (~60 minutes) in a single sitting.
How is TOPIK II split across sessions on test day?
TOPIK II is divided into two sessions: Session 1 = Listening (60 min) + Writing (50 min) = 110 min; Session 2 = Reading (70 min). Total roughly 180 minutes.
What is the main difference between paper-based TOPIK (PBT) and Internet-based TOPIK (IBT)?
PBT uses an OMR answer sheet filled by pencil; IBT is taken on a computer with answers entered on screen. IBT offers more frequent test dates and faster results but the same score scale and level system.
What is the primary purpose of the TOPIK certificate for foreigners?
It is used for university admission, scholarship applications, graduation requirements, employment, professional licensing, and immigration/residency (visa and permanent residence point systems) in Korea.
For how long is a TOPIK score certificate valid?
A TOPIK certificate is valid for 2 years from the date of results announcement.
On a TOPIK OMR answer sheet, why must answers be marked with a specific pencil?
OMR sheets are machine-read, so a computer-scanned pencil (typically 2B / computer sign pen provided) must be used; stray marks or wrong tools can cause the answer to be misread as blank or wrong.
What is an effective time-management strategy for the TOPIK Reading section?
Reading is not time-generous, so pace by allotting roughly equal time per item, answer easy short passages first, and never leave blanks—mark a best guess before moving on since there is no negative marking.
Why is doing full-length timed practice tests recommended before TOPIK?
Because TOPIK is speed-sensitive and section order is fixed; timed mocks build stamina, calibrate pacing (especially Reading), and train the listen-once constraint of the audio.
How many times is each TOPIK listening passage played?
Each listening audio is played only once, so answers must be captured on the first hearing; pre-reading the answer choices during pauses is a key strategy.
What is a good strategy for TOPIK II Writing item 54 (the long essay)?
Plan a clear introduction–body–conclusion structure, use formal written style (~ㄴ/는다 declarative endings), employ advanced connectors and topic-appropriate vocabulary, and stay within the 600-700 character range.
Why should the formal written ending style (하다체 / ~ㄴ다) be used in TOPIK II Writing, not conversational endings?
Items 53-54 require formal written register; using spoken polite endings (~아요/어요) lowers the score because it does not match the expected academic writing style.
What is the KIIP program, and who runs it?
KIIP (Korea Immigration and Integration Program / 사회통합프로그램) is a government program run by the Ministry of Justice that provides free Korean language and Korean society/culture education to help immigrants integrate.
How many stages (levels) does the KIIP curriculum have, from 0 to 5?
KIIP has 6 stages: Stages 0-4 are Korean language & culture (increasing difficulty), and Stage 5 is 'Understanding Korean Society,' which is split into Basic and Advanced (permanent residence/naturalization) tracks.
Planning Korean Language Proficiency Testing for Korean
Korean Language Proficiency Testing is about 11% of the Korean syllabus by topic count — 4 of 36 topics, spread over 2 chapters. At roughly 45 minutes per topic plus 12 minutes per sub-topic, a first pass runs to about 3 hours.
Work top-down: read the chapter, then tick topics off individually rather than marking the whole chapter done. Sub-topics are where silent gaps hide.
Korean Language Proficiency Testing (Korean) FAQ
What is in the Korean Korean Language Proficiency Testing syllabus?
Korean Language Proficiency Testing is split into 2 chapters — TOPIK Preparation and Other Proficiency Tests, containing 4 topics and 0 sub-topics in total.
How many chapters are there in Korean Language Proficiency Testing for Korean?
2 chapters. Korean Language Proficiency Testing accounts for about 11% of the topics in the whole Korean syllabus (4 of 36).
How long should I spend on Korean Language Proficiency Testing for Korean?
Budget around 3 hours for a first pass through Korean Language Proficiency Testing — about 45 minutes per topic plus 12 minutes per sub-topic across its 4 topics. Add revision cycles on top.
Are there flashcards for Korean Korean Language Proficiency Testing?
Yes — a 50-card Korean Language Proficiency Testing deck. Sample cards are printed on this page, and the full deck is free in the Examius app with spaced repetition scheduling.