Overview
TOPIK II Level 5 represents advanced proficiency. At this level you can follow professional discussions, understand and produce academic writing, comprehend most news broadcasts without difficulty, and express yourself with nuance on complex social and abstract topics. It corresponds to CEFR C1 and is required for many graduate school programs in Korea, professional certifications, and senior-level employment.
Passing score: 190 out of 300 total points (combined Listening + Writing + Reading).
The jump from Level 4 (150) to Level 5 (190) is 40 points — the largest gap between adjacent levels. This reflects a genuine qualitative shift: Level 5 tests not just comprehension but sophisticated production and critical analysis.
Exam Structure
The exam is the same TOPIK II paper. At Level 5, you need consistently high performance across all 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 190/300, you need an average of approximately 63 points per section. In practice, most Level 5 achievers score 70+ on Listening and Reading and 45-55 on Writing. The essay (question 54) becomes the decisive factor — a well-structured, grammatically sound essay can score 40-50 points.
Vocabulary Topics
Level 5 requires approximately 7,000-8,000 words, extending into academic, professional, and cultural domains:
- Academic language: 연구 (research), 분석 (analysis), 근거 (basis/evidence), 주장 (argument/claim), 결론 (conclusion)
- Politics & law: 정부 (government), 법률 (law), 권리 (rights), 의무 (duty), 정책 (policy)
- Philosophy & ethics: 윤리 (ethics), 도덕 (morality), 정의 (justice), 양심 (conscience)
- Proverbs (속담):
- 낮말은 새가 듣고 밤말은 쥐가 듣는다 — Walls have ears (lit. "Day words are heard by birds, night words by mice")
- 원숭이도 나무에서 떨어진다 — Even experts make mistakes (lit. "Even monkeys fall from trees")
- 가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다 — Treat others as you wish to be treated (lit. "If the going words are kind, the coming words will be kind")
- Four-character idioms (사자성어):
- 일석이조 (一石二鳥) — Kill two birds with one stone
- 자업자득 (自業自得) — You reap what you sow
- 시행착오 (試行錯誤) — Trial and error
- 이심전심 (以心傳心) — Heart-to-heart understanding (telepathy)
Grammar Points
Level 5 grammar demands precision and stylistic range. You must distinguish between similar patterns and use them appropriately.
Advanced written expressions: - -기 마련이다 (it is bound to): 노력하면 결과가 있기 마련이다. — If you try, results are bound to follow. - -(으)ㄹ 따름이다 (can only): 감사할 따름입니다. — I can only be grateful. - -는 법이다 (it is the way things are): 세상일은 마음대로 되지 않는 법이다. — Things in the world don't go as planned — that's the way it is. - -고자 하다 (intend to — formal): 이 문제를 해결하고자 합니다. — I intend to resolve this problem.
Distinguishing similar patterns: - -아/어서 vs. -(으)니까 vs. -(으)므로: All mean "because" but differ in formality and usage constraints. -(으)므로 is written/formal, -(으)니까 can precede imperatives, -아/어서 cannot. - -(으)ㄹ 것 같다 vs. -(으)ㄴ/는 모양이다 vs. -(으)ㄴ/는가 보다: All express conjecture but from different evidence bases. 모양이다 and -가 보다 imply observed evidence; 것 같다 is a general guess. - -도록 하다 vs. -게 하다: Both express causation but -도록 하다 implies the subject makes an effort; -게 하다 implies external causation.
Concession and contrast: - -(으)ㄹ지라도 (even if): 아무리 어려울지라도 포기하지 않겠다. — Even if it's extremely difficult, I won't give up. - -(으)ㄴ/는 커녕 (far from): 돈을 벌기는커녕 빚만 늘었다. — Far from making money, my debt only grew. - -(으)ㄹ 망정이지 (it's a good thing that): 다치지 않았을 망정이지 큰일 날 뻔했다. — It's a good thing nobody was hurt, or it could have been serious.
Study Tips
- Read Korean newspapers daily. At Level 5, reading speed and comprehension of complex texts are essential. Start with 한겨레, 조선일보, or the Naver News main page. Focus on editorials (사설) and feature articles (기획 기사).
- Write practice essays weekly. Aim for one full 600-700 word essay per week using past TOPIK prompts. Have a Korean speaker or tutor review your grammar, vocabulary variety, and logical structure.
- Study proverbs and 사자성어 systematically. TOPIK II regularly tests proverbs in Reading comprehension. Learn 30-40 common proverbs and 20-30 사자성어 with their meanings and usage contexts.
- Practice note-taking during Listening. At Level 5, Listening passages include lectures and formal speeches. Develop a system for jotting down key points (who, what, why, opinion) while the audio plays.
- Distinguish grammar nuances. The difference between Level 4 and Level 5 is often grammar precision. When you learn a new pattern, always compare it to similar ones you already know.
Sample Questions
Listening — Lecture comprehension (듣기 41-50번 유형): You hear a university lecture excerpt about the effects of urbanization on traditional communities. Questions ask you to identify the professor's main argument, a specific example used, and the conclusion drawn.
Writing — Essay prompt (쓰기 54번 유형):
"기술의 발전이 인간 관계에 미치는 영향에 대해 자신의 견해를 쓰시오. 긍정적 영향과 부정적 영향을 모두 다루고, 기술을 올바르게 활용하기 위한 방안을 제시하시오."
Level 5 essay scoring expects: varied vocabulary (not repeating the same words), correct use of advanced grammar (-기 마련이다, -(으)ㄹ 뿐만 아니라), clear paragraph transitions, and a balanced argument.
Reading — Inference from formal text:
전문가들은 인공지능의 발전으로 인해 향후 10년 내에 현재 직업의 약 30%가 사라질 수 있다고 전망한다. 그러나 동시에 새로운 유형의 직업이 생겨날 것이라는 의견도 적지 않다. 중요한 것은 변화에 대응하는 자세라 할 수 있다.
Question: 필자의 주장으로 가장 알맞은 것은? (a) 인공지능 개발을 중단해야 한다 (b) 새로운 직업이 더 많이 생길 것이다 (c) 변화에 적응하는 태도가 중요하다 (d) 30%의 직업이 반드시 사라진다
Answer: (c) 변화에 적응하는 태도가 중요하다
Recommended Study Path
At Level 5, LangSteps content serves as a reference foundation. You need extensive input beyond structured lessons:
- Grammar Reference: Complete mastery of all topics — Every grammar topic should be second nature. Use the reference section for quick review and pattern comparison.
- Vocabulary: All categories with depth — Go beyond basic words in each category. The TOPIK Essential Vocabulary list provides exam-specific terms, but supplement with reading-based vocabulary acquisition.
- Grammar Reference: Connectors + Special Constructions — These two sections contain the patterns most heavily tested in Level 5 Writing. Practice combining multiple patterns in single sentences.
- External practice — At this level, supplement LangSteps with Korean media consumption (news, podcasts, TV shows without subtitles) and regular essay writing practice with feedback.