TomaruTOPIK I vs TOPIK II: Format, Scores, Levels and Vocabulary Compared
TOPIK I covers levels 1–2 with listening and reading in 100 minutes; TOPIK II covers levels 3–6 and adds writing in 180 minutes. Side-by-side table of questions, scores, level cut-offs and word counts (about 1,835 vs 5,690–10,635 words), plus how long the step up takes.
Published By TomaruRead time 5 min
- TOPIK
- TOPIK I
- TOPIK II
TOPIK I is the beginner test: listening and reading only, 100 minutes, scored out of 200, and it awards level 1 or 2. TOPIK II is the intermediate-to-advanced test: listening, reading and writing, 180 minutes, scored out of 300, and it awards levels 3 to 6.
TOPIK I vs TOPIK II at a glance
| TOPIK I | TOPIK II | |
|---|---|---|
| Levels awarded | 1–2 | 3–6 |
| Sections | Listening 30 questions, reading 40 questions | Listening 50, reading 50, writing 4 |
| Total time | 100 minutes | 180 minutes |
| Maximum score | 200 | 300 |
| Level cut-offs | Level 1: 80, level 2: 140 | Level 3: 120, level 4: 150, level 5: 190, level 6: 230 |
| Writing | None | 4 questions |
| Reference vocabulary (cumulative) | about 1,835 words | 3,490 (level 3) to 10,635 (level 6) |
| Tomaru deck | TOPIK I, 1,869 words | TOPIK II, 3,920 words |
Format and cut-offs: NIIED, the agency that runs TOPIK. Vocabulary: the vocabulary grade list of the International Standard Curriculum for Korean Language Education, National Institute of Korean Language (2018 report). TOPIK itself publishes no word list.
The real difference: vocabulary jumps, and writing appears
Vocabulary roughly triples. The reference curriculum assigns 1,835 words to levels 1–2. Level 4 sits at 5,690 cumulative words. Level 6 is 10,635.
| Target | Cumulative words |
|---|---|
| Level 2 (top of TOPIK I) | 1,835 |
| Level 3 | 3,490 |
| Level 4 | 5,690 |
| Level 5 | 8,055 |
| Level 6 | 10,635 |
Writing is only in TOPIK II. Four writing questions mean you need to produce words, not just recognise them. A word you can recognise in a reading passage is not necessarily one you can spell under time pressure.
The cut-off for level 3 is low. 120 out of 300 is 40%. A learner who has finished TOPIK I vocabulary and some TOPIK II words can reasonably aim for level 3, while level 4 needs half the points.
How long the step from TOPIK I to TOPIK II takes
At 20 new words per study day, going from the 1,869-word TOPIK I deck to both decks (5,789 words) takes about 200 more study days.
Spacing the reviews is what makes that work. In Tomaru's anonymous learning data, learners who review on schedule remember about 80% of words when tested the next day, and 80–90% when tested a week to a month later.
Which one should you take?
- Take TOPIK I if you are still building basic vocabulary (under about 1,800 words) or you only need level 1 or 2.
- Take TOPIK II if you already know most TOPIK I vocabulary. Scoring 120 is enough for level 3, so there is little reason to sit TOPIK I once you are past level 2.
- Plan backwards from the word count. At 20 new words a day, roughly 2,200 words separate level 3 (3,490) from level 4 (5,690): about 110 study days.
The 108th TOPIK is on October 18, 2026 and the 109th on November 15, 2026 (Ministry of Education notice).
Study both levels in Tomaru
The TOPIK I and TOPIK II decks are ready in the Tomaru app and do not overlap, so you can finish one and move straight to the other. Tomaru's core vocabulary features are free forever, with no ads. FSRS schedules each word's next review from your answers. For the full level-by-level word counts, see How Many Words Do You Need for TOPIK 1–6?
FAQ
What is the difference between TOPIK I and TOPIK II?
TOPIK I awards levels 1–2 and has listening and reading only (100 minutes, 200 points). TOPIK II awards levels 3–6 and adds writing (180 minutes, 300 points).
Can I skip TOPIK I and take TOPIK II directly?
Yes. The two tests are independent, and TOPIK I is not a prerequisite. If you score below 120 on TOPIK II, you receive no level.
What score do I need for TOPIK level 3 or level 4?
Level 3 needs 120 out of 300 on TOPIK II and level 4 needs 150. Level 5 needs 190 and level 6 needs 230.
How many words are in TOPIK I and TOPIK II?
There is no official list. The government reference curriculum assigns about 1,835 words to levels 1–2 and 5,690 to levels 1–4. Tomaru's TOPIK I deck has 1,869 words and the TOPIK II deck has 3,920.
How much more vocabulary does TOPIK II need?
About three times as much. Level 2 sits at 1,835 cumulative words in the reference curriculum, level 4 at 5,690 and level 6 at 10,635. TOPIK II also adds four writing questions.
Source: Tomaru anonymous learning data (2026). Tomaru's word lists are compiled from public learning materials and are not official TOPIK materials.
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