Key facts
- Three lists are published: TOPIK 1, TOPIK 2 core and TOPIK 2 advanced.
What Is TOPIK Grammar?
TOPIK grammar is the group of Korean endings, particles and connectors that a candidate needs to understand questions and choose correct answers on the Test of Proficiency in Korean. Its Korean name is 한국어능력시험 (hangugeo neungnyeok siheom), and it is run by the National Institute for International Education (NIIED). Their official site, topik.go.kr, publishes the exam guide and the level descriptions.
There is no grammar section to prepare for in isolation. Grammar works inside the other parts of the test. On TOPIK I, you meet it in listening dialogues and reading notices, and on TOPIK II you also meet it in the writing tasks, where you complete sentences and write an essay. Four Korean terms help when you read grammar books:
- 어미 (eomi): an ending that attaches to a verb or adjective, such as -아요/어요.
- 조사 (josa): a particle that attaches to a noun, such as 은/는 and 을/를.
- 연결 어미 (yeongyeol eomi): a connective ending that joins two clauses, such as -고 or -는데.
- 문법 항목 (munbeop hangmok): a grammar item, that is, one pattern in a list.
The official sources do not give a numbered list of grammar points for candidates, so any TOPIK grammar list, including the ones here, is a teacher's selection based on beginner and intermediate course content and on the kinds of patterns that appear in the questions. Check the exam guide on topik.go.kr for any change. One example from each band shows how the patterns grow.
| Band | Sample pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Levels 1-2 | -(으)ㄹ 거예요, future | 내일 친구를 만날 거예요. (I will meet a friend tomorrow.) |
| Levels 3-4 | -는데도, even though | 비가 오는데도 사람들이 많아요. (Even though it is raining, there are many people.) |
| Levels 5-6 | -(으)ㄹ수록, -기 마련이다 | 연습할수록 실력이 늘기 마련이다. (The more you practise, the more your skill is bound to grow.) |
In the first example, the written 거 is spoken with a tense sound, [만날꺼예요]. Because grammar scales up, the key question is which list matches your level.
Which List Should You Study?
Study the list for the level you are aiming at, and move up only when the earlier list feels easy. The table matches each band to its list, its state and its use.
| Your target | List | State | Use it for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 or 2 (TOPIK I) | TOPIK 1 grammar list | Published | 32 core patterns in 5 groups: particles, endings and tenses, negation and questions, wanting and ability, connectors |
| Level 3 or 4 (TOPIK II) | TOPIK 2 grammar list | Published | 22 core patterns in 5 function groups, such as reasons, contrast, reported speech and passives |
| Level 5 or 6 (TOPIK II) | TOPIK 2 grammar advanced | Published | 20 formal, written and literary patterns in 5 function groups |
Within each band, follow the same study order: particles first, then endings and tenses, then negation and questions, then wanting and ability, and finally connectors. This order matches how patterns build on each other. A learner who knows 은/는 and 이/가 can read nearly any short notice, whereas a learner who knows connectors but not particles cannot.
For a wider tour of grammar that is not tied to the test, see Korean grammar. The lists here are a selection for exam use, and the lessons there explain each pattern in full.
Pages in This Subhub
This subhub lists three pages, one for each level band.
TOPIK 1 List
- TOPIK 1 grammar list. Thirty-two core patterns for levels 1 and 2, in five groups, each with one beginner example and a link to a full lesson. It also explains what the list leaves out, such as some honorific verb forms and the plain written style.
TOPIK 2 Core and Advanced Lists
- TOPIK 2 grammar list (levels 3-4). Twenty-two core patterns for reasons, contrast, condition, reported speech, passives and nominalisers, each with an example and a lesson link.
- TOPIK 2 grammar advanced (levels 5-6). Twenty formal, written and literary patterns such as -기 마련이다 and -(으)ㄹ 따름이다, each with an example and a lesson link.
If you are preparing for TOPIK I, the TOPIK 1 subhub puts the grammar list beside the format, the vocabulary list and a study plan. For the whole exam, return to the TOPIK hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an official TOPIK grammar list?
No official numbered list of grammar points for candidates is known to exist, so every TOPIK grammar list, including the ones here, is editorial. The organisers publish the exam guide and level descriptions on topik.go.kr, which you should check for any change before you rely on a list.
How many grammar points do I need?
There is no official count. The TOPIK 1 list on this site has 32 core patterns in five groups, which is a practical target for levels 1 and 2. The TOPIK 2 lists have 22 core patterns for levels 3 and 4 and 20 advanced patterns for levels 5 and 6. Recognising a pattern in a sentence matters more than memorising a number.
Which grammar is tested in writing?
Only TOPIK II has a writing section. Its first tasks ask you to complete sentences, so endings and connectors are tested directly, and the essay task needs formal written style, connectors and clear sentence structure. TOPIK I has no writing, so its grammar is tested through listening and reading.
Do I need honorifics for TOPIK I?
Recognition matters more than production. Learn the polite request -(으)세요 and the formal -ㅂ니다/-습니다 style, which appear in dialogues and notices. Honorific verb pairs such as 있다 and 계시다 are lower priority at this level. The TOPIK 1 grammar list shows which patterns to prioritise.