TomaruHow Many Words Do You Need for TOPIK 1–6? Word Counts by Level
TOPIK has no official word list. The Korean government's reference curriculum puts about 1,835 words at levels 1–2, 5,690 at 1–4 and 10,635 at 1–6. Here is the full table, the official sources, the score you need for each level, and how long the words take at 20 new words a day.
Published By TomaruRead time 6 min
- TOPIK
- Korean vocabulary
- TOPIK vocabulary
Short answer: TOPIK does not publish a word list, but the Korean government's reference curriculum for Korean as a foreign language gives a clear guide. It assigns about 1,835 words to levels 1–2 (TOPIK I), 5,690 to levels 1–4 and 10,635 to levels 1–6. In practice that means roughly 1,800–2,000 words for TOPIK I and 5,500–6,000 for TOPIK II level 4.
The 108th TOPIK is on October 18, 2026 and the 109th on November 15, 2026.
TOPIK word counts by level
| TOPIK level | Test | Score needed | New words at this level | Cumulative words | Tomaru deck |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | TOPIK I | 80–139 / 200 | 735 | 735 | TOPIK I (1,869 words) |
| Level 2 | TOPIK I | 140–200 / 200 | 1,100 | 1,835 | same deck |
| Level 3 | TOPIK II | 120–149 / 300 | 1,655 | 3,490 | TOPIK II (3,920 words) |
| Level 4 | TOPIK II | 150–189 / 300 | 2,200 | 5,690 | same deck |
| Level 5 | TOPIK II | 190–229 / 300 | 2,365 | 8,055 | — |
| Level 6 | TOPIK II | 230–300 / 300 | 2,580 | 10,635 | — |
Word counts per level come from the vocabulary grade list of the International Standard Curriculum for Korean Language Education (국제 통용 한국어 교육 표준 교육과정), stage 4 report by the National Institute of Korean Language (국립국어원), presented in 2018. Score bands come from NIIED, the agency that runs TOPIK.
The two Tomaru decks do not overlap: TOPIK I has 1,869 words and TOPIK II adds 3,920 more, so together they cover 5,789 words, close to the 5,690 the curriculum assigns to levels 1–4.
What the official sources actually say
TOPIK itself publishes no word list. NIIED's TOPIK page describes the test format and score bands only. TOPIK I has 30 listening and 40 reading questions in 100 minutes, scored out of 200. TOPIK II has 50 listening, 50 reading and 4 writing questions in 180 minutes, scored out of 300 (NIIED). The 2026 dates come from the Ministry of Education notice 2025-317 (PDF).
The reference curriculum is the closest thing to an official list. Its vocabulary grade list has 10,635 words across six levels: 735, 1,100, 1,655, 2,200, 2,365 and 2,580 (2018 report).
An older government list is still widely quoted. The National Institute of Korean Language's 2003 Korean Learning Vocabulary List (한국어 학습용 어휘 목록) has 5,965 words in three bands: A 982, B 2,111 and C 2,872 (국립국어원). When you see "TOPIK needs about 6,000 words", this list is usually where the number starts.
How long does it take to learn TOPIK vocabulary?
At 20 new words per study day, here is how long each goal takes.
| Goal | Words | Study days at 20 new words a day |
|---|---|---|
| TOPIK I (levels 1–2) | 1,869 | about 95 |
| TOPIK II deck on top of TOPIK I | 3,920 | about 200 more |
| Both decks (close to level 4) | 5,789 | about 290 |
Reviewing on schedule is what makes new words stay. In Tomaru's anonymous learning data, a word you did not know the first time is remembered about 60% of the time if you review it the next day, but less than half the time if the review waits a week. If your exam is on November 15, six weeks from now, protect the words you already know and add new ones only at a pace you can keep reviewing.
Study TOPIK vocabulary in Tomaru
The TOPIK I and TOPIK II decks are ready in the Tomaru app, with English meanings and example sentences. Tomaru's core vocabulary features are free forever, with no ads. You can start studying straight away: FSRS schedules each word's next review from your answers, so words you miss come back sooner and words you know well are pushed further out. How the scheduling works is explained in What is FSRS.
FAQ
How many words do I need for TOPIK I?
About 1,800–2,000. The reference curriculum assigns 1,835 words to levels 1 and 2, and Tomaru's TOPIK I deck has 1,869. TOPIK I level 2 needs 140 out of 200 points.
How many words do I need for TOPIK II level 4?
About 5,500–6,000 in total. The reference curriculum lists 5,690 words for levels 1–4. Level 4 needs 150 out of 300 points on TOPIK II.
How many words do I need for TOPIK level 6?
About 10,000. The reference curriculum lists 10,635 words across all six levels. Level 6 needs 230 out of 300 points.
Is there an official TOPIK word list?
No. NIIED, which runs TOPIK, does not publish one. The closest official references are the vocabulary grade list in the International Standard Curriculum for Korean Language Education (10,635 words) and the 2003 Korean Learning Vocabulary List (5,965 words).
How long does it take to learn TOPIK I vocabulary?
At 20 new words per study day, the 1,869 TOPIK I words take around 95 study days.
When is the next TOPIK?
The 108th TOPIK is on October 18, 2026 and the 109th on November 15, 2026, according to the Ministry of Education notice.
Source: Tomaru anonymous learning data (2026). Tomaru's word lists are compiled from public learning materials and are not official TOPIK materials.
Start learning
Tomaru is a free vocabulary app with no ads in the core learning flow, using FSRS spaced repetition to move words into long-term memory.