TOPIK Levels 1-6: Official Score Bands

TOPIK levels are easy to mix up because there are three separate things happening at once: TOPIK I vs. TOPIK II, PBT vs. IBT, and Level 1 through Level 6. This guide keeps the official score bands separate so you can read your result correctly before checking a university, employer, scholarship, or visa rule.

For the broader overview of TOPIK, start with TOPIK: A Practical Guide for Foreign Residents in Korea.

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The Core Rule

TOPIK has two main tests.

TOPIK I is the beginner test. It can award Level 1 or Level 2.

TOPIK II is the intermediate-to-advanced test. It can award Level 3, Level 4, Level 5, or Level 6.

That means the first decision is not "what level do I want?" It is "which test can produce the level I need?" If a destination rule asks for Level 3 or higher, TOPIK I cannot get you there. You need TOPIK II.

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PBT Score Bands

These are the paper-based test (PBT) score bands in NIIED's 2026 implementation plan.

NIIED's 2026 plan says the passing grade is determined by the total score across sections. The plan does not list a separate per-section cutoff in the score-band table.

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IBT Score Bands

The internet-based test (IBT) uses a different raw score scale. Do not compare an IBT score to the PBT table.

The level names are the same, but the raw scores are not. If an application asks for your level, report the level on your official result. If it asks for a score, use the score from the format you actually took.

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TOPIK Speaking Bands

TOPIK Speaking (토픽 말하기) is separate from TOPIK I and TOPIK II. NIIED lists it as a 6-task, 30-minute, 200-point speaking evaluation.

Treat a Speaking result as a separate certificate unless the institution or agency you are applying to specifically asks for it.

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What Each Level Does Mechanically

Level 1 means you cleared the first TOPIK I band. It is not available from TOPIK II.

Level 2 means you cleared the second TOPIK I band. It is the highest level TOPIK I can award.

Level 3 is the first TOPIK II level. If a rule says "Level 3 or higher," take TOPIK II.

Level 4 is the second TOPIK II level. The legal or institutional effect depends on the specific destination rule.

Level 5 is an advanced TOPIK II level.

Level 6 is the highest TOPIK II level.

The certificate level alone does not guarantee admission, hiring, scholarship selection, or immigration approval. It only proves the TOPIK result shown on the certificate. Always check the destination rule directly.

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Score Validity

The 2026 Ministry of Education plan says TOPIK scores are valid for 2 years from the score announcement date. If your certificate is close to that limit, check the submission date for the university, employer, scholarship, or visa route you are using it for.

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Which Level Should You Aim For?

Start with the requirement in front of you.

If the rule asks for Level 1 or Level 2, TOPIK I can be enough.

If the rule asks for Level 3 or higher, take TOPIK II.

If the rule names IBT, use the IBT score band. If it names PBT, use the PBT score band. If it only names a TOPIK level, confirm whether either format is accepted.

If the rule asks for speaking, check whether it means TOPIK Speaking specifically. TOPIK I and TOPIK II do not produce a speaking score.

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Next Steps

Once you know the level you need:

• How to register for TOPIK: see the TOPIK Registration Guide.
• How TOPIK is used in visa contexts: see TOPIK for Visa Points and verify the current official immigration notice before applying.
• The broader TOPIK overview: see TOPIK: A Practical Guide for Foreign Residents in Korea.
• Finding a class: see the Korean Language School Guide and browse programs by city in the language school directory.

@misc{seoulstart-topik-levels-explained,
  author = {{Seoulstart Editorial Team}},
  title = {{TOPIK Levels 1-6: Official Score Bands}},
  year = {2026},
  publisher = {Seoulstart},
  url = {https://seoulstart.com/guides/topik-levels-explained},
  note = {Last updated June 6, 2026}
}