2026 TOPIK PBT and IBT Formats, Domestic Test Fees, and Score Validity Periods at a Glance

For the 2026 Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) in Korea, the number of questions, test duration, and total score scales differ between the PBT and IBT formats. According to the current official format chart from the National Institute for International Education, TOPIK I has a maximum score of 200 points for the PBT and 400 points for the IBT, while TOPIK II has a maximum score of 300 points for the PBT and 600 points for the IBT.

Domestic test fees also vary depending on the test format and level. Based on the 2026 implementation plan, PBT fees are 40,000 won for TOPIK I and 55,000 won for TOPIK II, while IBT fees are 70,000 won for TOPIK I and 95,000 won for TOPIK II; the speaking test is an additional 80,000 won. TOPIK scores are valid for two years from the date of release.

Test Formats by Method

The current official table for the “Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK)” published by the National Institute for International Education classifies PBT I, PBT II, IBT I, and IBT II by section, number of questions, test duration, total score, and grade intervals. Since PBT and IBT use different total score scales and grade ranges, the same numerical score cannot be interpreted using the same scale.

The score bands for each test format are listed in the current official score conversion table published by the National Institute for International Education. Since the total score scales differ by test format, when checking your score, you must first determine whether it is PBT or IBT, and whether it is TOPIK I or TOPIK II, and then refer to the corresponding score band in the official table.

2026 Domestic Test Fees

The domestic test fees outlined in the “Announcement on the 2026 Implementation Plan for the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK I, TOPIK II, and TOPIK Speaking Assessment)” issued by the Ministry of Education and the National Institute for International Education are as follows.

These amounts represent the 2026 domestic test fees.

Items to Verify When Transferring Score Reports to an Admissions Application

PBT and IBT differ in the number of questions, test duration, total score scale, and grade ranges. When entering TOPIK score information on an admissions application, it is necessary to verify the following items based on the same test format to avoid confusion between the different testing systems.

• Whether the test format is PBT or IBT
• Whether the test level is TOPIK I or TOPIK II
• What is the maximum total score for that test format?
• What are the grade ranges for that test format on the official score report?
• Is the score still valid within the two-year validity period from the date of release?

Scores are valid for two years from the date of release. This validity period does not, however, serve as the sole criterion for individual universities to determine whether to accept a specific test format or to approve an applicant’s admission application.

Official Verification Channels

Test formats can be verified on the National Institute for International Education’s “Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK)” page. This page provides detailed information on the sections, number of questions, test duration, total score, and grade ranges for PBT I, PBT II, IBT I, and IBT II.

- National Institute for International Education, “Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK)”: https://www.niied.go.kr/web/niied/contents/niied_topik

The 2026 domestic test fees and score validity periods can be found in the “Announcement on the 2026 Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) I, TOPIK II, and TOPIK Speaking Assessment Implementation Plan” issued by the Ministry of Education and the National Institute of International Education.

- Ministry of Education and National Institute for International Education, “Announcement of the 2026 Implementation Plan for the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) I, TOPIK II, and TOPIK Speaking Test”: https://www.niied.go.kr/convert/preview/1764509391006/index.html

Since changes such as service disruptions for specific 2026 test sessions, refunds, cancellations, or additional registration may be posted in the current operational notices on the official TOPIK website, candidates must check these official notices for the specific operational details at the time of taking the exam.

- Official TOPIK Website Notices: https://register.topik.go.kr/tmpNotice.do