Korean Exam Guide · 2026
TOPIK vs EPS-TOPIK: Which Korean Exam Should You Take?
These are two separate exams, not two levels of one exam. Confusing them costs you time and money — and may even cost you a visa filing. This guide explains every difference so you sit the right exam.
Every year, thousands of Indian candidates Google “Korean exam India” and land on a mix of TOPIK and EPS-TOPIK articles. The two exams are issued by different Korean government bodies, are sat by different audiences, and unlock different Korean visa categories. Reading this guide will save you a sitting in the wrong exam.
Regular TOPIK
Test of Proficiency in Korean · by NIIED
- 6-level academic / general proficiency exam
- Accepted for GKS, Korean universities, E-7-1, F-2-7
- Registration via KCC India; offered 2-3 times/year
- Accepted globally as the Korean equivalent of IELTS/JLPT
- Not valid for E-9 (EPS industrial worker) visa
Best for: students, professionals, GKS applicants, K-content fans
EPS-TOPIK
Employment Permit System TOPIK · by HRD Korea
- Mandatory for E-9 industrial worker visa under EPS
- Workplace-vocabulary focus (factory, agriculture, safety)
- Coordinated through EPS Sending Public Body in India
- Nominal application fees — Korean-government coordinated
- Not accepted for universities, GKS, E-7, or F-2-7 visas
Best for: Indian workers entering Korean factories under the EPS programme
Full feature comparison
| Feature | Regular TOPIK | EPS-TOPIK |
|---|---|---|
| Who issues it | NIIED (National Institute for International Education) | HRD Korea + ROK Ministry of Employment & Labor under EPS |
| Levels | TOPIK I (Levels 1-2), TOPIK II (Levels 3-6) | Single pass/fail with cut-off score |
| Audience | Students, professionals, immigrants, K-content fans | Non-professional industrial workers (factory, agriculture, fisheries) |
| Visa unlocked | E-7-1, D-10, F-2-7, GKS scholarship, university admission | E-9 (non-professional employment) only |
| Format | Paper-based; Listening + Reading (TOPIK I); + Writing (TOPIK II) | Paper-based + optional speaking; vocabulary skewed to workplace safety |
| India availability | KCC India (Delhi) main; occasional Mumbai/Bangalore/Chennai | Through EPS Sending Public Body coordinated with Korea HRD |
| Typical fee in India | ~₹4,000–₹5,500 per sitting | Government-coordinated; nominal application fee |
| Certificate validity | 2 years from result date | 2 years from result date |
| Accepted for citizenship / PR points | Yes — F-2-7 points, F-5 PR pathway | Specific to E-9 to E-7-3 conversion pathway |
Which exam for which purpose?
Engineer / IT professional moving to Korea
Take: Regular TOPIKE-7-1 skilled worker and F-2-7 routes accept TOPIK Level 3+. EPS-TOPIK is not a valid pathway for professional roles.
Student applying for GKS or Korean university
Take: Regular TOPIKAll Korean universities and the GKS scholarship accept only the regular TOPIK Levels 1-6. EPS-TOPIK is not accepted.
Factory / industrial worker moving to Korea
Take: EPS-TOPIKEPS is the legal Korean pathway for non-professional industrial roles (E-9 visa). EPS-TOPIK is mandatory; regular TOPIK does not substitute.
K-content fan / general learner
Take: Regular TOPIKTOPIK I Level 1-2 is the obvious milestone for hobby learners. EPS-TOPIK is not applicable.
Our mock tests are for regular TOPIK
LanguageTest.in offers full-length mock tests for the regular TOPIK (Levels 1-6) issued by NIIED. We do not currently offer EPS-TOPIK practice — EPS-TOPIK preparation typically happens through the Korean-government-coordinated training centres in your sending state under the EPS programme.
If your goal is GKS, a Korean university, an E-7 skilled worker visa, F-2-7 long-term residence, or K-content fluency, our mock tests are exactly what you need. If you are entering Korea on the E-9 EPS pathway, contact your state's authorised EPS Sending Public Body for the official EPS-TOPIK route.
Frequently asked — TOPIK vs EPS-TOPIK
Is TOPIK the same as EPS-TOPIK?
No. They are two completely different exams. Regular TOPIK is a 6-level academic/general Korean proficiency test administered by NIIED. EPS-TOPIK is a separate Korean test administered through the Employment Permit System (EPS) for non-professional industrial workers heading to Korean factories under the E-9 visa. Different bodies, different audiences, different visas.
Which Korean exam do I need for a factory job in Korea?
EPS-TOPIK is the only Korean exam recognised for the E-9 (non-professional employment) visa under the EPS programme. India is currently a sending country under EPS — passing EPS-TOPIK is mandatory eligibility. Contact your state's authorised EPS Sending Public Body for the official application process.
Can EPS-TOPIK be used for Korean university admission?
No. EPS-TOPIK is solely for the EPS industrial-worker pathway. Korean universities and the GKS (Global Korea Scholarship) accept only the regular TOPIK (Levels 1-6) issued by NIIED. If you ever transition from an E-9 EPS visa to a student visa, you would need to sit the regular TOPIK separately.
Is EPS-TOPIK easier than regular TOPIK?
They are different exams with different vocabulary scopes. EPS-TOPIK skews heavily to workplace, factory, safety, and accommodation vocabulary that is irrelevant to academic TOPIK. Regular TOPIK at Level 2 has broader literary and topical vocabulary. Difficulty is not directly comparable — they test different things.
I want to use Korean for IT work — TOPIK or EPS-TOPIK?
Regular TOPIK. IT and skilled-professional roles in Korea fall under the E-7-1 visa (or F-2-7 points-based residence), both of which accept regular TOPIK. EPS-TOPIK is exclusively the E-9 industrial-worker pathway and is not relevant for IT, engineering, or any professional role.
Confirm your route, then practise the right exam
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