Overview
TOPIK II Level 4 represents solid intermediate proficiency. At this level you can discuss social issues, understand the main points of news broadcasts, use Korean in professional contexts, and write structured essays with clear arguments. It corresponds to CEFR B2 and is one of the most commonly targeted levels — it satisfies Korean university admission requirements and is the standard for many employment visa categories.
Passing score: 150 out of 300 total points (combined Listening + Writing + Reading).
Level 4 is notably harder to achieve than Level 3 because the 30-point gap requires improved performance across all three sections, and the Writing section demands significantly more sophisticated output.
Exam Structure
The exam is the same TOPIK II paper taken by Levels 3-6. Your score determines your level.
| Section | Questions | Time | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening (듣기) | 50 questions | 60 minutes | 100 |
| Writing (쓰기) | 4 questions | 50 minutes | 100 |
| Reading (읽기) | 50 questions | 70 minutes | 100 |
| Total | 104 questions | 180 minutes | 300 |
At Level 4, you need to score well on the essay (question 54). A bare-minimum essay might earn 10-15 points, but Level 4 requires closer to 25-35 points on the essay alone, meaning you need organized paragraphs, appropriate vocabulary, and correct grammar.
Vocabulary Topics
Level 4 requires approximately 5,000-6,000 words, including abstract and specialized terms:
- Society & culture: 전통 (tradition), 문화유산 (cultural heritage), 세대 (generation), 가치관 (values)
- Economy: 경제 (economy), 물가 (prices), 소비 (consumption), 수입 (income/import)
- Environment: 환경 (environment), 오염 (pollution), 재활용 (recycling), 자연재해 (natural disaster)
- Technology: 인공지능 (AI), 개인정보 (personal data), 온라인 (online), 디지털 (digital)
- Idiomatic expressions: 발이 넓다 (to know many people, lit. "wide feet"), 손이 크다 (to be generous, lit. "big hands"), 눈이 높다 (to have high standards, lit. "high eyes")
- Sino-Korean compounds: 가능성 (possibility), 필요성 (necessity), 중요성 (importance), 효과적 (effective)
Grammar Points
Level 4 grammar adds sophistication through advanced conjunctions, formal written style, and nuanced expressions.
Advanced conjunctions: - -(으)ㄹ뿐만 아니라 (not only... but also): 건강에 좋을 뿐만 아니라 맛도 있어요. — It's not only good for health but also delicious. - -(으)ㄴ/는 반면(에) (on the other hand): 서울은 편리한 반면에 물가가 비싸요. — Seoul is convenient but on the other hand, prices are high. - -는 한 (as long as): 노력하는 한 성공할 수 있어요. — As long as you try, you can succeed. - -(으)ㄴ/는 셈이다 (it amounts to): 매일 한 시간씩 공부하니까 일주일에 7시간 공부하는 셈이에요. — Since I study one hour daily, it amounts to 7 hours a week.
Written/formal style: - -(으)며 (formal "and/while"): 한국어는 아름다우며 배우기 쉬운 언어입니다. — Korean is beautiful and an easy language to learn. - -(으)므로 (formal "because"): 시간이 없으므로 빨리 합시다. — Since there's no time, let's do it quickly. - -에 따르면 (according to): 조사에 따르면 젊은 세대의 독서량이 줄었다. — According to the survey, reading among the younger generation has decreased. - -는 데(에) (in -ing / for the purpose of): 한국어를 배우는 데 시간이 많이 걸려요. — Learning Korean takes a lot of time.
Expressing nuance: - -아/어야지요 (should/must — soft): 건강을 위해 운동을 해야지요. — You should exercise for your health. - -(으)ㄹ 수밖에 없다 (can't help but): 이 상황에서는 기다릴 수밖에 없어요. — In this situation, we can't help but wait. - -(으)ㄴ/는 편이다 (tends to be): 저는 아침에 일찍 일어나는 편이에요. — I tend to wake up early in the morning.
Study Tips
- Develop your essay structure. TOPIK essay question 54 expects: introduction (서론, ~100 words) → body paragraph 1 (본론 1, ~200 words) → body paragraph 2 (본론 2, ~200 words) → conclusion (결론, ~100 words). Practice this 4-paragraph template until it becomes automatic.
- Learn transition expressions. Essays are graded on coherence. Memorize connectors like 먼저 (first), 또한 (also), 반면에 (on the other hand), 결론적으로 (in conclusion), 그러므로 (therefore).
- Study Hanja-based vocabulary. At Level 4, many new words are Sino-Korean compounds. Learning common Hanja roots (like 학 = learning, 교 = teaching, 정 = correct/government) helps you guess meanings of unfamiliar words.
- Read opinion pieces. Level 4 Reading passages include editorials and argumentative texts. Read Korean opinion columns to get comfortable with persuasive writing structures.
- Time management in Writing. Allocate roughly 8 minutes for questions 51-52, 15 minutes for question 53, and 25 minutes for question 54. Leaving the essay until the last 10 minutes is a common cause of failure.
Sample Questions
Writing — Essay prompt (쓰기 54번 유형):
다음을 주제로 하여 자신의 생각을 600~700자로 글을 쓰시오. "현대 사회에서 SNS(소셜 미디어)의 장점과 단점에 대해 쓰시오. 또한 SNS를 올바르게 사용하기 위한 방법을 제시하시오."
This requires: defining SNS, presenting advantages (information access, communication), disadvantages (addiction, privacy), and proposing solutions.
Listening — Extended dialogue (듣기 30-40번 유형): You hear a conversation between colleagues discussing a company's new remote work policy. You must identify the man's opinion and the reason behind it.
Reading — Long passage inference:
최근 한국에서는 '워라밸'이라는 말이 유행하고 있다. 이것은 '워크 라이프 밸런스'의 줄임말로, 일과 개인 생활의 균형을 중시하는 태도를 말한다. 과거에는 야근이 당연시되었지만 지금은 달라지고 있다.
Question: 이 글의 주제로 가장 알맞은 것은? (a) 한국의 야근 문화 (b) 일과 생활의 균형 변화 (c) 회사원의 불만 (d) 외래어 사용 문제
Answer: (b) 일과 생활의 균형 변화
Recommended Study Path
On LangSteps, Level 4 preparation requires comprehensive coverage:
- All Unit 0 and Unit 1 lessons — Complete mastery of all beginner and basic intermediate content is assumed at this level.
- Grammar Reference: All categories — Every grammar topic in the reference section is fair game. Pay special attention to connectors, special constructions, and passive/causative forms.
- Vocabulary: All 32 categories — Broad vocabulary coverage is essential. Prioritize TOPIK Essential Vocabulary, Work, Emotions, and Culture categories.
- Grammar Reference: Particle Combinations — Understanding stacked particles (에서는, 에게도, 한테서) distinguishes Level 4 from Level 3 reading comprehension.
- Practice writing — Use lesson vocabulary and grammar patterns to compose short essays. The exam tests productive ability, which requires active practice beyond reading and listening.