TOPIK Levels and Score Bands Explained: What Level 1 to 6 Mean

TOPIK has six levels but only two papers. TOPIK I can give you level 1 or 2. TOPIK II can give you level 3, 4, 5 or 6. You do not choose a level when you register; you choose a paper, and your level is worked out afterwards from your total score. Score too low on the paper you chose and you get no level at all.

That design catches people out in both directions: some sit TOPIK II too early and come away with nothing, and others sit TOPIK I when they could already have reached level 3. Below are the official score bands, two worked examples, what NIIED says each level means in practice, and a simple way to decide which paper to sit.

The score bands at a glance

These are the cut-offs in NIIED's operating regulations (Annex 1) for the paper-based test, which is what most people mean by "TOPIK":

Under 80 on TOPIK I, or under 120 on TOPIK II, means no level is awarded.

The internet-based test (IBT) has the same six levels and, according to NIIED, the same official standing, but more points per paper, so the numbers are different:

These IBT bands apply from the 5th IBT (22 February 2025) onwards. Do not compare an IBT score with a paper score directly; compare the level. More on the two formats in IBT TOPIK vs the paper test.

Where the points come from

On the paper test, every section is worth 100 points.

The four writing questions are two sentence-completion items and two compositions: an intermediate explanatory text of about 200–300 characters and an advanced argumentative essay of about 600–700 characters. NIIED marks the compositions on task completion, the structure of the text, and language use; see TOPIK II writing questions 51–54 for how that works.

The rule that matters: only the total counts

NIIED's paper-test page says the level is determined by the total score you obtain. The official tables contain no per-section minimum. That has two practical consequences:

1. Writing is a third of TOPIK II. It is 100 of the 300 points, but it is only four questions. Candidates who skip the two long compositions give away a large share of the marks they need for level 4 or 5.
2. A strong section can carry a weak one. If your listening is far ahead of your reading, your level reflects the average, not the weakest skill.

Worked examples

Example 1: aiming for level 4 on paper TOPIK II. Suppose you score 62 in listening, 41 in writing and 70 in reading.

62 + 41 + 70 = 173 out of 300, which falls in the 150–189 band: level 4. To reach level 5 (190), you would need 17 more points. Raising your writing from 41 to 58 would get you there without changing anything else.

Example 2: too early for TOPIK II. Suppose a learner who has finished a beginner course sits TOPIK II and scores 45 in listening, 15 in writing and 52 in reading: 112 out of 300. That is under 120, so no level is awarded, and the fee is spent with nothing to show a university or employer.

The same learner's reading and listening on TOPIK I might well clear the level 2 line of 140 out of 200. Which is why the choice of paper matters more than people think.

What each level actually means

NIIED publishes a description for each level. Here they are, paraphrased and shortened:

Two things to notice. The jump from 2 to 3 is the jump from personal topics to social ones, and it is the same line that separates the two papers. And level 4 is the first level described in terms of news articles and work, which explains why it is such a common requirement. What universities, visa categories and integration programmes ask for is covered in which TOPIK level you need.

Which paper should you sit?

You can take both TOPIK I and TOPIK II in the same round at the same test site, but they are separate papers with separate fees (₩40,000 and ₩55,000 for the paper test in Korea). A practical way to decide:

Timed practice with official past papers is the only reliable way to estimate your level; our guide to past papers explains where to find them.

Common misunderstandings

• "I passed TOPIK." TOPIK has no single pass mark; you receive a level, or no level. NIIED calls the result a score certificate, not a qualification.
• "My level 4 lasts forever." Results are valid for two years from the results announcement date. After that, the score can no longer be looked up or printed on topik.go.kr.
• "IBT 360 is better than paper 230." No: 360 on TOPIK II IBT is level 4; 230 on paper TOPIK II is level 6. Compare levels, not numbers.
• "TOPIK Speaking is part of TOPIK II." It is a separate test with its own levels (scored out of 200). See the TOPIK Speaking test.

If you are working towards a particular level, the next step is to set a target score per section that adds up to the band you need, then check it against a timed past paper every few weeks.