TOPIK Levels 1 to 6 explained
TOPIK awards a Level (등급) based on your raw marks. Higher levels unlock scholarships, visas, university admissions, and professional roles in Korea. This guide explains every level — what you can do at it, who needs it, how long it takes to reach, and which Korean opportunity it unlocks.
Quick reference — all 6 levels
| Exam | Level | Score band | CEFR |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOPIK I | Level 1 | 80 – 139 / 200 | A1 |
| TOPIK I | Level 2 | 140 – 200 / 200 | A2 |
| TOPIK II | Level 3 | 120 – 149 / 300 | B1 |
| TOPIK II | Level 4 | 150 – 189 / 300 | B2 |
| TOPIK II | Level 5 | 190 – 229 / 300 | C1 |
| TOPIK II | Level 6 | 230 – 300 / 300 | C2 |
TOPIK I · CEFR A1 · 80 – 139 / 200
Level 1 — First words, survival Korean
What you can do
- Introduce yourself — name, age, nationality, hobby
- Ask and answer very basic questions (where, when, who)
- Read Hangul (한글) without help
- Order food in Korean, count prices, tell time
- Recognise lyrics in K-pop choruses
What you can't yet
- ·Hold a multi-turn conversation
- ·Read a Korean news headline
- ·Understand K-drama without subtitles
Who needs this level
Typical timeline
3-4 months of regular study from Hangul
Visa / scholarship note
Not sufficient for any Korean visa or scholarship on its own. Useful as a stepping stone to Level 2.
TOPIK I · CEFR A2 · 140 – 200 / 200
Level 2 — Everyday basics, EPS foundation
What you can do
- Talk about your past, daily routines, and family
- Handle simple shopping, travel, and restaurant situations
- Write short messages and fill in forms
- Read short Korean signs, menus, and basic ads
- Follow simple K-drama dialogue with subtitles
What you can't yet
- ·Handle abstract or work topics
- ·Write a structured essay
- ·Understand fast or formal speech
Who needs this level
Typical timeline
6-9 months from zero (or 2-3 months from Level 1)
Visa / scholarship note
Useful baseline for F-2-7 points; foundation level for EPS-TOPIK preparation.
TOPIK II · CEFR B1 · 120 – 149 / 300
Level 3 — Independent user, GKS floor
What you can do
- Hold conversations on familiar topics with reasonable fluency
- Read Korean newspapers and online articles with effort
- Write a structured 200-300자 paragraph (TOPIK II Q53 territory)
- Follow most K-dramas without subtitles
- Survive an everyday workplace conversation
What you can't yet
- ·Argue subtle positions in writing
- ·Follow rapid-fire variety shows
- ·Read literary or academic Korean comfortably
Who needs this level
Typical timeline
12-18 months from zero (or 6-12 months from Level 2)
Visa / scholarship note
Floor for GKS scholarship eligibility. Adds substantial F-2-7 points. Minimum for many Korean university admissions.
TOPIK II · CEFR B2 · 150 – 189 / 300
Level 4 — Comfortable professional
What you can do
- Discuss abstract topics, give opinions with nuance
- Write a complete TOPIK II Q54 essay (600-700자) coherently
- Read Korean editorials and opinion pieces
- Follow most workplace meetings in Korean
- Watch K-drama and most variety shows without subtitles
What you can't yet
- ·Write at native-academic register
- ·Follow rapid colloquial slang fluently
- ·Read classical or technical literature easily
Who needs this level
Typical timeline
18-24 months from zero (or 6-9 months from Level 3)
Visa / scholarship note
Typical admission floor for top Korean universities. Strong score for F-2-7. Expected level for non-junior Korean tech roles.
TOPIK II · CEFR C1 · 190 – 229 / 300
Level 5 — Advanced — professional & academic
What you can do
- Argue complex positions in writing with nuance and structure
- Read academic texts, policy documents, business reports
- Lead a meeting or give a structured presentation in Korean
- Follow Korean news, talk shows, and academic lectures
- Write 600+자 essays at near-Korean-academic register
What you can't yet
- ·Match native-speaker subtlety in literary writing
- ·Catch every play on Korean wordplay or pun
Who needs this level
Typical timeline
2-3 years of structured study (or 9-12 months from Level 4)
Visa / scholarship note
GKS stipend uplift threshold. Manager-track Korean professional roles. Comfortable F-2-7 / E-7 score.
TOPIK II · CEFR C2 · 230 – 300 / 300
Level 6 — Mastery — near-native
What you can do
- Read Korean literature, classical poetry, legal texts
- Write at publishable academic Korean register
- Operate at native-equivalent level in any professional setting
- Catch nuance, sarcasm, and cultural references in any genre
- Translate, interpret, and edit professional Korean
What you can't yet
- ·Pass for native (this is not what TOPIK 6 means)
- ·Replace a Korean editor on Korean literary work
Who needs this level
Typical timeline
3-5 years of intensive structured study
Visa / scholarship note
F-5 permanent residence pathway points ceiling. Strongest possible TOPIK profile for any application.
Which TOPIK level is right for you?
Just enjoying K-pop / K-drama as a hobby: Aim for TOPIK I Level 2 — first 'real' certificate, builds discipline.
GKS scholarship application: Aim for TOPIK II Level 3 minimum; Level 4-5 for competitiveness + stipend uplift.
Korean university self-pay admission: Aim for TOPIK II Level 4. Some programmes accept Level 3 + 1-year language prep on arrival.
E-7-1 skilled worker visa or Korea tech role: Aim for TOPIK II Level 3 minimum; Level 4 for promotion-track positions.
F-2-7 long-term residence in Korea: Aim for TOPIK II Level 4-5 — substantially eases the points threshold.
EPS-TOPIK industrial-worker pathway: Sit EPS-TOPIK (separate exam) — see our TOPIK vs EPS-TOPIK guide.
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