What is TOPIK?

TOPIK, the abbreviation of Test Of Proficiency in Korean, is a  test designed to evaluate the Korean language proficiency of non-native speakers. This test measures your proficiency in the reading, writing and listening in Korean language. The test is conducted only offline in India. 

TOPIK has 6 levels- Level 1 & 2 are considered Beginner levels, 3 & 4 Intermediate and  level 5 & 6 are considered Advanced levels.

Benefits of TOPIK

The main reason why people take the TOPIK is for them to get an official record of their proficiency in Korean. Many do it to evaluate their future career prospects, or to get better educational opportunities in Korea. The South Korean government provides scholarship opportunities to deserving international students to study in Korea. It has been seen that students who have up to TOPIK level 3 have a better chance in getting the scholarship and have an edge over the students. Students who are willing to apply for scholarships for masters and PhD are required to attain TOPIK level 4 by some Korean universities. Nevertheless attaining a level in TOPIK would make your selection much easier. For such scholarships, TOPIK Certification is a prerequisite. 

Also, it is also vital if you’re planning to attain permanent residency or a marriage visa in Korea.

In short, this Certification confirms your proficiency in Korean language which can be used for various purposes apart from studies also. 

TOPIK exam structure for different levels.

There are two exams in TOPIK - TOPIK I and TOPIK II.

TOPIK I consists of Level 1 and level 2 and TOPIK II consists of Level 3, 4, 5 and 6.

The test consists of mostly multiple-choice questions; however, the TOPIK II also has a writing examination which will require you to write a paragraph and an essay.

TOPIK I exam is conducted in a single session of 100 minutes and has two sections - listening and writing and consists of multiple-choice questions.

Listening section of TOPIK I exam has 30 questions and is 40 minutes long and the reading paper of TOPIK I has 40 questions and is 60 minutes long. 

Both examination areas are worth a score of 100 with a combined score of 200.

TOPIK II is conducted in two sessions with a short break in between and has 3 papers - Listening, Reading and Writing.

The first sessions is the listening examination (60 minutes long with 50 questions) and writing (50 minutes long with 4 short-answer questions). The second slot is for the reading examination (70 minutes long with 50 questions).

All three examinations of TOPIK II are worth a score of 100 with a combining score of 300. 

Different levels have different passing requirements. The below table shows the current pass grade and evaluation criteria broken down by section.

When is the TOPIK test conducted in India?

In 2025, TOPIK Test will be conducted 4 times in India - twice in Pune and twice in Delhi, Manipur and Bengaluru. Refer to the detailed TOPIK Test 2025 Schedule for India below: 

TOPIK I test takes place in the morning and TOPIK II is held in the afternoon. You can take both tests on the same day if you want.

Fees of the Examination

TOPIK exam fees in India is ₹ 1200 for TOPIK 1 and ₹ 1,500 for TOPIK 2. 

How to apply for TOPIK exams in India ?

The TOPIK test is conducted by KCCI (Korean Cultural Centre, India).

There is no specific eligibility criteria to take TOPIK test In India (at least for the time being). Anyone learning Korean at some institution or through self-study can take this exam.

There is also no restriction on how many times you can take this exam.

You can check the schedule of TOPIK test for the year 2025 in India above on this page.

The exam dates of TOPIK are pre-decided and fixed but the registration dates are announced by KCCI and Korean embassy in India 2-3 months before every exam date.

So you should keep checking our Instagram and YouTube to be updated about the test.

The registrations are done online and you can find the details of registration process HERE.

Registration process of TOPIK in India is completely online but the exam is conducted in offline mode only.

Registration fee for TOPIK I test is Rs. 1200 and for TOPIK II it’s Rs. 1500.

TOPIK Centres in India

The TOPIK test is conducted at multiple locations in India like - Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Ranchi and Imphal but the centres change every year.

The will be 4 exam centres for the TOPIK Exam in India in 2025 Delhi, Bengaluru, Imphal (Manipur) and Pune. 

We have given the addresses and contact details of the orgranizations responsible for conducting the TOPIK test in India below.

You should contact them directly for any query regarding TOPIK test in India.

Note: Information available on TOPIK GUIDE website and Official TOPIK Site are applicable for the test in Korea. For all India specific TOPIK Information, you should check LKI website or contact the below organizations. 

One very important question still left unanswered is if you should apply for TOPIK or not? Or in other words, who should apply for the TOPIK test ?

Well the answer is simple , if you have plans to study or work in Korea, then TOPIK certificate is a must. While it’s true that not every Korean university demands a TOPIK certificate at the time of admission from the foreign students but having a TOPIK  score would benefit you for getting a Korean scholarship. Similar is the case in Korean workplaces. Having a proficiency certificate will only add more value to your resume and increase the chance of selection. 

Even if you’re just a casual learner of the Korean language, you can take this test to assess your level.

Follow our Korean Language Learning Playlist on YouTube.

Is self-study sufficient to pass the TOPIK Test?

Self-study is definitely required if you want to clear this test. But oftentimes, self-study can prove to be not so effective.

This is because self-study has its limitations such as:

• You don't have proper guidance to check if you are speaking or writing correctly in Korean.
• You don't have enough material suited to your level to do listening practice.
• You may get confused about the usage of words in particular sentences.
• You may not be able to do speaking practice 

If you are serious about studying Korean then we have a present for you.

Our online course is developed by people who are top level experts in Korean language. Along with guiding the students related to scholarships or future job prospects in Korea we provide this course you can kick-start your language learning journey in order to achieve your dreams.

Click on the link given below to know more about our beginner level course that starts from the Korean alphabet Hangul. 

Certificate Course in Korean - Level 1

FAQs

1.    What is the validity of TOPIK Certification?

TOPIK certificate is valid for 2 years from the time of test result announcement date. 

2.   Can I give the TOPIK exam outside India ?

Yes you can register and give your TOPIK exam anywhere in the world. Check for the required documents HERE.

3.   Is there any special eligibility criteria for the exam?

No. Anyone who is studying Korean Language (at an institution or by self-study) can appear in the exam. There is no age limit. 

4.   Is there any Sample Paper to understand and practice the New TOPIK Format? 

Yes, you can download the Previous and Sample Test Paper with answer keys HERE.

You can also practice by taking an online Mock Test from TOPIK GUIE site and check your scores HERE. 

For more information and tips for TOPIK exams,  check out ~ www.topikguide.com

Author : Smriti Ekka & Sanjana Singh