TOPIK has six levels, but many learners hear "level 3" or "level 4" without knowing what it actually takes. Below are the scores you need for each level, what each level means in practice, and which level people usually need.
Score table
TOPIK I — 200 points in total (listening + reading)
| Level | Score needed |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | 80 |
| Level 2 | 140 |
TOPIK II — 300 points in total (listening + writing + reading)
| Level | Score needed |
|---|---|
| Level 3 | 120 |
| Level 4 | 150 |
| Level 5 | 190 |
| Level 6 | 230 |
Your level is decided by your total score. TOPIK I can only give you level 1 or 2 — for level 3 and above you have to take TOPIK II.
What each level means
Level 1
Basic survival Korean: introducing yourself, shopping, ordering food. About 800 basic words. You can read Hangul and make simple sentences.
Level 2
You can handle everyday places like the post office or a bank. About 1,500–2,000 words. You can tell formal and informal speech apart.
Level 3
Daily life is no longer a struggle. This is the minimum many universities ask for, which is why it is the most searched level. You can talk about familiar topics in your own words.
Level 4
You can follow news articles and general texts. Many universities require level 4 to graduate, and you can handle basic tasks at work.
Level 5
You can work in your professional field and understand unfamiliar topics such as politics or economics.
Level 6
The top level. You can do research and professional work in Korean, close to a native speaker.
Which level do you need?
| Goal | Usual requirement |
|---|---|
| Korean language course (어학당) | None |
| Bachelor's admission | Level 3 |
| Graduating from a Korean university | Level 4 |
| Master's or PhD | Level 4–5 |
| Office jobs in Korean | Level 4–5 |
| Interpreting and translation | Level 6 |
⚠️ These are typical numbers, not rules. Every university and employer sets its own requirement — check the official announcement before you apply. Visa and permanent-residency rules are set by the Ministry of Justice and change from time to time.
A TOPIK score is valid for two years
A TOPIK result is valid for two years from the day results are announced. If you need it for an application, plan your exam so the certificate is still valid on the deadline.
Why going from level 3 to level 4 is hard
There are only 30 points between level 3 and level 4, but for most people it is the hardest step:
- - vocabulary moves from daily topics to abstract ideas
- - in writing you have to produce a 200–300 character text and a 600–700 character essay
- - reading passages get longer and time runs out
So when you aim for level 4, spend extra time on writing and reading speed. Our guide to writing questions 51–52 is a good first step.
Find out your level
Don't guess — solve real questions. TOPIKly has 62,000 questions and shows your estimated level after each test. One try tells you where to start.
Source: TOPIK official website — level descriptions and score criteria.