TOPIK vs Hangul Kentei (Hankentei): Level Systems, 2027 Japan Test Dates and Fees, and Which Test Korean Universities, Visas and Scholarships Use

In Japan, a search for a test that proves Korean ability turns up two options: the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK), hosted by the Korean government, and the Hangul Proficiency Test (ハングル能力検定試験, “Hangul Kentei,” commonly called Hankentei (ハン検)), hosted by Japan’s Hangul Proficiency Test Association. Because the names are similar, many people lump them together as a “Korean test,” but they are entirely different exams. The association itself states in its FAQ that Hankentei and TOPIK are completely separate tests. In Japan as well, TOPIK has drawn a cumulative total of more than 410,000 test-takers.

Which one to focus on depends on your goal. If you are considering studying at a Korean university, the bottom line is that you should prepare with TOPIK as your benchmark. Hankentei did not appear among the Korean-language credentials listed in the Korean university admission guidelines, visa rules and government scholarship guidelines we checked. This article sets out the differences between the two tests, the 2027 schedule in Japan, and what the Korean side uses as its standard.

The Two Tests at a Glance

The most confusing part is the direction of the scale. TOPIK Level 6 is the highest, but Hankentei has no Grade 6; on Hankentei, Grade 1 is the highest. Even the same “2” sits in different places: on TOPIK it is second from the bottom, on Hankentei second from the top.

Neither organization’s guidance offers an official conversion table between the two scales. Tables circulating online that claim “Hankentei Grade X is about TOPIK Level X” are not an official standard.

TOPIK: A Test That Assigns Levels by Total Score

TOPIK is divided into TOPIK I and TOPIK II. In a single sitting, your level is determined by the total of your section scores. Maximum scores and level cutoffs for the paper-based test (PBT) are as follows.

If you fall short of the cutoffs, no level is awarded. The level bands are based on the 2026 implementation plan. The computer-based test (IBT) has a maximum of 400 points for TOPIK I and 600 points for TOPIK II, with its own level bands.

The paper-based test (PBT) held in Japan is structured as follows.

• TOPIK I. 30 listening and 40 reading questions, completed in 100 minutes without a break. It is held in the morning (10:00–11:40 a.m.).
• TOPIK II. 50 listening questions, 4 writing questions (including an essay) and 50 reading questions. Period 1 runs 110 minutes and Period 2 runs 70 minutes; it is held in the afternoon.

A computer-based IBT is also offered. The differences between IBT and PBT are covered in TOPIK IBT vs. PBT: Format, Fees and Score Validity Guide.

Hankentei: A Pass/Fail Test for the Grade You Choose

On Hankentei, you sit for the grade of your choice and receive a pass or fail. All grades use a mark-sheet format, and Grade 1 also includes written-answer questions. The maximum score is 100: 40 for listening and 60 for the written section.

The written section lasts 80 minutes for Grades 2 and 1 and 60 minutes for the others; listening is 30 minutes for all grades. In Grade 1, only those who pass the first stage take the second-stage interview (about 15 minutes). For Grades 2 and 1, the instructions are also given in Korean. Adjacent grades can be taken together on the same day: Grades 2, 3 and 5 are held in the morning, and Grade 1 (first stage), pre-2nd grade and Grade 4 in the afternoon.

2027 Test Dates and Fees in Japan

TOPIK (Japan). For 2027, four PBT sessions and two IBT sessions are scheduled in Japan. Registration is accepted online only, through the website of the Japan administrator (Korea Educational Foundation).

A few points to keep in mind:

• A different schedule from Korea. Registration periods in Japan differ from those in Korea. The 110th test in January 2027 and the 115th in November will not be held in Japan, so Japan’s last PBT of 2027 is the 114th, on October 17. The full Korean schedule is in 2027 TOPIK Test Schedule.
• Fees. In Japan, the PBT fee is ¥5,000 for TOPIK I and ¥7,700 for TOPIK II (tax included). The TOPIK II fee rose from ¥7,000 starting with the 105th test (the April 2026 test, with registration in January). Payment is by credit card or at a convenience store. The IBT fee in Japan has not been announced.
• Speaking test. The TOPIK Speaking test is scheduled to be introduced in Japan starting in fiscal 2028.
• ID. You must have an official photo ID (My Number Card, driver’s license, passport, student ID with photo, etc.) to enter the test site. Since Korea’s Ministry of Education has said it will narrow the list of accepted IDs to prevent proxy test-taking, check the latest notice before you sit the test.

Hankentei. The 67th test, in spring 2027, is scheduled for June 6 (Sun) for the first stage and June 27 (Sun) for the Grade 1 second stage. The registration period has not been announced yet. Registration for the 66th test in fall 2026 (November 8) has closed. The online test (introductory grade and IBT 5th grade) will be held on January 17, 2027, with registration from December 1, 2026, to January 6, 2027.

The test fees below are the amounts in effect since the 65th test in spring 2026 (tax included).

The online IBT 5th grade costs ¥4,300, and the introductory grade ¥1,500.

Score Validity: 2 Years for TOPIK

TOPIK scores are valid for 2 years from the results announcement date. The Ministry of Justice manual likewise accepts TOPIK as Korean-language proof for the points-based job-seeker visa (D-10-1), overseas Korean status (F-4) and similar categories only up to 2 years from the results announcement date.

Universities may also set their own reference date. Korea University accepts only scores within 2 years of the application submission date, and Yeungnam University requires scores to be within their validity period as of the application deadline. A TOPIK score earned in the first or second year of high school may have expired by the time you apply, so time your test to fit the application schedule.

Hankentei has no pass validity period set by the association. However, score certificates, which take the place of the pass card and score report, are issued only for passes within 5 years of the pass certification date. And having no validity period is a separate matter from whether the Korean institution receiving your documents will accept it.

Which Test Do Korean Universities, Visas and Scholarships Use?

University admission. In the 2027 admission guidelines for international applicants, TOPIK is the main Korean-language credential.

• Korea University. Requires one of the following: a TOPIK score, completion of the regular program at the Korea University Korean Language Center, completion of the regular program at the Korean language institute of an IEQAS-certified university, completion of the intermediate level at a King Sejong Institute (excluding the online King Sejong Institute; or intermediate on the Sejong Korean Language Assessment), or TOEFL/IELTS. Those who completed the entire high school curriculum (grades 10–12) taught in Korean or English may also apply.
• Yeungnam University. Besides TOPIK Level 3, it accepts King Sejong Institute Intermediate 1 (excluding online courses), completion of Level 3 at a Korean language institute affiliated with a university in Korea, Level 3 of the Korea Immigration and Integration Program (KIIP), and others. However, students admitted through a credential other than TOPIK must separately complete 300 hours or more of Korean language training during the first year after admission.
• Dongseo University. Its Korean track requires one of TOPIK Level 3, KIIP Level 3 (or 61 points on the KIIP pre-assessment), or Intermediate 1 at a local King Sejong Institute. Scholarship tiers for incoming Korean-track students are also set by TOPIK level (from Tier S for Level 5 or higher to Tier C for Level 2 or lower).
• Yonsei University. General departments let applicants prove proficiency by one of several methods, such as “an official Korean or English language score,” while medicine, dentistry, nursing and pharmacy require TOPIK Level 5 (or completion of Level 5 at the Yonsei Korean Language Institute). The guidelines do not say whether Hankentei counts as an official score for general departments, so ask the university directly.

Hankentei was not on the Korean-language requirement lists in the four universities’ guidelines.

After admission and graduation. Many schools continue to look at TOPIK after admission. At Ewha Womans University, freshmen can apply without a language qualification (except for the Division of International Studies), but must obtain TOPIK Level 4 or higher before graduating. Dongseo University’s Korean track also requires a TOPIK Level 4 certificate (Level 3 for arts and physical education) before graduation. Korea University sets the number of semesters of mandatory Korean courses after admission according to TOPIK level. Students admitted to Yonsei University through the international admission track must obtain TOPIK Level 3 before entering their major (except physical education) and TOPIK Level 4 before graduation (replaceable by courses or tests designated by the Korean Language Institute).

Visas and part-time work. In the Ministry of Justice visa and stay manual, Korean proficiency is judged mainly by TOPIK, KIIP and the King Sejong Institute. These three also determine the permitted part-time work hours for international students. First- and second-year undergraduates may work 25 hours a week on weekdays during the semester if they meet criteria such as TOPIK Level 3, and 10 hours if they do not. Hankentei is not on the list of Korean-language credentials specified in the manual.

Government scholarship (GKS). The 2026 GKS graduate program guidelines list only TOPIK and TOPIK IBT as Korean-language proof. TOPIK Level 3 or higher earns bonus points, and Level 5 or 6 exempts the holder from the 1-year Korean language training. All scholars must obtain TOPIK Level 3 (Level 4 or higher depending on the department) to enter the degree program, and the scholarship is canceled if they fall short. We could not confirm the equivalent provision in the undergraduate (GKS-U) guidelines.

So Which Test Should You Take?

If your goal is to enter a Korean university or study in Korea, build your plan around TOPIK. TOPIK is the common yardstick for admission requirements, permitted part-time work hours, government scholarships and even graduation requirements at some schools. Some schools accept other credentials, but Hankentei was not on those lists. Aim for TOPIK Level 3–4 while still in high school, and choose a test session so that the 2-year validity covers your application date.

Hankentei can be used to check your Korean learning progress grade by grade within Japan. If you need to submit it with documents on the Korean side, however, first check whether the receiving institution accepts it.

Admission requirements for Japanese high school students entering undergraduate programs are covered in Japanese High School Students’ Full-Degree Undergraduate Study at Korean Universities. Paths that begin with language study without TOPIK are laid out in A Roadmap for Japanese Students Starting Study in Korea Without TOPIK and Short-Term Language Courses, D-4 and Working Holiday Compared for Japanese Nationals.

--- TOPIK information is based on the Korea Educational Foundation’s guidance for Japan (accessed November 6, 2026) and the 2026 implementation plan; Hankentei information on the Hangul Proficiency Test Association’s guidance; and Korean-side standards on each university’s 2027 admission guidelines, the Ministry of Justice visa and stay services manual (October and November 2026 editions) and the 2026 GKS graduate program guidelines.