Want to appear for the TOPIK exam in India to check your proficiency in Korean?

You will get details about the TOPIK exam in India 2022, dates, test centres, and levels.

Speaking a foreign language has many advantages, from knowing the cultural background to getting a dream job in a foreign. Moreover, an exciting international trip to immigrate to a country offers endless opportunities to learn foreign languages.

Besides, due to globalisation, there are many career options for learning the Korean language in India. The Korean language will allow you to connect with 75 million people worldwide.

If you are interested in learning the Korean language or already know it to some extent. In this case, appearing for the Korean TOPIK exam is an excellent idea to know your current strength in the tongue.

If you pass the TOPIK exam, you can get a certification recognised and accepted in all countries.

TOPIK Exam in India

TOPIK stands for Test of proficiency in Korea. It is an actual Korean language ability test for non-native Korean. 

Established in 1997 by KRF (The Korean Research Foundation), TOPIK set an international standard to measure proficiency in the Korean language. It also certifies the degree of mastery of Korean by non-native speakers all around the globe.

TOPIK exam took place in 1997 with 2274 candidates; by now, it has risen to 500000. A drastic increase in the candidates for TOPIK took place in a few years.

Currently, TOPIK is held six times a year for people who want to study in Korea for further education and twice for overseas people.

The test includes writing, reading and listening.

 Who administers the TOPIK test?

The National Institution for International Education( NIIED) conducts the TOPIK test globally.

NIIED is affiliated with the Korean Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, South Korea. Since 2011.

Acceptance and Recognition

TOPIK exam is the most highly adapted Korean proficiency test.

South Korea’s Government institutions officially certify various forms of TOPIK. It has worldwide recognition and approval by big MNCs and private and government educational institutions.

Types of TOPIK test

Three kinds of TOPIK exams are there-

• S- TOPIK
• B- TOPIK
• EPS-TOPIK

All the exams have recognition and approval worldwide, but selection depends on your professional aspirations. According to your goal to learn the language, select the exam and the availability of the test centre near you.

 Dates for TOPIK exams 2022

NIIED conducted the TOPIK exam six times within a year. But the January exam is performed only in Korea. In contrast, April, May, July, October and November are organised in Korea and other parts of the world.

In April and October, India conducts TOPIK exams. Usually, two sublevels of TOPIK-I take place in the morning. At the same time, levels 3 to 6 of TOPIK II take place in the second half ( afternoon) with a place break in between.

The registration is an online process and based on first cum first service.

Check below the 2022 TOPIK test dates:

TOPIK levels

TOPIK has three proficiency testing levels – Beginners, Intermediate, and Advanced levels. Therefore a total of six classes are there.

TOPIK I – This element level test has two sublevel grades, i.e., Level 1 and 2.

TOPIK II has intermediate and advanced levels, including four sublevels (Level 3, Level 4, Level 5 and Level 6).

Validity of the score

TOPIK and EPS- TOPIK have their validation for two years from the time of the result. It may sound weird, so less time, but people will definitely forget without practice. So it is also better to appear for a time to time exams to upgrade your language knowledge.

What are the examination fees for TOPIK?

The costs depend on the level of the TOPIK exam you opt for and also on the country. 

In India, it will cost 1000 for TOPIK I and 1300 for TOPIK II

TOPIK Test centres in India

In January 2022, there were 59 exam centres in South Korea and 25 overseas.

In total, they have 314 TOPIK exam centres in eighty-seven countries total.

The TOPIK exam in India conduct in five domestic locations-

• Chennai

• Hyderabad
• Jharkhand
• Delhi
• Manipur

Delhi– School of language, literature and cultural studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi

Manipur- 2nd floor, Manipur University, Canchipur, Imphal, Manipur.

Jharkhand- CFEL room no 29, central university of Jharkhand, Bramble, Ranchi

Hyderabad- Honorary consulate general, Korea House, no-64, road no 14, Film Nagar, Hyderabad

Chennai- The Indo centre, 18, Adyar club gate road, Chennai.

Topik exam pass marks

TOPIK I

Level1- Low beginner survival ability (self-introduction, shopping etc.) required to score 80 out of 200.

Level 2- A high-level beginner’s conversation ability (recognition of formal and informal expression) must score 140 out of 200.

TOPIK II

Level 3 – Lower intermediate comprehension and communication ability ( Simple conversation in everyday or task-based interactions) must score 120 out of 300.

Level 4 – High intermediate awareness and communication ability ( Idioms, complicated vocabulary and knowledge of abstract subjects) required to achieve 150 out of 300.

Level5 – Lower advanced comprehension and communication ability ( understanding and using the expression in economics and politics) must score 190 out of 300.

Level 6- High advanced awareness and communication ability ( masters, research and teachers) required score is 230 out of 300.

TOPIK, EPS-TOPIK and KLPT – Differences

TOPIK is the test to check proficiency in Korean for people who want to study or work or for immigration purposes.

• EPS- TOPIK stands for Employment permit system-Test of ability in Korean. EPS workers like factory jobs and manufacturing need to appear for EPS TOPIK to work in Korea.

Generally, EPS TOPIK exams take place once a year, only in sixteen countries. The minimum age limit to appear for this exam is 18 to 39 years. Sadly, there are no EPS TOPIK exam centres in India.

The exam is a beginner’s level, focusing on listening and reading basic daily life requirements and performing work tasks. 

• KLAT – Stands for Korean Language Ability Test, conducted by the Korean educational testing services permitted by the Korean government of the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.

It is the same as the CEFR, the Common European Framework of Reference for Language, evaluating the level of the Korean language. KLAT have only one paper to appear.

 There is only a single set of question papers in the KLAT exam, and the score determines your level.

• There are four levels- KLAT Beginners have grades 1 and 2, KLAT intermediates have grades 3 and 4 and KLAT advanced have grades 5 to 6.

TOPIK is the most trusted and recognised all over the globe, and it is appropriate for academic purposes.

Registration for the TOPIK exam

In embassy of South Korea organised the TOPIK examinations. Select your nearby exam centre. You must take two passport-sized photographs, the registration fee depending on the level and a photo identity card ( driving licence, adhar card, passport or voter id card). Lastly, you need to fill out the application form.

Preparation for the TOPIK exam

Constant practice and perseverance are critical factors in passing the TOPIK exam. You must buy Korean language books and download apps for practice if you are doing self-study. But for a higher level, you need the help of trained Korean faculty.

Hangul has a simple alphabet; one can learn it in a short period.

Most importantly, you need seriousness and dedication to clear any exams.

It is best if you get to enrol in a nearby Korean language courses institution, or you can also take some online courses. These institutions’ syllabus is well versed, and the expert trainer can guide you to clear your doubts. Furthermore, they can teach you advanced-level vocabulary, sentence constructions and grammar.

In B-TOPIK, four compulsory sections are written, reading and listening, and language and grammar. Each unit has 100 marks for 90 minutes on the based of MCQs. You will get a score from the total number of marks on the paper.

EPS-TOPIK covers only reading and listening at a basic level. They test only the basic understanding of the language related to work-life transactions like health issues, safety etc. Primarily migrant workers appear for the EPS-TOPIK exam to work in Korea

Benefits of the TOPIK exam

1. It will support by increasing the possibility of getting scholarships.

One of the pinnacle advantages of taking TOPIK is to get a scholarship to examine in South Korea.

TOPIK might not be the number one criterion at leading universities. Still, the score will increase your possibilities of getting admission to government and private colleges.

Many top-ranked Korean universities, together with Seoul National University (SNU), Korea University (KU), Yonsei, POSTECH, KAIST, Hanyang, EWU, Sogang, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), and many others, grant scholarships to the overseas students.

2. Give your profession a boost.

 Nowadays, many jobs want an understanding of Korea in a globalised economy. It opens doors to career opportunities in China or any part of the world.

Let’s say you are searching for positions in Korean corporations or global companies that do commercial enterprise with South Korea. In that case, your capability to communicate in Korean could make your resume stand out.

TOPIK rating helps the corporation to shortlist candidates. Your TOPIK certification on y will enhance your CV.

Many jobs like teacher, tour guide, interpreter, translator, and content writer are offered to the students.

Suppose you would like to work as a Korean language expert; you can emerge as an asset and earn extra by speaking fluent Korean.

3. Immigration to South Korea

The number of immigrants to South Korea has risen. 

Korea opened its doors to foreign people in the late 1990s, especially in challenging work-in-depth regions. Since then, essential Korean language skills have become necessary for jobs.

Do you have applied for permanent residence?

If so, you may participate in the “Korea Immigration and Integration Program” (KIIP), administrated by the Ministry of Justice. 

In that situation, the TOPIK rating can play a crucial role. Your applications get choice, amongst others, ahead of others who don’t have such qualifications.

Final Takeaway

Learning the Korean language in India means beginning a new shiny future. Korea is one country with many possibilities. 

Korean is an attractive second language option you can select. 

Learning the Korean language in India can broaden cultural ideas.  Knowing Korean can add a further advantage because they may refer to you as the candidate rather than those who don’t examine the language. 

English speakers can find it difficult to learn Korean because it is uncommon for a European language. But with practice, you’ll get a grasp of the tongue.

The Korean language has easy grammar, sentence formation, and pronunciations; you may grasp it within a few days.

 It has a couple of speech ranges, particles displaying grammatical family members and expressions in a sentence.

You can master this language within five years in stage VI of the TOPIK test. NIIED conducted the TOPIK exam six times within a year. But the January exam is only held in Korea. In contrast, April, May, July, October and November are organised in Korea and other parts of the world.

FAQ’s