550,000 people sat the Test of Proficiency in Korean between January and September 2025, the highest count since the exam launched in 1997, according to Korea’s Ministry of Education. This guide sets out the 2026 cutoff scores for all six TOPIK levels, the separate speaking scale, registration fees, and the session counts behind that growth.
TOPIK Exam Guide With Level and Score
How Many People Take the TOPIK Exam?
Test-taker counts have climbed every year since 2022. The Ministry of Education recorded 360,000 in 2022, 420,000 in 2023 and 490,000 in 2024.
The 2024 total rose 16.7% on the year, per the Korea JoongAng Daily. From January to September 2025, 550,000 people sat the test.
| Period | TOPIK test-takers | Published change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 (full year) | 360,000 | — |
| 2023 (full year) | 420,000 | — |
| 2024 (full year) | 490,000 | +16.7% |
| 2025 (January–September) | 550,000 | — |
Source: Ministry of Education and the National Institute for International Education, reported by Korea.net and the Korea JoongAng Daily, 2022 to September 2025. The 2025 row covers nine months, not a full year.
Overseas participation drove much of the increase. Data released by Rep. Kim Seung-su of the National Assembly’s Education Committee puts overseas test-takers at 64,000 in 2020 and 282,000 in 2025, a more than fourfold rise.
More than 90% of test-takers come from Asia, per the Korea Times. Applicant numbers in Vietnam and China have more than tripled over the past three years. Korean also ranks inside the top ten most studied foreign languages by learner count.
TOPIK Level and Score Cutoffs for 2026
Your grade comes from one combined total, not from section minimums. The Ministry of Education’s 2026 notice states that the passing level is decided by the sum of all section scores.
TOPIK I pairs a 100-point listening section with a 100-point reading section, for a 200-point maximum. TOPIK II adds a 100-point writing section, taking its ceiling to 300.
| Test (maximum) | Level | Total score band |
|---|---|---|
| TOPIK I (200) | Level 1 | 80–139 |
| TOPIK I (200) | Level 2 | 140–200 |
| TOPIK II (300) | Level 3 | 120–149 |
| TOPIK II (300) | Level 4 | 150–189 |
| TOPIK II (300) | Level 5 | 190–229 |
| TOPIK II (300) | Level 6 | 230–300 |
Source: Ministry of Education Notice 2025-317, 2026 TOPIK implementation plan. Bands apply to the paper-based test; the internet-based test uses a separate score scale.
The four TOPIK II grades are unevenly spaced. Level 3 runs from 120 to 149 and Level 5 from 190 to 229, while Level 6 stretches from 230 all the way to 300, the widest span on the table.
Why a 119 on TOPIK II Earns No Level
Both tests set their floor at 40% of the maximum: 80 of 200 on TOPIK I, 120 of 300 on TOPIK II. Score 119 on TOPIK II and no certificate is issued, even though the same effort applied to TOPIK I would clear Level 1 twice over.
Scores stay valid for two years from the announcement date, per topik.go.kr. Beginners aiming at that first cutoff can drill vocabulary with these printable Korean worksheets or build reading stamina through Korean stories.
TOPIK Speaking Test Score Bands
Speaking is a separate exam with its own 0 to 200 scale. It runs six tasks in 30 minutes, entirely computer-based, with no mid-test break.
| Speaking grade | Score band (out of 200) |
|---|---|
| Grade 1 | 20–49 |
| Grade 2 | 50–89 |
| Grade 3 | 90–109 |
| Grade 4 | 110–129 |
| Grade 5 | 130–159 |
| Grade 6 | 160–200 |
Source: Ministry of Education Notice 2025-317, 2026 TOPIK implementation plan.
The middle of the speaking scale is judged tightly. Grades 3 and 4 each cover 20 points, while Grade 2 spans 50 to 89 and Grade 6 spans 160 to 200.
What Does the TOPIK Exam Cost in 2026?
Format drives price more than level does. The internet-based test costs 30,000 won more than paper at TOPIK I and 40,000 won more at TOPIK II.
| Test and format | Fee in Korea (KRW) |
|---|---|
| TOPIK I, paper-based | 40,000 |
| TOPIK II, paper-based | 55,000 |
| TOPIK I, internet-based | 70,000 |
| Speaking | 80,000 |
| TOPIK II, internet-based | 95,000 |
Source: Ministry of Education Notice 2025-317, 2026 TOPIK implementation plan. These are domestic fees; the notice states overseas fees differ by country. Candidates budgeting across exams can compare language proficiency certifications or check the DELF level structure for a European equivalent.
TOPIK Exam Sessions and IBT Expansion in 2026
TOPIK runs 15 times in 2026. Paper and internet formats each get six sittings; speaking gets three, held in March, June and October, and only inside Korea.
Internet-based testing has caught paper on frequency. It ran three times across six countries in 2024, then doubled to six sittings in 13 countries for 2025.
Availability widens to 17 countries in 2026 with the addition of Nepal, Laos, Bahrain and India, per Korea.net.
Source: Ministry of Education annual TOPIK implementation plans, reported by Korea.net, 2024 to 2026.
TOPIK Exam Reach: Korean Programs by Country
Schools abroad offering Korean-language programs grew from 2,526 in 2024 to 2,777 in 2025, per Ministry of Education figures.
| Country | Schools offering Korean, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Japan | 576 |
| Brazil | 309 |
| United States | 240 |
Source: Ministry of Education, reported by the Korea JoongAng Daily, 2025. Figures cover the three highest-ranked countries, not the full total.
Korean is taught as a second foreign language at high-school level in 24 countries. Eleven include it in university entrance examinations, and two of those eleven, Hong Kong and Vietnam, accept a TOPIK score in place of their own Korean exam.
Teaching capacity lags demand in Asia. The King Sejong Institute network runs 252 branches worldwide, 141 of them in Asia, with roughly 8,800 students on class waiting lists. Learners weighing the study commitment can review FSI difficulty rankings and typical timelines to B2.
TOPIK Exam Security After the 2026 Cheating Cases
Rising volume has brought organised fraud. Seoul police announced in July 2026 that they had broken up a ring selling exam assistance, largely run by Chinese nationals advertising on Chinese social media.
| Service sold by the ring | Price (KRW) |
|---|---|
| Cheating with hidden transmitters and receivers | 2,000,000 |
| Proxy test-taking | 8,000,000 |
| Paid to each proxy test-taker, per exam | 800,000 |
Source: Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, reported by the Korea JoongAng Daily, July 2026.
NIIED introduced radio frequency detectors in 2026 to identify Bluetooth earpieces and smart glasses. The Ministry has said it plans to revoke degrees and reclaim scholarships obtained with fraudulent scores, and Soongsil University professor Lim Che-hoon has called for a dedicated agency to run the exam.
Candidates comparing formats and score reporting can line up practice with free language tools or review TOEFL percentile data for context on how other admissions tests report results.
FAQ
What score do you need to pass the TOPIK exam?
Level 1 needs 80 of 200 on TOPIK I. Level 3 needs 120 of 300 on TOPIK II. Below those marks no certificate is issued. Level 6, the highest, starts at 230 out of 300.
How many people take the TOPIK exam each year?
550,000 people sat TOPIK from January to September 2025, the highest count since 1997. Full-year totals were 360,000 in 2022, 420,000 in 2023 and 490,000 in 2024, per the Ministry of Education.
Why do Reddit threads say TOPIK II is harder to pass than TOPIK I?
Reddit learners point to the writing section. TOPIK II adds 100 writing points and sets its floor at 120 of 300, so a 119 earns no grade at all, while the same score on TOPIK I would clear Level 2.
Is the TOPIK speaking test scored on the same scale?
No. Speaking uses a separate 0 to 200 scale with its own six grades, from 20 for Grade 1 to 160 for Grade 6. It runs six tasks in 30 minutes and costs 80,000 won in Korea.
Do Reddit users need to travel to Korea for the TOPIK speaking test?
Yes, and Reddit posts flag this often. The speaking test runs three times in 2026, in March, June and October, and only inside Korea. The 12 written sittings, six paper and six online, run worldwide.
Sources
- https://www.korea.net/NewsFocus/Society/view?articleId=279830
- https://www.topik.go.kr/TWGUID/TWGUID0010.do
- https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/society/20251010/no-of-people-taking-korean-language-proficiency-test-hits-record-high-as-interest-surges
- https://www.koreajoongangdaily.com/korea/topik-cheating-scandals-fuel-push-for-independent-testing-authority-as-more-people-take-exam/12786924
