TOPIK II — Level 6

TOPIK

Vocabulary Target

~10,000+ words

Grammar Focus

Professional vocabulary, news/academic texts, advanced grammar

Overview

TOPIK II Level 6 is the highest level of the Test of Proficiency in Korean. It certifies near-native fluency — the ability to understand and produce professional, academic, and literary Korean with precision. Level 6 holders can read research papers, write formal reports, follow rapid-fire debates, and express complex arguments with appropriate register and nuance. It corresponds to CEFR C2.

Passing score: 230 out of 300 total points (combined Listening + Writing + Reading).

Level 6 is required for certain graduate programs, professional translation/interpretation roles, Korean government positions open to foreigners, and advanced professional certifications. Only a small percentage of test-takers achieve this level.

Exam Structure

The exam is the same TOPIK II paper. Level 6 demands excellence across all three sections.

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 230/300, you need an average of approximately 77 points per section. This typically means 80+ on Listening, 80+ on Reading, and 65+ on Writing. The essay must be near-flawless in structure, grammar, and vocabulary to reach the Writing target.

Vocabulary Topics

Level 6 requires 10,000+ words, including specialized, literary, and archaic vocabulary:

Grammar Points

Level 6 grammar emphasizes register control, literary expressions, and extremely precise usage.

Formal/literary expressions: - -(으)ㄴ/는 바 (the fact that — formal): 앞서 언급한 바와 같이 — As mentioned previously - -는 바람에 (because of — unintended cause): 갑자기 비가 오는 바람에 옷이 다 젖었다. — Because it suddenly rained, all my clothes got wet. - -(으)ㄹ진대 (given that — literary): 이미 결정된 일일진대 따르는 것이 옳다. — Given that it's already decided, it's right to follow. - -(으)리라 (will — literary/poetic): 언젠가 다시 만나리라. — We shall meet again someday.

Nuanced causation and result: - -느라(고) (because of doing — speaker's action): 공부하느라고 잠을 못 잤어요. — I couldn't sleep because I was studying. - -는 통에 (because of — negative result): 소음이 심한 통에 집중할 수 없었다. — Because of the severe noise, I couldn't concentrate. - -(으)ㄴ 나머지 (as a result of excess): 너무 걱정한 나머지 병이 났다. — I worried so much that I got sick. - -기에 (because — objective basis): 날씨가 좋기에 산책을 했다. — Because the weather was good, I went for a walk.

Precision expressions: - -(으)ㄹ 뿐더러 (not only... but also — formal): 이 제품은 품질이 좋을 뿐더러 가격도 합리적이다. — This product is not only high quality but also reasonably priced. - -(으)ㄴ/는 이상 (given that/as long as): 약속한 이상 반드시 지켜야 한다. — Given that you promised, you must keep it. - -(으)ㄹ 법하다 (it is plausible that): 그 정도면 화가 날 법도 하다. — To that extent, it's plausible to be angry. - -거니와 (not only... but — written): 건강에 좋거니와 환경 보호에도 도움이 된다. — Not only is it good for health, but it also helps environmental protection.

Study Tips

  1. Read academic Korean texts. TOPIK II Level 6 Reading includes excerpts from humanities papers, scientific explanations, and literary criticism. Read Korean Wikipedia articles on complex topics, university course materials, or RISS (한국교육학술정보원) paper abstracts.
  2. Perfect your essay scoring. Level 6 essays are graded on: task completion (과제 수행), content development (내용 전개), language use (언어 사용), and sociolinguistic competence (사회언어학적 기능). Practice writing essays that demonstrate all four dimensions.
  3. Study register differences. Level 6 tests whether you can identify and produce appropriate register. Know when to use -(으)므로 vs. -아/어서, -(으)며 vs. -고, -(으)ㄴ 바 vs. -(으)ㄴ 것. Mixing registers in the essay costs points.
  4. Listen to unscripted Korean. Podcasts, panel discussions, and live interviews expose you to natural speech patterns, false starts, hedging, and rapid topic shifts that TOPIK II Listening models at the highest levels.
  5. Build Hanja literacy. While TOPIK does not directly test Hanja reading, understanding common Hanja roots dramatically improves vocabulary inference. Learn the 100 most common Hanja characters and their Korean readings.
  6. Take timed full-length practice tests. At Level 6, time management across 180 minutes becomes critical. Stamina and sustained concentration are real factors. Practice under exam conditions monthly.

Sample Questions

Listening — Discussion panel (듣기 47-50번 유형): You hear a structured debate between two experts on whether Korea should adopt a four-day work week. Questions test your ability to distinguish each speaker's core argument, identify supporting evidence cited, and infer their overall stance on implementation timeline.

Writing — Essay prompt (쓰기 54번 유형):

"과학 기술의 발전이 윤리적 문제를 야기하는 사례를 들고, 기술 발전과 윤리 사이의 균형을 유지하기 위한 방안을 논하시오."

Level 6 scoring expects: sophisticated vocabulary (야기하다, 균형을 유지하다, 규범, 제도적 장치), varied sentence structures mixing simple and complex forms, appropriate use of formal connectors, concrete examples (유전자 편집, AI 편향), and a nuanced conclusion that avoids oversimplification.

Reading — Literary/abstract passage:

인간은 언어를 통해 세계를 인식한다. 같은 현상이라 하더라도 그것을 표현하는 언어에 따라 인식의 방식이 달라질 수 있다. 이른바 '사피어-워프 가설'로 알려진 이 이론은, 언어가 사고를 제약하는 동시에 사고의 폭을 결정한다고 주장한다. 그러나 이 가설에 대한 비판도 만만치 않다.

Question: 이 글 다음에 이어질 내용으로 가장 적절한 것은? (a) 사피어-워프 가설의 역사적 배경 (b) 가설에 대한 반론과 한계 (c) 언어 학습의 효과적인 방법 (d) 다국어 사용자의 인지 능력

Answer: (b) 가설에 대한 반론과 한계

Level 6 preparation goes well beyond any structured curriculum. LangSteps provides the grammatical and vocabulary foundation, but achieving Level 6 requires immersive, long-term engagement with Korean: