Whether you want to chat with locals on a trip to Seoul, order confidently in Toronto’s Koreatown, or follow a K-drama without reading the subtitles, being able to understand and speak Korean can be very useful.
Regardless of your motivation for learning Korean, studying this language can open many personal, academic, and professional doors. Although the Korean alphabet is considered one of the most logical in the world, mastering grammar, vocabulary, and the different levels of formality takes a lot of practice.
And the best way to track and measure your progress is to test your proficiency regularly. That’s why we’ve prepared a Korean test to help you assess your level right now. Answer the questions below and find out!
Quiz
Quiz :
Why Take a Korean Proficiency Test?
Did you know that Korean is the native language of about 82 million people1? It is spoken not only in South and North Korea, but also in China, Japan, India, and other countries. Measured by native speakers, it ranks as the 16th most widely spoken language in the world.
Closer to home, Korean is spoken by roughly 204,000 people in Canada, which makes it the 17th most commonly spoken non-official language in the country2. If you live in Toronto, Vancouver, Coquitlam, or Montreal, you have probably heard it on the street already.
But even though it’s widely spoken, Korean isn’t exactly easy to pick up: it means learning an entirely new alphabet and producing sounds that have no real equivalent in English or French. Besides, learning any foreign language goes far beyond memorizing words and their meanings — it’s a true adventure into a new culture and a new way of thinking and expressing ourselves. Quite a challenge, isn’t it?
That’s why it’s so important to track your progress throughout the learning process, so you can identify which skills you’ve already developed and which ones still need more practice or a different approach.
Unlike Japanese or Chinese, Korean uses only one writing system: Hangul (한글). It consists of 14 basic consonants, 10 basic vowels, and syllables formed by combining these letters.
Proficiency tests help you assess various language skills: vocabulary, grammar, listening comprehension, communication skills, and much more! Once you know your level, it becomes much easier to choose the right materials and set realistic goals to keep improving.
The Official Korean Proficiency Exam
If you’ve already taken our test and are ready for the next step, you should know that the leading international certification in Korean is called TOPIK — the Test of Proficiency in Korean. This exam was created by the South Korean Ministry of Education in 1997 and is widely used by universities, employers, and exchange programs to assess the proficiency of non-native Korean speakers.
learners of Korean around the world.
That figure has climbed every year, up from roughly 360,000 in 2022 and 490,000 in 20243. The exam runs several times a year — most often in South Korea, and less often at test centres abroad.
In Canada, the TOPIK is organized through the Korean Education Centre in Canada and Korean consulates, with paper-based sittings in cities such as Toronto, Vancouver, and Edmonton. Registration fees are typically around $40 for TOPIK I and $50 for TOPIK II, and spots fill up quickly, so it’s worth watching the registration window4. This Korean language test currently has two versions:
📝 TOPIK I
- Level 1: Passing score = 80 points
- Level 2: Passing score = 140 points
📝 TOPIK II
- Level 3: Passing score = 120 points
- Level 4: Passing score = 150 points
- Level 5: Passing score = 190 points
- Level 6: Passing score = 230 points
TOPIK I is entirely multiple choice, while TOPIK II also asks you to write short answers. The results of this Korean proficiency test are valid for two years from the date they are announced.
Academic Skills and Real-World Proficiency
Just as with other languages, answering a few grammar or vocabulary questions correctly doesn’t always mean you’ll be able to hold a conversation with a native speaker.
That’s because, in real life, Korean speakers use contractions, shifting levels of formality, slang, and plenty of informal expressions. They also speak faster than any textbook recording, which makes them hard for learners to follow.
The good news is that if you focus on practice (and not just theory), sooner or later you’ll pick up all these nuances of the Korean language and have no trouble following a conversation.
Let’s be honest, though: not everyone enjoys sitting formal exams. Fortunately, there are other ways to gauge your progress naturally, as long as you go about them mindfully. For example, you can:
- ✍🏿 Write short pieces or keep a journal (and review your old entries)
- 🎬 Watch Korean TV shows or movies (and gradually try to follow them without subtitles)
- 🗣️ Join a language exchange or meetup — Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal all have active Korean-Canadian communities
- 🎧 Listen to a Korean podcast on a topic that interests you
- 📖 Read news articles in Korean
It also helps to set clear goals based on your current level and to build a study plan so your learning has some structure. We have no doubt this will make learning Korean easier — and a lot more motivating. Good luck!
And of course, don’t forget to let us know in the comments below how you did on the Korean test! 🇰🇷
References
- “What Are the Top 200 Most Spoken Languages?” Ethnologue, SIL International, https://www.ethnologue.com/insights/ethnologue200/. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.
- Statistics Canada. “Non-Official Languages Spoken at Home in Canada, 2021.” Statistics Canada, 2025, https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/11-627-m/11-627-m2025004-eng.htm. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.
- Bahk, Eun-ji. “No. of People Taking Korean Language Proficiency Test Hits Record High as Interest Surges.” The Korea Times, 10 Oct. 2025, https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/society/20251010/no-of-people-taking-korean-language-proficiency-test-hits-record-high-as-interest-surges. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.
- Korean Education Centre in Canada. “TOPIK.” CAKEC, https://www.cakec.com/topik-main-en. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.
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