What Is TOPIK 2?
TOPIK 2 is the second of the two papers in the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK). Korean calls the test 한국어능력시험 (hangugeoneungnyeoksiheom), and TOPIK 2 and TOPIK II are two names for the same paper. Unlike TOPIK I, it tests a productive skill: besides listening and reading, you write four answers, from two short gap-fills to a 600-700 character essay. Roughly speaking, it suits learners from B1 upward on the CEFR scale (an approximate match, because no official table links the two).
| Item | TOPIK 2 |
|---|---|
| Levels awarded | Level 3, 4, 5 and 6 |
| Sections | Listening, writing and reading |
| Questions | 104 in total (50 listening, 4 writing, 50 reading) |
| Time on paper | 180 minutes: period 1 is listening 60 + writing 50; after a break, period 2 is reading 70 |
| Maximum score | 300 points (100 per section) |
| Writing | Questions 51-54, handwritten on paper tests and typed on the computer test |
| Speaking | Not included; a separate speaking test exists |
These are the paper-test figures. The computer-based TOPIK IBT awards the same levels with its own question set and timings. The full breakdown of every question type is on the TOPIK 2 exam format page, and the TOPIK exam format page compares both papers.
The Cut-Score Ladder
Your listening, writing and reading scores add up to one total, and the total gives your level. There is no separate pass mark per section, according to the current official guide on topik.go.kr.
| Level | Cut score | Score range | Band |
|---|---|---|---|
| No level | below 120 | 0-119 | — |
| Level 3 | 120 | 120-149 | 중급 (junggeup), intermediate |
| Level 4 | 150 | 150-189 | 중급 (junggeup), intermediate |
| Level 5 | 190 | 190-229 | 고급 (gogeup), advanced |
| Level 6 | 230 | 230-300 | 고급 (gogeup), advanced |
The steps are not equal. Level 3 to Level 4 is 30 points, while Level 4 to Level 5 and Level 5 to Level 6 are 40 points each. A total below 120 gives no level, even for a learner well past beginner, which is why the choice between the two papers matters.
Who Should Start Here?
Start with TOPIK 2 if a timed TOPIK II practice paper gives you about 120 points or more, or if you already hold Level 2 and can write a short paragraph. If your practice score is lower, TOPIK 1 is the safer test, because it still awards Level 1 or 2. The difference between TOPIK 1 and 2 page walks through that choice. Once you know TOPIK 2 is your paper, the next step is to find the page that answers your question.
Pages in This Subhub
Eight pages cover TOPIK 2, plus a ninth, the grammar list, shared with the TOPIK grammar subhub. Read them in study order: format first, then the level you are aiming at, then words and grammar, then a plan.
Format and Levels
- TOPIK 2 exam format. The paper question by question: 50 listening items in 60 minutes, writing questions 51 to 54 in 50 minutes and 50 reading items in 70 minutes, with the test-day order, a pacing plan and how the 300 points are scored.
- TOPIK level 3. What 120 to 149 points means: independent daily life, familiar social topics and short paragraphs, roughly B1. It explains why Level 3 is the hardest single jump and why writing questions 51 to 53 matter most at this level.
- TOPIK level 4. What 150 to 189 points means: news, abstract topics, basic work Korean and common idioms, roughly B2. It explains why "4급 이상" (Level 4 or above) is the phrase you will meet most in notices.
- TOPIK level 5. What 190 to 229 points means: work or research in a specialist field to some degree and unfamiliar political, economic and cultural topics, roughly C1. It shows why question 54 is usually the fastest route up from Level 4.
- TOPIK level 6. What 230 points or more means: the top level, with fairly accurate and fluent professional Korean, roughly C1-C2. It also sets out what the certificate still does not prove, such as speaking.
Vocabulary and Grammar
- TOPIK 2 vocabulary list. 72 anchor words in 12 topics, from economy and society to abstract concepts, with Sino-Korean word families such as -화 and -성 and the collocations that questions 53 and 54 reward. For word-count estimates by level, see how many words you need for TOPIK.
- TOPIK idioms. 20 body-part idioms (관용어), such as 발이 넓다 and 귀가 얇다, with literal and real meanings, how TOPIK II tests them and a 10-question drill.
- TOPIK 2 grammar list. Twenty-two core patterns for levels 3 and 4 in five function groups, such as reasons, contrast, condition and reported speech, each with an example and a lesson link. It sits in the TOPIK grammar subhub, beside an advanced list for levels 5 and 6.
Passing
- How to pass TOPIK 2. A five-step, 16-week plan at 60-90 minutes a day: section targets from a diagnostic paper, words and grammar, timed reading and listening, weekly writing for questions 51 to 54, and seven full papers with an error log. A TOPIK mock test explains how to sit and score each paper.
A short chooser helps you open the right page first.
| Your situation | Open first | Then |
|---|---|---|
| "I passed TOPIK I and want Level 3." | TOPIK level 3 | TOPIK writing |
| "A notice says Level 4 or above." | TOPIK level 4 | TOPIK mock test |
| "I have never seen a TOPIK II paper." | TOPIK 2 exam format | TOPIK level 3 |
| "I need Level 5 or 6 for work or research." | TOPIK level 5 | TOPIK level 6 |
| "My test is in about four months." | How to pass TOPIK 2 | TOPIK 2 vocabulary list |
| "My writing score is the weak one." | TOPIK writing | TOPIK level 4 |
| "I need intermediate grammar." | TOPIK 2 grammar list | TOPIK level 3 |
| "I lose points on long passages." | TOPIK reading | TOPIK listening |
The format, levels and study pages are only part of the exam story, so the next section marks what this subhub leaves out.
What Is Not Covered Here?
This subhub covers TOPIK 2 only: its format, levels 3 to 6, the words and grammar to study and a plan to pass. It does not cover TOPIK I, which awards levels 1 and 2 and has no writing; for that paper, see TOPIK 1. Each section of the test also has its own subhub with question types and tips: TOPIK writing, TOPIK reading and TOPIK listening. Speaking is a separate exam, covered on the TOPIK speaking test page.
Practical matters such as exam dates, registration steps, fees and test centres change every year and are not repeated here. Use TOPIK exam dates and TOPIK registration as guides, and confirm everything on topik.go.kr, which is the official source. The meaning of all six levels side by side is on the TOPIK levels page, and the full list of TOPIK pages is on the TOPIK hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take TOPIK 2 without TOPIK 1?
Yes. TOPIK I and TOPIK II are separate tests, and there is no rule that you must pass TOPIK I first. Many learners sit only TOPIK II. The risk is that a total below 120 out of 300 gives no level at all, so take a timed TOPIK II mock first and choose the paper from that score.
How many words do I need for TOPIK 2?
TOPIK publishes no official word list. Teachers and textbooks commonly cite rough estimates of about 3,000 words for Level 3 and about 5,000 for Level 4, rising to 9,000 or more for Level 6. These are estimates, not official figures, and many candidates reach Level 3 with fewer words and strong listening.
Is the writing section compulsory?
Writing is part of every TOPIK II paper, so every candidate sits it; you cannot choose a version without it. Your level comes from the total of listening, writing and reading, so a weak writing score does not block a level by itself, but a blank one costs up to 100 points. Confirm the current rules on topik.go.kr.
How long does TOPIK 2 take?
The paper test takes 180 minutes of test time. The first period is 110 minutes, with listening (60 minutes) followed by writing (50 minutes); after a break, the second period is reading (70 minutes). Arrival and check-in add time on the day. The computer-based version has its own timings, so check the IBT guide.
Does TOPIK 2 include speaking?
No. TOPIK II has listening, writing and reading only. Speaking is assessed by a separate TOPIK speaking test with its own registration and scale. If an employer or programme needs proof of speaking, check whether it accepts that test, and confirm the current details on topik.go.kr.