TOPIK I vs TOPIK II
TOPIK I is for beginners and awards Levels 1–2. TOPIK II is for intermediate to advanced learners and awards Levels 3–6. They are separate tests: you register for one or the other, not both at the same time. If you need Level 3 or higher for university, work, or immigration, you need TOPIK II.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| TOPIK I | TOPIK II | |
|---|---|---|
| Levels | 1, 2 | 3, 4, 5, 6 |
| Target | Beginner | Intermediate–Advanced |
| Sections | Listening + Reading | Listening + Writing + Reading |
| Questions | 70 (30 + 40) | 104 (50 + 4 + 50) |
| Duration | 100 min (1 session) | 180 min (2 sessions) |
| Total Points | 200 | 300 |
| Format | All multiple-choice | MC + essay writing |
| Fee (PBT, Korea) | 40,000 KRW | 55,000 KRW |
| Passing (lowest) | 80/200 (Level 1) | 120/300 (Level 3) |
| Passing (highest) | 140/200 (Level 2) | 230/300 (Level 6) |
Which One Do You Need?
Take TOPIK I if you have studied Korean for roughly 1–2 years and want a beginner certification. Level 1 requires 80/200, Level 2 requires 140/200. TOPIK I has no writing section and is entirely multiple-choice.
Take TOPIK II if you need a certification for any practical purpose. University admission (Level 3–4), graduate school (Level 4), work visas (Level 4), and immigration points (Level 5+) all require TOPIK II levels. There is no way to earn Level 3 or above through TOPIK I.
Can You Skip TOPIK I?
Key Differences in Difficulty
The biggest difference is the writing section in TOPIK II. It includes two fill-in-the-blank tasks and two essays (a 200–300 character descriptive essay and a 600–700 character argumentative essay). Writing is worth 100 of the 300 total points and is graded subjectively. For test-takers coming from TOPIK I, the writing section is the main new challenge.
The listening and reading sections in TOPIK II are also substantially harder than TOPIK I. TOPIK II reading passages are longer, more abstract, and include question types like sentence insertion and argument analysis that do not appear in TOPIK I.
Test Schedule
TOPIK I and TOPIK II are often administered on the same weekend but on different days. Both are offered 6 times per year (PBT), plus 6 IBT dates. See the full 2026 schedule for all dates.
Practice for TOPIK II
Solvi provides free TOPIK II practice with 1,000+ questions from 11 official past exams, covering listening and reading. Practice TOPIK II.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you skip TOPIK I and go straight to TOPIK II?
Yes. There is no prerequisite. You can register for TOPIK II without having taken TOPIK I. If you score below 120, you simply don't receive a level. Many test-takers skip TOPIK I entirely.
Which TOPIK test should I take?
Take TOPIK II if you need Level 3 or higher for university, work, or immigration. TOPIK I only awards Levels 1-2 and cannot award Level 3+.
Does TOPIK II have a writing section?
Yes. TOPIK II includes two fill-in-the-blank tasks and two essays (200-300 and 600-700 characters). Writing is 100 of 300 total points. TOPIK I is all multiple-choice.
Related: Scoring & Levels · IBT vs PBT · How to Practice · 2026 Schedule
Last updated: March 20, 2026