EPS-TOPIK and TOPIK are two different exams. EPS-TOPIK is for working in Korea through the Employment Permit System (EPS): 40 questions (20 Reading + 20 Listening), 50 minutes, 100 points, run by HRD Korea. TOPIK is the general Korean proficiency test (for study, work or visas): TOPIK I covers levels 1-2 (200 points) and TOPIK II levels 3-6 (300 points), run by NIIED. Which one you need depends on your goal.
The key differences in one table
| EPS-TOPIK | TOPIK I | TOPIK II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Working in Korea via EPS | General level (beginner) | General level (intermediate and advanced) |
| Run by | HRD Korea | NIIED (topik.go.kr) | NIIED (topik.go.kr) |
| Sections | Reading, Listening | Listening, Reading | Listening, Writing, Reading |
| Questions | 40 | 70 | 104 |
| Time | 50 min | 100 min | 180 min |
| Points | 100 | 200 | 300 |
| Result | A score (for selection) | Level 1 or 2 | Level 3, 4, 5 or 6 |
EPS-TOPIK: for working in Korea
In Uzbekistan, registration is announced by the Agency for External Labour Migration and HRD Korea's EPS center in Uzbekistan. Dates, fees and age requirements are published in each year's announcement - check them only in official sources (gov.uz/migration, epstopik.hrdkorea.or.kr).
- Reading (읽기): 20 questions, 25 minutes, 50 points - pictures and situations, vocabulary and grammar, practical information (road signs, workplace safety signs), notices, job ads and manuals.
- Listening (듣기): 20 questions, 25 minutes, 50 points - sounds and spelling, pictures, short dialogues and stories.
- Every question has 4 options and one right answer; each is worth 2.5 points.
- Scoring is relative: among those who reach the minimum score for their sector, candidates are ranked by score.
- Those who pass the language test then take a skills test and a competency assessment before joining the job-seeker roster.
- The test is taken on a computer or tablet, one question per screen.
TOPIK I: levels 1-2
| Section | Questions | Time | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening (듣기) | 30 | 40 min | 100 |
| Reading (읽기) | 40 (31-70) | 60 min | 100 |
| Total | 70 | 100 min | 200 |
- The level comes from the total: level 1 from 80 points, level 2 from 140. Below 80, no level is awarded.
- There is no separate minimum per section.
- Reading questions are worth 2 or 3 points: topic, fill the blank, the statement that does not match a notice, main idea, sentence order, sentence position and more.
TOPIK II: levels 3-6
| Section | Questions | Time | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening (듣기) | 50 | 60 min | 100 |
| Writing (쓰기) | 4 (51-54) | 50 min | 100 |
| Reading (읽기) | 50 | 70 min | 100 |
| Total | 104 | 180 min | 300 |
- Level cut-offs: level 3 - 120, level 4 - 150, level 5 - 190, level 6 - 230 points. Below 120, no level is awarded.
- Writing: 51-52 complete a sentence, 53 a 200-300 character text based on a graph or data, 54 a 600-700 character argument.
- Each of the 50 Reading questions is worth 2 points: grammar forms, similar expressions, what an ad or notice is about, graphs, newspaper headlines and the author's attitude.
Paper (PBT) and computer (IBT) TOPIK
TOPIK is held on paper (PBT) and, since 2023, also on computer (IBT). The IBT has a different number of questions, score scale and cut-offs. Check which format your session uses when you register on topik.go.kr. The figures above are for the paper test.
Which exam should you take
- You want to work in Korea through EPS (E-9 visa) - EPS-TOPIK.
- You want to study at a Korean university or prove your level officially - TOPIK.
- Just starting out - TOPIK I; above intermediate - TOPIK II.
- TOPIK results are valid for 2 years. Check the level your university or program requires on its official page.
Preparation tips
- Learn to read Hangul fluently - that is where Reading time goes.
- For EPS-TOPIK, learn workplace vocabulary separately: tools, protective equipment, safety signs and job notices.
- For TOPIK I, particles and endings (에서, 와/과, -아서, -고) and everyday topics (shopping, transport, weather) are the core.
- For TOPIK II, work on newspaper headlines, graph descriptions and dense texts; practise Writing 53-54 against the clock.
- After each practice, log your mistakes by type: grammar, vocabulary or reading comprehension.
Frequently asked questions
- Does EPS-TOPIK count as a TOPIK level? No. They are separate exams: EPS-TOPIK is only for EPS job selection, while TOPIK gives a general language level.
- Can I take TOPIK II without passing TOPIK I? Yes, levels are not taken in order - choose the one that fits your level.
- What if I score too low for level 3 in TOPIK II? Below 120 points in total, no level is awarded.
- Does Trylab have Listening? For now the Reading section is available in the real format; Listening will be added once the Korean audio is ready.
