Guides for TOPIK and EPS-TOPIK, and study strategies that actually work.
TOPIK I reading is 40 questions in 60 minutes; TOPIK II reading is 50 questions in 70 minutes. Here is what each block of question numbers asks, how many minutes to give it, and how to practise so you finish on time.
TOPIK I listening is 30 questions in 40 minutes; TOPIK II listening is 50 questions in 60 minutes. What each block asks, what to read before the audio starts, and a daily routine to train your ear — shadowing, dictation and script review.
Since a Ministry of Justice guideline change on July 29, 2026, the F-2-R regional talent visa needs TOPIK level 3 or KIIP stage 3 (not level 4). The other requirements — education or income, living and working in a population-decline area — who is excluded, family, and how the local recommendation works.
EPS-TOPIK is the Korean test for E-9 work visas, held in 17 countries for people aged 18–39. Format (40 questions, 50 minutes, 100 points), minimum scores (60 manufacturing, 45 other), the 2nd-round skills test, the standard textbook and every step to a job in Korea.
The official 2027 TOPIK schedule: PBT 110–115, IBT 17–22 and the speaking test 13–15 — registration periods, test days and result dates in one place, plus what changes for test-takers outside Korea.
TOPIK II writing question 53, explained with the official scoring criteria: what data you get, how the 30 points are split, the 3-part structure, the Korean expressions to use and the mistakes that cost points.
TOPIK II writing question 54 is worth 50 points. The official scoring criteria, a 4-paragraph structure, a 50-minute time plan, useful Korean expressions and the mistakes that lose the most points.
The KIIP pre-assessment decides your starting stage. What is on the test, how scores map to stages 0–5, the 38,000 won fee, paper vs computer test dates, ID rules, refunds and how to prepare.
A step-by-step guide to topik.go.kr for test-takers in Korea: creating an account with just an email, the 8 registration steps, photo rules, payment, printing the admission ticket, checking your score and printing your certificate for free.
Official TOPIK past papers are free on topik.go.kr — but only one test per year is released. The full list of the 12 released tests (35th to 102nd), where to get the question booklets, answer keys and audio, and how to use them for levels 2 to 6.
TOPIK has 6 levels. TOPIK I (out of 200): level 1 = 80, level 2 = 140. TOPIK II (out of 300): level 3 = 120, 4 = 150, 5 = 190, 6 = 230. What each level means and which level you need.
TOPIK II writing questions 51 and 52: what text you get, how many points they are worth, which speech style to use and the mistakes that lose points — based on the official samples.
The three Korean tests compared — who runs them, what they are for, how they are scored, and which one you need for study, work, permanent residency or citizenship.
How KIIP works in 2026 — the placement test, stages 0–5 and their hours, the final assessment, what it costs, and what it gives you for citizenship, permanent residency and your visa.