Korean Level Test: 30 Free Questions, Start Point

Take the Korean Level Test

Practice

Read the examples and check your answer.

사과

Question 1 replay clip

물

Question 9 replay clip

세 시

Question 10 replay clip

감사합니다

Question 11 replay clip

엄마

Question 12 replay clip

저는 학생이에요

Question 17 replay clip

학교에 가요

Question 22 replay clip

어제 친구를 만났어요

Question 25 replay clip

Practice · 30

Read the examples and check your answer.

Section A, Hangul: Which is the correct reading of 사과?
1. saga
2. sagwa (apple)
3. sakwa
4. sagua
Show answer
sagwa (apple)
Revised Romanization writes ㄱ before a vowel as g and the vowel ㅘ as wa, so 사과 is sagwa.
Section A, Hangul: Which letter is silent at the start of a block?
1. ㅎ
2. ㄹ
3. ㄴ
4. ㅇ
Show answer
ㅇ
ㅇ is a placeholder at the start of a block, so 아 is just "a". At the end of a block it sounds like ng.
Section A, Hangul: What sound does the letter ㅁ make?
1. m
2. n
3. b
4. ng
Show answer
m
ㅁ is the m sound, as in 엄마.
Section A, Hangul: How is 한국 (Korea) written in Revised Romanization?
1. hankuk
2. hangug
3. hanguk
4. hankook
Show answer
hanguk
Revised Romanization writes ㅎ as h, ㅏ as a, ㄴ as n, ㄱ as g and ㅜ as u, and a final ㄱ with no vowel after it as k: hanguk.
Section A, Hangul: Which vowel is "eo" in Revised Romanization?
1. ㅗ
2. ㅓ
3. ㅜ
4. ㅡ
Show answer
ㅓ
ㅓ is spelled eo, as in 어머니 (eomeoni). It is not "o".
Section A, Hangul: How is 꽃 (flower) pronounced when nothing follows?
1. kkoch
2. kkos
3. kkoh
4. kkot
Show answer
kkot
ㅊ at the end of a word sounds like t, so 꽃 is read [꼳].
Section A, Hangul: Which of these is a double (tense) consonant?
1. ㄲ
2. ㅋ
3. ㄱ
4. ㅇ
Show answer
ㄲ
ㄲ is the tense partner of ㄱ. ㅋ is the aspirated one, and ㄱ is the plain one.
Section A, Hangul: What is the Revised Romanization of 김치?
1. kimchi
2. gimci
3. gimchi
4. kimji
Show answer
gimchi
Revised Romanization writes ㄱ at the start of a word as g and ㅊ as ch. The common English spelling "kimchi" is not the Revised Romanization.
Section B, vocabulary: What does 물 mean?
1. fire
2. water
3. rice
4. milk
Show answer
water
물 means water. It is one of the first nouns learners meet.
Section B, vocabulary: Which number system do you use for the hour, as in 3시?
1. Sino-Korean (삼 시)
2. Either, with no difference
3. English numbers
4. Native Korean (세 시)
Show answer
Native Korean (세 시)
Hours use native Korean numbers, so 3시 is 세 시. Minutes use Sino-Korean numbers.
Section B, vocabulary: What does 감사합니다 mean?
1. Thank you
2. Excuse me
3. Goodbye
4. I am sorry
Show answer
Thank you
감사합니다 is the formal way to say thank you.
Section B, vocabulary: What does 엄마 mean?
1. dad
2. older sister
3. mom
4. teacher
Show answer
mom
엄마 means mom. Dad is 아빠.
Section B, vocabulary: What does 학교 mean?
1. hospital
2. school
3. house
4. shop
Show answer
school
학교 means school. The block 교 is the same as in 교실 (classroom).
Section B, vocabulary: Which word means "yes"?
1. 아니요
2. 안녕
3. 주세요
4. 네
Show answer
네
네 means yes. 아니요 means no.
Section B, vocabulary: What does 오늘 mean?
1. today
2. yesterday
3. tomorrow
4. now
Show answer
today
오늘 means today. Yesterday is 어제 and tomorrow is 내일.
Section B, vocabulary: What does 맛있어요 mean?
1. It is expensive
2. It is far
3. It is delicious
4. It is cold
Show answer
It is delicious
맛있어요 means "it tastes good": 맛 is taste and 있어요 is "there is".
Section C, grammar: 저는 학생___. Which ending fits?
1. 예요
2. 이에요
3. 아니에요
4. 있어요
Show answer
이에요
학생 ends in a consonant, so the copula is 이에요. After a vowel it would be 예요.
Section C, grammar: Which polite present form of 먹다 is correct?
1. 먹아요
2. 먹었어요
3. 먹을 거예요
4. 먹어요
Show answer
먹어요
The stem 먹 ends in ㅓ, so it takes 어요: 먹어요.
Section C, grammar: Choose the particle: 책___ 읽어요.
1. 을
2. 를
3. 이
4. 에
Show answer
을
책 ends in a consonant, so the object particle is 을.
Section C, grammar: What does 안 가요 mean?
1. I went
2. I will go
3. I do not go
4. I want to go
Show answer
I do not go
안 before a verb makes it negative: 안 가요 means "I do not go".
Section C, grammar: What is the polite past of 가다?
1. 가았어요
2. 갔어요
3. 갈 거예요
4. 가요
Show answer
갔어요
가 + 았어요 contracts to 갔어요.
Section C, grammar: Choose the particle: 학교___ 가요.
1. 이
2. 과
3. 은
4. 에
Show answer
에
The destination of 가요 takes 에.
Section C, grammar: What does 화장실이 어디예요? mean?
1. Where is the restroom?
2. What is the restroom?
3. Who is in the restroom?
4. Is the restroom clean?
Show answer
Where is the restroom?
어디 means "where", so the sentence asks where the restroom is.
Section C, grammar: What does 책이 없어요 mean?
1. There is a book
2. It is a book
3. There is no book
4. It is not a book
Show answer
There is no book
없어요 is the opposite of 있어요, so the sentence means "there is no book".
Section D, reading: What does 어제 친구를 만났어요 mean?
1. I will meet a friend tomorrow
2. I met a friend yesterday
3. I am meeting a friend now
4. I do not meet friends
Show answer
I met a friend yesterday
어제 is "yesterday", 친구를 is "a friend" as the object, and 만났어요 is the past of 만나다.
Section D, reading: 저는 민수예요. 한국 사람이에요. What does the speaker say?
1. My name is Minsu and I am a student
2. I am Minsu's friend and I am Korean
3. I am Korean and I do not know Minsu
4. My name is Minsu and I am Korean
Show answer
My name is Minsu and I am Korean
저는 민수예요 introduces the speaker as Minsu, and 한국 사람이에요 says "I am a Korean person".
Section D, reading: 오늘은 월요일이에요. 내일은 화요일이에요. What day is tomorrow?
1. Tuesday
2. Monday
3. Wednesday
4. Sunday
Show answer
Tuesday
오늘 is today (Monday) and 내일 is tomorrow, which the text gives as 화요일, or Tuesday.
Section D, reading: 커피 한 잔 주세요. What is the speaker asking for?
1. A bowl of rice
2. A glass of water
3. A cup of coffee
4. The coffee menu
Show answer
A cup of coffee
커피 is coffee, 한 잔 is one cup, and 주세요 is "please give me".
Section D, reading: 저는 매일 아침 일곱 시에 일어나요. When does the speaker get up?
1. Every evening at seven
2. Every morning at seven
3. Tomorrow at seven
4. Yesterday at seven
Show answer
Every morning at seven
매일 is "every day", 아침 is "morning", 일곱 시에 is "at seven", and 일어나요 is "get up".
Section D, reading: 주말에 친구하고 영화를 봤어요. What did the speaker do at the weekend?
1. Will watch a movie alone
2. Met a friend at school
3. Read a book with a friend
4. Watched a movie with a friend
Show answer
Watched a movie with a friend
주말에 is "at the weekend", 친구하고 is "with a friend", and 영화를 봤어요 is the past of "watch a movie".

Follow these steps. Each one tells you what you should see.

Read the question and say any Korean text aloud once. You should see four choices.
Pick one choice by click, tap or by pressing 1, 2, 3 or 4. The Check button turns active.
Select Check. You see "Correct" or "Not quite", the right answer and a one-sentence reason. Select Next.
After question 30, read the result. It shows your score in each of the four sections, the total, and one suggested page to start from.

Answer every question, even if you are not sure. A guess is better than a skip, because the aim is to see where your knowledge stops. If you cannot read Hangul yet, answer what you can; a low first section is a useful result.

How Does the Korean Level Test Work?

The test has four sections of fixed size, so you can see which skill is weakest. The questions run in order from the Hangul section to the reading section, and the order inside each section is shuffled. There is no timer.

Section	Questions	What it checks	Example
A. Hangul	8	Letters, silent ㅇ, final consonants and Revised Romanization	Read 사과
B. Vocabulary	8	Common words and the number systems	What does 물 mean?
C. Grammar	8	Copula, polite present and past, particles, negation, questions	저는 학생___.
D. Reading	6	Short sentences and mini-passages	어제 친구를 만났어요

Every question has four choices and one correct answer, and every answer comes with a one-sentence reason. Questions use the standard Seoul forms taught on this site, and Revised Romanization appears only as a label next to Hangul. The questions were written for this site, and none is copied from an exam.

What Does My Score Mean?

The total is the number of questions you answered correctly on the first try in this session. It falls into one of four bands, and each band points to one page to open next. It is not a CEFR level, a TOPIK level or a measure of fluency, and it does not test speaking or listening.

Where Should I Start for Each Score Band?

Score	Suggested start	Open
0 to 8 correct	Start with Hangul	Korean alphabet
9 to 16 correct	Follow the beginner study plan and beginner grammar	Korean study plan
17 to 24 correct	Work through the beginner grammar patterns that fill the gaps in your section scores	beginner Korean grammar
25 to 30 correct	You have the beginner basics this test checks: go on to the next beginner stage and TOPIK I practice, and open intermediate Korean grammar once the beginner patterns feel easy	TOPIK 1

Read the four section scores before the total. A learner with 7 of 8 in Hangul and 2 of 8 in grammar needs the grammar lessons, whatever the total says. For how levels are defined, see Korean language levels. For single-topic checks, use the korean quiz hub.

Sample Questions with Answers

These six questions come from the test, with the answer and the reason for each. They also work as a preview if JavaScript is off. The test has the same four sections as the samples.

Sample Question 1 and Its Answer

Question: Section A, Hangul: Which is the correct reading of 사과?

Choices: saga; sagwa (apple); sakwa; sagua.

Answer: sagwa (apple). Why: Revised Romanization writes ㄱ before a vowel as g and the vowel ㅘ as wa, so 사과 is sagwa.

Sample Question 2 and Its Answer

Question: Section B, vocabulary: What does 물 mean?

Choices: fire; water; rice; milk.

Answer: water (mul). Why: 물 means water. It is one of the first nouns learners meet.

Sample Question 3 and Its Answer

Question: Section B, vocabulary: Which number system do you use for the hour, as in 3시?

Choices: Sino-Korean (삼 시); Either, with no difference; English numbers; Native Korean (세 시).

Answer: Native Korean (세 시). Why: Hours use native Korean numbers, so 3시 is 세 시. Minutes use Sino-Korean numbers.

Sample Question 4 and Its Answer

Question: Section C, grammar: 저는 학생___. Which ending fits?

Choices: 예요; 이에요; 아니에요; 있어요.

Answer: 이에요. Why: 학생 ends in a consonant, so the copula is 이에요. After a vowel it would be 예요.

Sample Question 5 and Its Answer

Question: Section C, grammar: Which polite present form of 먹다 is correct?

Choices: 먹아요; 먹었어요; 먹을 거예요; 먹어요.

Answer: 먹어요. Why: The stem 먹 ends in ㅓ, so it takes 어요: 먹어요.

Sample Question 6 and Its Answer

Question: Section D, reading: What does 어제 친구를 만났어요 mean?

Choices: I will meet a friend tomorrow; I met a friend yesterday; I am meeting a friend now; I do not meet friends.

Answer: I met a friend yesterday. Why: 어제 is "yesterday", 친구를 is "a friend" as the object, and 만났어요 is the past of 만나다.

Is This the Same as the TOPIK or CEFR?

No. TOPIK is the official Test of Proficiency in Korean. It has a fixed format, set dates and a certificate, and you register through the official site, topik.go.kr. CEFR is a European scale for describing language ability, and its levels (A1 to C2) are awarded by exams aligned to it. This test does neither. It is a 30-question self-check that suggests where to begin, and it does not predict a TOPIK or CEFR result.

Learners who want to try the format of the exam can read the TOPIK mock test guide, which explains how to take, score and review a mock exam. This test is shorter, and its questions are not exam items.

What Should I Do after the Test?

Open the page for your band, then work on your weakest section. A low Hangul score points to the hangul quiz set. A low vocabulary score points to the vocabulary quizzes, and a low grammar score points to the korean grammar quiz collection. Retake the test after a week of study and compare the four section scores, not only the total.

Answer Key for the Other Questions

Prefer to test yourself first? Take the test above, then check this table. The six sample questions are not repeated.

#	Question	Correct answer	Reason
2	Section A, Hangul: Which letter is silent at the start of a block?	ㅇ	ㅇ is a placeholder at the start of a block, so 아 is just "a". At the end of a block it sounds like ng.
3	Section A, Hangul: What sound does the letter ㅁ make?	m	ㅁ is the m sound, as in 엄마.
4	Section A, Hangul: How is 한국 (Korea) written in Revised Romanization?	hanguk	Revised Romanization writes ㅎ as h, ㅏ as a, ㄴ as n, ㄱ as g and ㅜ as u, and a final ㄱ with no vowel after it as k: hanguk.
5	Section A, Hangul: Which vowel is "eo" in Revised Romanization?	ㅓ	ㅓ is spelled eo, as in 어머니 (eomeoni). It is not "o".
6	Section A, Hangul: How is 꽃 (flower) pronounced when nothing follows?	kkot	ㅊ at the end of a word sounds like t, so 꽃 is read [꼳].
7	Section A, Hangul: Which of these is a double (tense) consonant?	ㄲ	ㄲ is the tense partner of ㄱ. ㅋ is the aspirated one, and ㄱ is the plain one.
8	Section A, Hangul: What is the Revised Romanization of 김치?	gimchi	Revised Romanization writes ㄱ at the start of a word as g and ㅊ as ch. The common English spelling "kimchi" is not the Revised Romanization.
11	Section B, vocabulary: What does 감사합니다 mean?	Thank you	감사합니다 is the formal way to say thank you.
12	Section B, vocabulary: What does 엄마 mean?	mom	엄마 means mom. Dad is 아빠.
13	Section B, vocabulary: What does 학교 mean?	school	학교 means school. The block 교 is the same as in 교실 (classroom).
14	Section B, vocabulary: Which word means "yes"?	네	네 means yes. 아니요 means no.
15	Section B, vocabulary: What does 오늘 mean?	today	오늘 means today. Yesterday is 어제 and tomorrow is 내일.
16	Section B, vocabulary: What does 맛있어요 mean?	It is delicious	맛있어요 means "it tastes good": 맛 is taste and 있어요 is "there is".
19	Section C, grammar: Choose the particle: 책___ 읽어요.	을	책 ends in a consonant, so the object particle is 을.
20	Section C, grammar: What does 안 가요 mean?	I do not go	안 before a verb makes it negative: 안 가요 means "I do not go".
21	Section C, grammar: What is the polite past of 가다?	갔어요	가 + 았어요 contracts to 갔어요.
22	Section C, grammar: Choose the particle: 학교___ 가요.	에	The destination of 가요 takes 에.
23	Section C, grammar: What does 화장실이 어디예요? mean?	Where is the restroom?	어디 means "where", so the sentence asks where the restroom is.
24	Section C, grammar: What does 책이 없어요 mean?	There is no book	없어요 is the opposite of 있어요, so the sentence means "there is no book".
26	Section D, reading: 저는 민수예요. 한국 사람이에요. What does the speaker say?	My name is Minsu and I am Korean	저는 민수예요 introduces the speaker as Minsu, and 한국 사람이에요 says "I am a Korean person".
27	Section D, reading: 오늘은 월요일이에요. 내일은 화요일이에요. What day is tomorrow?	Tuesday	오늘 is today (Monday) and 내일 is tomorrow, which the text gives as 화요일, or Tuesday.
28	Section D, reading: 커피 한 잔 주세요. What is the speaker asking for?	A cup of coffee	커피 is coffee, 한 잔 is one cup, and 주세요 is "please give me".
29	Section D, reading: 저는 매일 아침 일곱 시에 일어나요. When does the speaker get up?	Every morning at seven	매일 is "every day", 아침 is "morning", 일곱 시에 is "at seven", and 일어나요 is "get up".
30	Section D, reading: 주말에 친구하고 영화를 봤어요. What did the speaker do at the weekend?	Watched a movie with a friend	주말에 is "at the weekend", 친구하고 is "with a friend", and 영화를 봤어요 is the past of "watch a movie".

What Does This Test Not Do?

The test checks reading and recognition at beginner level. It does not test speaking, listening or writing, and 30 questions cannot cover every topic. It does not give a certified level, it does not predict a TOPIK score, and it ignores regional speech, slang and honorific use. Korean text and pronunciations are generated and were reviewed and signed off by Min-ji Park on 15 October 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Korean level test the same as TOPIK?

No. TOPIK is the official Test of Proficiency in Korean, with a fixed format, fixed dates and a certificate. This test is a free 30-question self-check that suggests where to start studying. It does not predict a TOPIK score. For the exam, see topik.go.kr for the current rules and dates.

How accurate is a 30-question level test?

It is a rough guide. Thirty questions cannot cover every skill, and it tests reading and recognition, not speaking or listening. Use the score band as a suggested starting page, then change course if the lessons feel too easy or too hard. The section scores matter more than the total.

What if I cannot read Hangul yet?

Expect a low score in the first section, and that is useful information. Start with the Hangul lessons, which teach the alphabet in order. After a few days of practice, retake the test and compare the section scores to see what changed.

Can I retake the test?

Yes, as often as you like. The order of questions and choices changes every time. Wait several days between attempts and study the weakest section in between. Comparing section scores across attempts tells you more than the total.

Is my score saved or shared?

No. Your answers and score stay in your browser and are not sent to a server. If you choose to save progress, it is stored on your own device only, and you can delete it in your browser settings. Nothing is shared with other people or other websites.

Retake the Korean Level Test

Retake the korean level test after a week or two of study, and compare the four section scores. The reason line for each question is also a mini-lesson, so reading it twice often helps more than a fast retake. Move to a higher band only when the lower band's pages feel easy.

Find Your Next Step

Korean Level Test: 30 Questions to Find Where to Start