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 the door to 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 that sits 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 return to Stage 4 for further study before retaking.

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. 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 offered only as a paper-based test (PBT). You mark multiple-choice answers on an OMR sheet and complete the writing section by hand. CBT is not currently offered for the Mid-term Evaluation (CBT is available only for the Naturalization Track Comprehensive Evaluation). Confirm format details at kiiptest.org before registering.

The fee is 38,000 KRW per attempt (VAT included), as of 2026. The fee has applied since January 1, 2025. Before that date, KIIP evaluations were free. The retake fee is the same: 38,000 KRW.

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 published 6 days after the test date, on the Friday following your test, at 4 PM. Check your result in your account on kiiptest.org.

What is tested

The Mid-term Evaluation draws directly from the Stage 4 textbook: Korean Language and Culture, Intermediate 2 (한국어와 한국문화 중급 2). As shown in the section table above, 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 200-character writing. The writing section asks you to produce a structured paragraph. Get comfortable with the 200-character 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 means you need to retake Stage 4 before sitting the Mid-term Evaluation again.

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 KRW (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. The evaluation fee is 38,000 KRW each time you sit it.

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 Stage 4 and 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.

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. Scores below 60 require you to retake Stage 4 coursework before sitting the evaluation again.

What happens if I fail the Mid-term Evaluation?

A score below 60 means you retake Stage 4 (4단계) classes at a KIIP partner institution. After completing the retake, you sit the Mid-term Evaluation again and pay the 38,000 KRW fee again. 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?

No. The Mid-term Evaluation is paper-based only. You mark answers on an OMR sheet and complete the writing section by hand. CBT is currently offered only for the Naturalization Track Comprehensive Evaluation. Confirm format details 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 May 24, 2026}
}