Final Korean proficiency tests of 2026 open for registration
Topik and SKA are accepting applications for their final 2026 Korean language assessments, used for university admissions, graduation and employment.
People take the 10th Sejong Korean Language Assessment held in September 2025, at the King Sejong Institute Foundation's branch in Tainan City, Taiwan.
KING SEJONG INSTITUTE FOUNDATION
The last major Korean proficiency tests of the year, including the Test of Proficiency in Korean (Topik) and the Sejong Korean Language Assessment (SKA), are now accepting or set to accept applications.
Applications for Topik’s final paper-based test (PBT) of the year will open on Sept. 1 and run through 7.
Marking its 109th test, the PBT will take place on Nov. 15, with scores scheduled to be released on Dec. 22.
The test assesses Korean language proficiency across listening, reading and writing, and is widely used for university admissions, graduation requirements and employment in Korea.
Topik also offers the Internet-based test (IBT), which is administered on computers, where the answers are entered digitally, with listening to questions delivered through headphones and writing responses typed on screen.
The final IBT of the year, the 16th edition, is scheduled for Nov. 28.
Applications are scheduled to run from Sept. 15 to 21, with scores expected to be released on Dec. 18.
The King Sejong Institute Foundation’s SKA is already accepting applications for its 13th assessment, with registration running through Sept. 6.
The assessment will take place on Sept. 19 at 14 test centers nationwide, including locations like Konkuk University in Gwangjin District, eastern Seoul, Shinhan University in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi, and Dongyang University in Dongducheon, Gyeonggi.
Like Topik, SKA is also designed to assess Korean communication skills, including listening, reading, writing and speaking.
The scores from the assessment are also used for admission, graduation and major-entry requirements for international students at universities including Yonsei University, Korea University and Ewha Womans University, as well as for academic requirements at U.S. universities including Vanderbilt University and the University of Missouri, according to the foundation.
More details on eligibility, test centers, registration and score-release dates are available on the respective official websites at https://www.topik.go.kr and https://ska.ksif.or.kr.
BY YOON SEUNG-JIN [[email protected]]
