KIIP Mid-term Evaluation (중간평가): Stage 4 to Stage 5 Explained

The Mid-term Evaluation (중간평가) is taken after you finish Stage 4 of Korea's Social Integration Program (KIIP). A pass of 60 or above out of 100 opens Stage 5 (5단계) and puts you on the direct path to the Comprehensive Evaluation (종합평가) that unlocks F-5 permanent residency.

If you are new to KIIP, read the overview first: Korea's Social Integration Program (KIIP): The 2026 Guide to F-5 PR and Naturalization.

What is the Mid-term Evaluation?

The Mid-term Evaluation is the test between Stage 4 and Stage 5 of KIIP. It confirms that you have reached the Korean language level required to benefit from Stage 5, the Korean Society Understanding (한국사회 이해) stage.

You cannot simply enroll in Stage 5 after finishing Stage 4. You must pass the Mid-term Evaluation first.

The pass mark is 60 out of 100, with decimals truncated rather than rounded. A score of 59.9 is a fail. A score of 60 or above means you advance. A score below 60 means you retake the evaluation, either directly or after repeating Stage 4 coursework.

You must sit the Mid-term Evaluation within 2 years of completing Stage 4. If more than 2 years pass between your Stage 4 completion and your Mid-term Evaluation attempt, you lose eligibility and would need to re-enter Stage 4. Plan your test date within the 2-year window.

One bypass exists. If you scored 85 or above on the Pre-Evaluation (사전평가) within the past two years, you may sit the Comprehensive Evaluation directly without completing Stage 4, Stage 5, or the Mid-term Evaluation. One thing to know about this path: passing the Comprehensive Evaluation this way meets the permanent residency (영주) basic-competency requirement, but you are not credited with completing the KIIP program (사회통합프로그램 이수). That distinction matters if you later want benefits that require program completion, such as certain points-based F-2-7 or F-5 pathways. This path is covered in the KIIP Pre-Evaluation guide.

Test format

The Mid-term Evaluation has three formal sections: Multiple-choice (객관식), Writing (작문), and Oral (구술).

Total test time is 60 minutes plus 3 to 4 hours of waiting time. The pass mark is 60 out of 100, with decimals truncated (59.9 is a fail).

The Mid-term Evaluation is available in two formats as of 2026: paper-based (PBT) and computer-based (CBT). PBT runs multiple times a year at designated centers nationwide; you mark multiple-choice answers on an OMR sheet and write the composition by hand. CBT runs at the Seoul (Jongno-gu), Gwangmyeong (Gyeonggi-do), and Daejeon (Jung-gu) CBT centers; you answer on screen and type the writing section using a Korean keyboard. The Korea Immigration Foundation now runs CBT for the Pre-Evaluation (사전평가), Mid-term Evaluation (중간평가), and Comprehensive Evaluation (종합평가). CBT returns results faster and is available year-round at the three centers, but seats fill quickly, so it suits applicants who can travel to one of them. Readers in non-metropolitan provinces will usually take PBT. Confirm current schedules and formats at kiiptest.org before registering.

The evaluation fee is ₩38,000 per attempt (VAT included). This fee was set by the Ministry of Justice KIIP evaluation regulation (사회통합프로그램 기본소양 평가관리 규정) that took effect February 26, 2024. It is separate from the Stage 1 to Stage 5 tuition fees, which became paid on January 1, 2025 (Stage 4 tuition is ₩100,000). The evaluation fee is the same each time you sit the test: ₩38,000. Verify current fees at kiiptest.org.

If you register and do not appear, the absence counts as an automatic failure. Check the kiiptest.org cancellation and refund policy if you cannot make your scheduled session.

Results are typically published within about a week after the test date in your kiiptest.org account. The exact timing varies by session and format, with CBT results usually released faster than PBT. Check kiiptest.org for your session's result release schedule.

What is tested

The Mid-term Evaluation draws directly from the Stage 4 textbook: Korean Language and Culture, Intermediate 2 (한국어와 한국문화 중급 2). The test has three formal sections only: Multiple-choice, Writing, and Oral. Korean society topics appear inside the Multiple-choice items as context, not as a separate scored section.

Multiple-choice topics. Workplace and public-institution situations dominate. Expect items covering job interviews, workplace instructions, visits to government offices, interactions with public services, healthcare basics, and daily administrative tasks. Vocabulary and grammar come directly from the Stage 4 scope. Deeper Korean history, politics, and constitutional content is in the Comprehensive Evaluation scope, not the Mid-term Evaluation.

Writing. You produce two short written responses, up to 100 characters each. Prompts are drawn from Stage 4 situations: describing an experience at a public institution, explaining a workplace situation, or responding to a short scenario. Clear structure and accurate grammar count more than length.

Oral. Two examiners ask you 5 questions. Topics are conversational Korean at Stage 4 level, covering daily and workplace situations. Communication ability matters more than perfect pronunciation. This section weighs the most after Multiple-choice: 25 points out of 100.

The emphasis throughout is on practical, functional Korean in workplace and public-institution contexts. The Stage 4 curriculum is the preparation.

How to prepare

Master the Stage 4 textbook. The Mid-term Evaluation is built around the Stage 4 curriculum. Work through every unit of the Korean Language and Culture, Intermediate 2 textbook. Do not skip the vocabulary lists, dialogue sections, or the reading passages at the end of each unit. These are the source material for the test.

Practice 100-character writing. The writing section gives you two integrated prompts that you answer in a short paragraph of up to 100 characters. Get comfortable with that length. Practice by writing short responses to prompts from the Stage 4 textbook: describe a visit to a government office, explain how to open a bank account, or summarize a workplace situation. Read your writing back and check the grammar against the textbook examples.

Work through official sample questions. The Korea Immigration Foundation publishes sample questions (견본 문제) for the Mid-term Evaluation on kiiptest.org. These are the most accurate preparation material available. Work through the sample questions before your test date. They show you the question format, the level of vocabulary expected, and the type of writing prompts used.

Ask your partner institution about mock evaluations. Many KIIP partner institutions run practice sessions or mock evaluations before the Mid-term Evaluation. Not all do, but it is worth asking when you register for Stage 4. A mock evaluation gives you timed practice and helps you identify which sections need more work.

Focus extra time on listening and writing. Reading comprehension tends to improve naturally through class attendance. Listening and writing require deliberate practice outside class time. Use the audio files from the Stage 4 textbook for listening practice, and write short paragraphs weekly to build writing speed and accuracy.

If you do not pass

A score below 60 gives you two options.

The first is to retake the Mid-term Evaluation directly. Register again at kiiptest.org and pay the ₩38,000 fee. You do not have to repeat Stage 4 to do this. To advance, you still need to score 60 or above.

The second is to retake Stage 4 coursework first. Return to a KIIP partner institution and register for Stage 4 again. Stage 4 is 100 hours of class time. At a two-session-per-week schedule, this is roughly three to four months. The tuition for a Stage 4 retake is ₩100,000 (as of 2026, verify at socinet.go.kr or with your partner institution). After completing the retake, register for the Mid-term Evaluation again at kiiptest.org and pay the ₩38,000 fee. The pass bar for this coursework-retake path can differ from the 60-point direct-retake bar, so confirm the current rule at kiiptest.org before you re-sit.

Use the gap between your result and the retake to identify what went wrong. If your score was close to 60, focus your retake preparation on the sections where you lost the most points. If your score was well below 60, the Stage 4 curriculum may need more time regardless of section. Ask your teacher at your partner institution for an honest assessment after you see your score.

There is no published cap on the number of times you can retake the Mid-term Evaluation. Check kiiptest.org for the current retake scheduling windows and any eligibility conditions that may apply to your situation.

FAQ

What is the KIIP Mid-term Evaluation?

The Mid-term Evaluation (중간평가) is the test you sit after completing Stage 4 of KIIP. A passing score of 60 or above out of 100 advances you to Stage 5, the Korean Society Understanding stage. It is a competency gate, not a placement test.

Who has to take the Mid-term Evaluation?

Anyone progressing through KIIP from Stage 4 to Stage 5 must pass the Mid-term Evaluation. The one exception is the Pre-Evaluation 85+ bypass path: if you scored 85 or above on the Pre-Evaluation within the past two years, you can sit the Comprehensive Evaluation directly without going through Stage 4, Stage 5, or the Mid-term Evaluation. Note that this path meets the permanent residency basic-competency requirement but does not count as completing the KIIP program.

Can I skip the Mid-term Evaluation by using a TOPIK score?

TOPIK Level 3 or above places you into Stage 4 of KIIP, skipping Stages 0 through 3. However, once you are at Stage 4 you still need to complete Stage 4 coursework and pass the Mid-term Evaluation to advance to Stage 5. TOPIK does not exempt you from the Mid-term Evaluation itself. Confirm the current TOPIK-to-KIIP placement mapping at socinet.go.kr.

What score do I need to pass?

You need 60 out of 100. This is the same pass mark for all KIIP evaluations. If you score below 60, you can retake the Mid-term Evaluation directly, or retake Stage 4 coursework and then sit the evaluation again.

What happens if I fail the Mid-term Evaluation?

You have two options. You can retake the Mid-term Evaluation directly, paying the ₩38,000 fee again. Or you can retake Stage 4 (4단계) classes at a KIIP partner institution, then sit the evaluation again; the pass bar for the coursework-retake path can differ from the 60-point direct-retake bar, so confirm the current rule at kiiptest.org. There is no published limit on the number of retakes. Check kiiptest.org for the current retake policy and scheduling windows.

How long does Stage 4 take if I need to retake it?

Stage 4 is 100 hours of class time. At a typical two-session-per-week schedule, that is roughly three to four months. The actual calendar time depends on your partner institution's schedule. Use the institution search on socinet.go.kr to find a class schedule that fits your situation.

Is the Mid-term Evaluation offered as CBT as well as PBT?

Yes. As of 2026 the Mid-term Evaluation is available in two formats. PBT (paper-based) runs at designated centers nationwide, where you mark answers on an OMR sheet and write the composition by hand. CBT (computer-based) runs at the Seoul, Gwangmyeong, and Daejeon CBT centers, where you answer on screen and type the writing section using a Korean keyboard. CBT covers the Pre-Evaluation, Mid-term Evaluation, and Comprehensive Evaluation. CBT seats fill quickly, so confirm current schedules at kiiptest.org before registering.

How do I register for the Mid-term Evaluation?

Register at kiiptest.org. You will need an account on both socinet.go.kr (for your class record) and kiiptest.org (for evaluation registration). The evaluation cannot be booked until your Stage 4 completion is recorded in the Socinet system.

@misc{seoulstart-kiip-junggan-pyeongga-guide,
  author = {{Seoulstart Editorial Team}},
  title = {{KIIP Mid-term Evaluation (중간평가): Stage 4 to Stage 5 Explained}},
  year = {2026},
  publisher = {Seoulstart},
  url = {https://seoulstart.com/guides/kiip-junggan-pyeongga-guide},
  note = {Last updated June 4, 2026}
}