KIIP Pre-Evaluation (사전평가): Score-to-Level Placement Guide

The Pre-Evaluation (사전평가) determines which KIIP stage you enter before classes start. Score too low and you spend months repeating Korean you already know. Score too high on placement and classes may outrun your level. This test sets the starting point correctly. It covers the test format, the score-to-stage placement bands, what is tested, how to prepare, and how your TOPIK score connects.

If you have not read the KIIP overview, start there first: KIIP: The 2026 Guide to Korea's Social Integration Program.

What is the Pre-Evaluation?

The Pre-Evaluation is a placement test, not a pass-fail exam. You do not pass or fail it. You sit it, receive a score out of 100 made up of a written (필기) score and an oral (구술) score, and the combined result determines which KIIP stage you are assigned to. The oral score also independently sets the lowest band: if your oral score is under 3, you are placed at Stage 0 regardless of your written score.

Every new KIIP registrant must take the Pre-Evaluation unless they qualify for a TOPIK-linkage placement. Any valid TOPIK level exempts you: TOPIK Level 1 places you at Stage 2, Level 2 at Stage 3, Level 3 at Stage 4, and Level 4, 5, or 6 at Stage 5. See the TOPIK section below for the full placement mapping.

You register for the Pre-Evaluation at kiiptest.org, operated by the Korea Immigration Foundation. Your class registration through socinet.go.kr (사회통합정보망) comes after your stage is confirmed.

Test format

The Pre-Evaluation runs in two formats.

PBT (Paper-Based Test): You write on paper and mark answers on an OMR (optical mark recognition) answer sheet.

CBT (Computer-Based Test): You complete the test on screen.

Both formats cost the same: 38,000 KRW per attempt (as of 2026, verify at kiiptest.org).

The test has two parts and runs 70 minutes for 55 questions total (a 60-minute written section plus a 10-minute oral section). The written section (필기, 50 questions) is multiple-choice (객관식, 48 items) plus short-answer (단답형 주관식, 2 items) covering vocabulary, grammar, reading comprehension, and basic Korean society knowledge. The oral section (구술, 5 questions) is administered separately, face-to-face, by two examiners to groups of up to five candidates, and covers reading aloud, comprehension, conversation, and listening-and-speaking. So you should prepare for spoken Korean too, not just written grammar. Full details on the item count and time allocation are published on kiiptest.org before each test session.

Score-to-level placement

Your Pre-Evaluation score determines which stage you enter. The placement bands below are based on the official guidance published by the Korea Immigration Foundation. Verify the current bands at kiiptest.org before your test, as placement criteria can be updated.

Skipping Stage 5 Basic, the 85+ path: If you score 85 or above on the Pre-Evaluation, you may sit the Permanent Residency Comprehensive Evaluation (영주용 종합평가) directly without taking the 70-hour Stage 5 Basic coursework. This eligibility is valid for 2 years from your score announcement date. A pass on this path satisfies the F-5 permanent residency basic competency requirement, but it does not count as KIIP completion. If your goal is naturalization, you still need to complete the full Stage 5 track (Basic + Advanced) and sit the Naturalization Track Comprehensive Evaluation. A Stage 5 placement below 85 still requires completing Stage 5 Basic before sitting Comprehensive Evaluation.

The hour estimates in the table assume you start from each stage and complete through Stage 5 Basic (the track required for F-5 permanent residency). Stage 0 is 15 hours, Stages 1 through 4 are 100 hours each, and Stage 5 Basic is 70 hours. So Stage 0 to Stage 5 Basic is about 485 hours (15 + 400 + 70), Stage 1 is 470 (400 + 70), Stage 2 is 370, Stage 3 is 270, and Stage 4 is 170.

One placement nuance matters here: Stage 0 is set by your oral (구술) score, not your total. An oral score under 3 places you at Stage 0 even if your written score is higher. The other bands above use your combined score out of 100.

Retaking the Pre-Evaluation: If you received a stage placement but did not start classes, you can sit the Pre-Evaluation again. Your most recent score replaces the earlier one and sets your new placement. Confirm the current retake conditions at kiiptest.org before you re-register, since you pay the 38,000 KRW fee each time.

What is tested

The Pre-Evaluation covers several areas across its written and oral sections.

Korean vocabulary: You are tested on word meaning and usage. The level is broadly equivalent to TOPIK Level 1 and Level 2 vocabulary. Common topics include everyday situations: shopping, transportation, health, and workplace basics.

Korean grammar: Multiple-choice questions test your ability to choose the correct grammatical form in a sentence. You are not required to produce original written Korean.

Reading comprehension: Short passages followed by comprehension questions. Topics focus on everyday life in Korea. Reading pace matters here because the reading section is the longest part of the test.

Korean society knowledge: A small number of questions test basic knowledge of Korean society at an introductory level, including everyday life plus history, culture, law, and institutions. These are not obscure cultural trivia. They cover things like using public transit, community service centers (주민센터), and healthcare basics. Much of this knowledge comes naturally from living in Korea.

Oral (구술) section: Beyond the written part, you sit a short face-to-face oral section with two examiners. It covers reading aloud, comprehension, conversation, and listening-and-speaking. So preparation should include speaking Korean out loud, not just written grammar and reading.

How to prepare

Step 1: Download sample questions from kiiptest.org

The Korea Immigration Foundation publishes official sample questions (견본 문제) on kiiptest.org. This is the most reliable preparation material. Work through the sample questions first, then assess which areas need more work.

Step 2: Study TOPIK Level 1 and Level 2 vocabulary

The vocabulary and grammar tested in the Pre-Evaluation broadly aligns with TOPIK Level 1 and Level 2. If you are already studying for TOPIK, your preparation overlaps directly. If you are not studying for TOPIK, the standard TOPIK preparation wordlists for Level 1 and Level 2 cover the core vocabulary you need. These are widely available in bookstores and online.

Step 3: Familiarize yourself with Korean daily-life basics

Read about how common Korean daily-life processes work: using the subway, registering at a community center, visiting a health clinic. You do not need to memorize these systems in detail. Familiarity with the vocabulary and the general flow is enough for the Pre-Evaluation.

Step 4: Check whether your partner institution offers practice tests

Some KIIP partner institutions offer free mock tests or practice sessions before the Pre-Evaluation. When you search for partner institutions on socinet.go.kr, check whether the institution offers Pre-Evaluation preparation support. Not all do, but it is worth asking.

Realistic preparation time: If your Korean is near zero, you are most likely to be placed at Stage 0 or Stage 1 regardless of preparation. In that case, preparation for the Pre-Evaluation is less important than getting started with classes. If your Korean is already at a conversational level, a few hours reviewing TOPIK Level 1 and Level 2 vocabulary and working through the official sample questions is usually enough.

How this connects to TOPIK

If you are studying for TOPIK, or already hold a TOPIK score, the Pre-Evaluation connects to your situation directly.

Any valid TOPIK level: Pre-Evaluation exemption

If you hold any valid TOPIK certificate (Level 1 or higher), you can skip the Pre-Evaluation through TOPIK linkage (연계평가). This saves you the 38,000 KRW fee and the time investment of the Pre-Evaluation itself. The exemption is not automatic: you apply for TOPIK linkage at socinet.go.kr and submit your valid TOPIK certificate.

The official Socinet TOPIK placement guide confirms the full mapping:

Your TOPIK certificate must be within its 2-year validity window when you apply, measured from the announcement date. KIIP completion certificates do not expire. Once you complete KIIP, that record stands permanently.

TOPIK Level 1: Stage 2 placement

TOPIK Level 1 qualifies you for the Pre-Evaluation exemption and places you at Stage 2 through TOPIK linkage. You skip Stages 0 and 1, and you skip the Pre-Evaluation itself. Marriage migrants on an F-6 visa reach the same Stage 2 outcome through a separate procedural lane: under the F-6 visa issuance guidelines, a TOPIK Level 1 certificate (or completion at a MOJ-designated overseas Korean institution) submitted at the visa application stage also places them at Stage 2.

If you are currently preparing for TOPIK

If your Korean is close to TOPIK Level 2, it may be worth sitting TOPIK before registering for KIIP. A Level 2 pass gives you the Stage 3 placement without the Pre-Evaluation fee and skips Stages 0, 1, and 2, which represent about 215 hours of classes (15 + 100 + 100). That is a meaningful time saving on a path toward F-5 permanent residency. For more detail on how TOPIK scores translate into placement and visa points, see the TOPIK guide and TOPIK Levels Explained.

How you receive results

Results are typically published on a fixed schedule (paper-based: about 13 days; computer-based: 2 business days) after your test date. Check your kiiptest.org account (마이페이지) for the exact schedule for your session.

After your stage is confirmed, the next step is to find a partner institution and register for classes. You do this at socinet.go.kr. Use the institution search to filter by your region, class format (in-person, online, or hybrid), and schedule. Your stage placement record is attached to your Socinet account and carries over automatically if you later change institutions.

Once enrolled in classes, your progress through each stage is tracked in your Socinet account. The next evaluation after the Pre-Evaluation is the Mid-term Evaluation (중간평가), which you sit after completing Stage 4 classes to progress to Stage 5.

For the final step, the Comprehensive Evaluation (종합평가) that opens the door to F-5 permanent residency or naturalization, see the KIIP Comprehensive Evaluation guide.

FAQ

What is the KIIP Pre-Evaluation?

The Pre-Evaluation (사전평가) is a placement test taken at the start of your KIIP registration. Your score determines which stage you enter: Stage 0 through Stage 5. You do not need to pass or fail it in the traditional sense. You simply sit it, receive a score, and get assigned to the corresponding stage.

Do I have to take the Pre-Evaluation?

Not always. If you hold any valid TOPIK certificate (Level 1 or higher), you can skip the Pre-Evaluation through TOPIK linkage (연계평가). TOPIK Level 1 places you at Stage 2, Level 2 at Stage 3, Level 3 at Stage 4, and Level 4, 5, or 6 at Stage 5. Your TOPIK score must still be within its 2-year validity window, measured from the announcement date, when you apply.

If I score 85 or above, can I skip Stage 5 classes entirely?

Yes. A Pre-Evaluation score of 85 or above lets you sit the Permanent Residency Comprehensive Evaluation (영주용 종합평가) directly, without completing Stage 5 Basic coursework. This eligibility lasts 2 years from your score date. A pass on this path satisfies the F-5 permanent residency basic competency requirement, but it does not count as full KIIP completion. For naturalization, you still need to complete the full Stage 5 track. A Stage 5 placement below 85 still requires the 70-hour Stage 5 Basic before sitting the Comprehensive Evaluation.

Does TOPIK Level 1 exempt me from the Pre-Evaluation?

Yes. TOPIK Level 1 still qualifies you for the Pre-Evaluation exemption through TOPIK linkage (연계평가), but it places you at Stage 2 rather than Stage 3. Only TOPIK Level 2 places you at Stage 3.

Can I request a lower stage than my score assigns?

Generally no. The Pre-Evaluation score is the placement mechanism, and there is no published procedure for choosing a lower stage. If you feel your assigned stage is too high and your classes are too difficult, ask your partner institution what your options are, since the rules can vary by institution.

How much does the Pre-Evaluation cost?

38,000 KRW per attempt, as of 2026. Both PBT and CBT cost the same. Verify the current fee at kiiptest.org before registering.

How long does the Pre-Evaluation take?

The test runs 70 minutes for 55 questions (a 60-minute written section plus a 10-minute oral section): a written (필기) section of 50 questions plus an oral (구술) section of 5 questions. The oral section is administered face-to-face by two examiners. Build in extra time for check-in and waiting on test day.

How do I get my results?

Results are typically published on a fixed schedule (paper-based: about 13 days; computer-based: 2 business days) after your test date. Log in to your account on kiiptest.org and check your my-page for the exact schedule. After your stage is confirmed, you can register for classes at a KIIP partner institution through socinet.go.kr.

@misc{seoulstart-kiip-sajeon-pyeongga-guide,
  author = {{Seoulstart Editorial Team}},
  title = {{KIIP Pre-Evaluation (사전평가): Score-to-Level Placement Guide}},
  year = {2026},
  publisher = {Seoulstart},
  url = {https://seoulstart.com/guides/kiip-sajeon-pyeongga-guide},
  note = {Last updated June 4, 2026}
}