Does TOPIK have speaking? No: TOPIK I and TOPIK II do not include a speaking section, in either the paper or the computer version. Speaking is assessed by a separate exam, the TOPIK speaking test, which has its own registration and result and has been held only in Korea. Most learners never need it.
Does TOPIK Have Speaking?
TOPIK does not have speaking in its two main tests. TOPIK I measures listening and reading, and TOPIK II measures listening, writing and reading. No part of either test asks you to talk, record your voice or answer an examiner.
| Test | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking | Levels awarded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOPIK I | yes | yes | no | no | 1-2 |
| TOPIK II | yes | yes | yes | no | 3-6 |
| TOPIK speaking test | (prompts are heard) | no | no | yes | its own result and scale, separate from TOPIK I and II levels |
The Korean word for speaking as a skill is 말하기 (malhagi). It sits alongside the section names 듣기 (listening), 읽기 (reading) and 쓰기 (writing), but it never appears on a TOPIK I or TOPIK II answer sheet.
The full layout of the two main tests, with question counts and timing, is on the TOPIK exam format page. The same answer holds for the higher test, which is the version people most often ask about.
Does TOPIK 2 Have Speaking?
TOPIK 2 does not have speaking either. TOPIK II adds a writing section with four questions, including a 600-700 character essay, but it stops there. A TOPIK II Level 6 certificate proves advanced listening, reading and writing; it makes no official claim about how you speak.
The same is true of the internet-based version. TOPIK IBT is taken on a computer at a test centre and changes how you answer, for example by typing your writing answers, but it still has no speaking section. That raises an obvious question: why would a language test leave out speaking at all?
Why the Main TOPIK Has No Speaking Section
The official guide describes what TOPIK tests rather than why speaking is left out, but the practical reasons are clear from how the test runs. Each reason below names a constraint and its consequence.
- Scale. TOPIK I and II are sat by large numbers of candidates in Korea and abroad on the same day. Listening and reading answers can be machine-marked from an answer sheet within weeks; speaking would need trained raters for every candidate.
- Consistency across countries. A paper test with fixed audio is identical in every test room. Speaking interviews depend on the examiner, the room and the equipment, which is harder to standardise across many countries.
- Cost. Rating spoken answers takes far more rater time per candidate than reading an answer sheet, which would raise fees.
- Separate design. A speaking test needs its own tasks, rating scale and recording system, which is why it was built as a separate exam rather than added as a fourth section.
The consequence for learners is that TOPIK measures mainly receptive skills (understanding) plus writing on TOPIK II. Speaking is a productive skill, and it is checked elsewhere, which brings us to the separate test.
What Is the TOPIK Speaking Test?
The TOPIK speaking test is a separate exam, run under the TOPIK name by the National Institute for International Education (NIIED, 국립국제교육원), that assesses spoken Korean only. You register for it on its own, sit it on its own date and receive its own result, which is not part of any TOPIK I or TOPIK II score.
The test works like this, in broad terms:
- You sit at a computer at a test centre in Korea, wearing a headset with a microphone.
- You hear or read a prompt on screen, such as a question about yourself, a picture to describe or a topic to give an opinion on.
- You get a short time to prepare, then a fixed time to answer while the computer records your voice.
- Trained raters score the recordings later against a speaking rubric, which looks at how fully you complete the task, how well you organise your answer and how accurate and fluent your Korean is.
- You receive a result on the test's own scale, published on topik.go.kr on the results date for your session.
The exact number of questions, timings and score scale are set out in the official guide and sample questions on topik.go.kr. Read them before you register, because they can change between years and this page does not repeat figures that may go out of date.
The tasks typically move from easy to hard, much like an oral interview in a language class. Early prompts are personal and concrete; later prompts ask you to explain, compare or argue. Knowing what the test is leads straight to the practical question of when you can take it.
When Is the TOPIK Speaking Test Held?
The TOPIK speaking test is held a few times a year, in Korea only, on dates published in the official schedule on topik.go.kr. It runs as its own series, separate from the paper-based and internet-based TOPIK sessions, with its own registration period and results date.
Use these points to plan:
- Check the official schedule first. Session dates, registration windows and results dates are announced in advance on topik.go.kr. News reports and forum posts sometimes repeat early versions of the schedule, so treat them as hints only.
- Plan travel if you live abroad. Because sessions have mainly been held in Korea, an overseas candidate may need to be in Korea on the test day. Check the venue list before you book anything.
- Allow time for the result. If a programme or employer needs a speaking result by a deadline, count backwards from that deadline through the results date and the registration window.
The TOPIK exam dates page explains how the paper, internet and speaking series fit into the year and how to read the official schedule. Dates only matter, though, if you actually need a speaking result.
TOPIK Speaking Test vs TOPIK I and II
The TOPIK speaking test differs from TOPIK I and II in skill, format, location and result. The table compares them on the criteria that matter when you decide what to sit.
| Criterion | TOPIK I / TOPIK II (paper) | TOPIK I / TOPIK II (IBT) | TOPIK speaking test |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skills tested | listening, reading; writing on TOPIK II | listening, reading; writing on TOPIK II | speaking only |
| How you answer | answer sheet and pen | on screen, writing typed | spoken answers recorded by computer |
| Where | Korea and many overseas centres | Korea and selected overseas centres | test centres in Korea |
| Result | Levels 1-2 or 3-6 | Levels 1-2 or 3-6, same cut scores | its own result and scale, separate from TOPIK I and II levels |
| Who asks for it | universities, employers, some visa and scholarship rules | same as paper | a few programmes and employers that want proof of speaking |
| Registration | its own session and fee | its own session and fee | its own session and fee |
Two rows matter most. The result row means a speaking result can never stand in for a TOPIK level, and the "who asks for it" row means most applicants do not need it. The TOPIK levels page explains the six levels that institutions usually ask for.
Who Needs a TOPIK Speaking Score?
You need a TOPIK speaking score only if an institution you are applying to names it in writing. Most universities, employers and government programmes ask for a TOPIK I or TOPIK II level and check speaking, if at all, in an interview.
People who may find the speaking test useful:
- Applicants whose programme or employer names it. Some institutions may accept or prefer a speaking result alongside a TOPIK level. The exact sentence in the admission notice or job advert decides.
- Workers in customer-facing roles in Korea who want independent proof of spoken Korean for a CV, where an employer values it.
- Learners who want feedback on speaking from a standardised test, for example to check progress after a year of conversation classes in Korea.
People who usually do not need it:
- Degree applicants whose admission notice asks only for "TOPIK Level 3" or "Level 4".
- Most visa applicants, because visa and residence rules that mention TOPIK generally refer to a TOPIK I or II level. Check the current rule for your visa type.
- Beginners preparing for TOPIK I, who gain more from building listening and reading.
If you are unsure, ask the institution directly: "Do you accept or require the TOPIK speaking test, or only a TOPIK I or II level?" The TOPIK requirements page shows how to find and check the exact requirement. When a speaking result is not required, institutions still check speaking in other ways.
How Institutions Check Speaking without the Test
Universities and employers that care about spoken Korean usually test it themselves, most often in an interview. The Korean word for an interview is 면접 (myeonjeop).
The common methods are:
- Admission interviews. Some Korean-taught programmes interview applicants in Korean, in person or by video, to check that they can follow lectures and discuss their study plan.
- Job interviews in Korean. An employer may switch to Korean partway through an interview, or ask you to introduce yourself (자기소개, jagisogae) in Korean, even if the advert asked only for a TOPIK level.
- Placement tests at language institutes. University language institutes in Korea usually place new students with their own written test and a short speaking interview, whatever TOPIK level they hold.
For you, this means a TOPIK level opens the door, and spoken Korean is checked at the next step. Preparing to speak is therefore useful even when no speaking test is required, and the same practice serves both situations.
How to Practise Speaking for TOPIK and Beyond
Practise speaking by answering short spoken prompts aloud, against a timer, and then reviewing a recording of yourself. This routine prepares you for the separate speaking test, for interviews and for real conversations, and it also improves listening for TOPIK I and II.
- Pick one prompt per session. Start with personal topics: yourself, your routine, your weekend. Success check: you can speak for 30 seconds without stopping.
- Prepare for one minute, then answer for one minute. Note three key words, not full sentences. Common mistake: writing a script and reading it, which does not train speaking.
- Record the answer on your phone. Success check: you can listen back without wincing at long silences.
- Replay and fix one thing. Choose a single problem, such as a missing particle or a wrong verb ending, and answer the same prompt again.
- Raise the difficulty every week. Move from describing to explaining, then to giving opinions with reasons.
The sentences below are model answers at different levels. Listen, repeat each one aloud, then make your own version with your own details.
A self-introduction, the most common first prompt in tests and interviews:
저는 한국어를 2년 동안 공부했어요.
jeoneun hangugeoreul i nyeon dongan gongbuhaesseoyo.
I have studied Korean for two years.
A routine, using 보통 (botong, "usually"):
주말에는 보통 친구를 만나요.
jumareneun botong chingureul mannayo.
At the weekend I usually meet friends.
A picture description, using the -고 있어요 form for an action in progress:
그림에서 남자가 우산을 사고 있어요.
geurimeseo namjaga usaneul sago isseoyo.
In the picture, a man is buying an umbrella.
An opinion followed by a reason, the pattern that higher-level prompts reward:
제 생각에는 대중교통이 더 편리해요.
je saenggageneun daejunggyotongi deo pyeollihaeyo.
In my opinion, public transport is more convenient.
왜냐하면 길이 막히지 않기 때문이에요.
waenyahamyeon giri makiji anki ttaemunieyo.
Because the roads do not get jammed.
Note the spoken forms: 편리해요 is said [펼리해요], with the ㄴ becoming ㄹ before ㄹ, and 막히지 is said [마키지], because ㄱ and ㅎ merge into an aspirated sound.
A 15-Minute Daily Speaking Routine
A short daily routine works better than one long weekly session, because speaking depends on quick recall. A typical 15-minute plan looks like this:
| Minutes | Activity | Output |
|---|---|---|
| 0-3 | Shadow one short audio clip: listen and repeat at the same time | smoother rhythm |
| 3-8 | Answer one prompt aloud and record it | a 1-minute recording |
| 8-12 | Replay, note one error, answer again | a better second take |
| 12-15 | Say five new words in your own sentences | active vocabulary |
The timings are an editorial suggestion, not an official plan. Keep the recordings: comparing a week-one answer with a week-six answer is the clearest proof of progress. More drills, dialogues and pronunciation work are collected on Korean speaking practice.
Common Misconceptions about TOPIK and Speaking
Learners often assume a high TOPIK level proves good speaking. Actually, TOPIK I and II do not test speaking, so a Level 5 candidate may still speak hesitantly. Employers know this, which is why they interview in Korean.
Learners also assume the speaking test is a fourth section they can add to TOPIK II. Actually, it is a separate exam with its own registration, date and result, and nothing from it is added to a TOPIK II total.
A third assumption is that the internet-based TOPIK includes speaking because it uses a computer. Actually, the IBT version of TOPIK I and II tests the same skills as the paper version; only the speaking test records your voice.
A fourth assumption is that you must pass TOPIK I or II before sitting the speaking test. The speaking test is registered for on its own; check the current eligibility rules in the official notice, because conditions can change.
What This Page Covers and Does Not
This page answers whether TOPIK includes speaking and explains, in general terms, how the separate TOPIK speaking test works and who needs it. It does not list exact session dates, fees, question counts or score scales for the speaking test, because those change and should be read in the official notice on topik.go.kr. Registration steps for the main test are on TOPIK registration. If the official notice differs from this page, the official notice is right.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need the TOPIK speaking test for a visa? Usually not. Where Korean visa or residence rules mention TOPIK, they generally refer to a TOPIK I or TOPIK II level, not a speaking result. Rules change and differ by visa type, so read the current notice from the Korea Immigration Service or ask the office handling your application before you register for any test.
Is the speaking score added to my TOPIK level? No. The TOPIK speaking test produces its own separate result. It is not added to a TOPIK I total out of 200 or a TOPIK II total out of 300, and it cannot raise or lower the level on your TOPIK I or TOPIK II report. Institutions see the two results as separate documents.
Can I take the TOPIK speaking test outside Korea? Check the venue list first. The TOPIK speaking test has mainly been held at test centres in Korea, while paper and internet-based TOPIK I and II are widely offered overseas. Venues can be added from year to year, so read the current schedule and venue list on topik.go.kr before you plan a trip.
How do I prepare for the TOPIK speaking test? Practise answering spoken prompts aloud against a timer, then record and replay your answers. Cover the common task types: introducing yourself, describing a picture, explaining a routine and giving an opinion with a reason. Read the official sample questions on topik.go.kr so that the screen layout and timing feel familiar on the day.
Does a high TOPIK level mean I speak Korean well? Not necessarily. A TOPIK II level shows how well you understand spoken and written Korean and, on TOPIK II, how well you write. Many learners with Level 4 or 5 read well but speak hesitantly, and others speak fluently with a lower level. Employers often check speaking separately in an interview.
The Bottom Line
TOPIK does not have speaking: TOPIK I tests listening and reading, TOPIK II adds writing, and neither the paper nor the internet version asks you to speak. A separate TOPIK speaking test exists, taken on a computer and so far only in Korea, with its own result that never changes your TOPIK level. Sit it only if an institution names it, and practise speaking anyway, because interviews check it. To plan any session, continue with TOPIK exam dates and check the official schedule.