EPS-TOPIK and TOPIK: what is the difference?

EPS-TOPIK and TOPIK are both Korean language tests, but they have different purposes. EPS-TOPIK is part of the Employment Permit System (EPS), so people usually take it when they plan to apply for work in Korea through EPS. Its Korean is basic and practical, about daily life and the workplace. TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) is a general proficiency test. It has TOPIK I for levels 1 to 2 and TOPIK II for levels 3 to 6, and learners take it for many reasons, such as study, work or a personal goal. The right test for you depends on your goal.

Quick comparison

What EPS-TOPIK is for

EPS is a system that lets employers in Korea hire workers from partner countries for certain types of work. EPS-TOPIK is designed to check the basic Korean needed for living and working in Korea. That is why practice for it often deals with signs, tools, safety, instructions, numbers and times.

Each country that takes part in EPS has its own official notice for each test round. The notice explains who can apply, how to register, the fee, the test format and how results are announced. Read our guide on how to read an official EPS exam notice before you make any plans.

What TOPIK is for

TOPIK measures general Korean ability for learners around the world. It is split into two tests:

• TOPIK I covers beginner Korean, levels 1 and 2.
• TOPIK II covers intermediate and advanced Korean, levels 3 to 6.

Universities, employers and other organisations may ask for a TOPIK level, and some learners take it simply to measure their progress. The sections in each test and the way levels are decided are explained on the TOPIK portal. Our TOPIK I and TOPIK II overview explains the two tests in more detail, and the TOPIK hub has our TOPIK I practice.

How the Korean is different

Both tests start from the same beginner base: Hangul, particles, numbers and polite verb endings. The difference is mostly in the topics and the vocabulary.

EPS-TOPIK style practice often looks like this:

• 안전모를 쓰세요. (Please put on a safety helmet.)
• 기계를 끄고 청소하세요. (Turn off the machine, then clean it.)
• 작업은 여덟 시에 시작해요. (Work starts at eight.)

TOPIK I style practice often looks like this:

• 주말에 친구와 영화를 봤어요. (I watched a film with a friend at the weekend.)
• 도서관은 몇 층에 있어요? (Which floor is the library on?)
• 저는 한국 음식을 좋아해요. (I like Korean food.)

All six sentences use the same basic grammar. A learner preparing for EPS-TOPIK needs more workplace words, such as 공구 (tools), 창고 (storeroom) and 작업복 (work clothes). A TOPIK I learner needs more words about school, hobbies, travel and feelings.

Can one result replace the other?

Do not assume that a result from one test can be used for the other. They are separate tests with separate purposes. If you are not sure which result an employer, school or programme needs, ask them directly and check the official sources: the EPS portal for EPS-TOPIK and the TOPIK portal for TOPIK.

Which one should you study for?

Ask yourself these questions:

1. Is my goal to apply for work in Korea through EPS? Then EPS-TOPIK is the test to look at. Find the official notice for your country.
2. Do I need a Korean level for study, a job application or my own record? Then TOPIK is more likely to fit. Check which level the school or employer asks for.
3. Am I still not sure? Start with the shared base. Hangul, numbers, basic verbs and polite sentences help with both tests.

Studying for both

Some learners prepare for both tests. This is possible at beginner level, because the foundations are the same. A simple approach:

• Spend most of your time on shared basics: reading speed, numbers, time and common verbs.
• Add workplace vocabulary for EPS-TOPIK: safety, tools and instructions.
• Add everyday-life topics for TOPIK I: school, shopping, hobbies and weather.
• Practise both reading and listening every week.

Our EPS-TOPIK beginner guide gives you a step-by-step starting point.

Next step

If EPS-TOPIK is your goal, go to the EPS-TOPIK hub and try the EPS mixed practice set in learning mode. If TOPIK is your goal, start at the TOPIK hub.