2027 TOPIK Schedule Announced with 15 Sessions Throughout the Year; Transition to New AI System in 2029
On September 29, 2026, the South Korean Ministry of Education announced the 2027 TOPIK plan: 15 sessions throughout the year, including 6 paper-based, 6 computer-based, and 3 speaking tests. The reform timeline was also announced: the new plan will be released in June 2027, piloted in 2028, and officially implemented in 2029. Proxy test-taking, leaking test questions, and forging documents will result in a 5-year testing ban.
On September 29, 2026, the Korean Ministry of Education and the National Institute for International Education (NIIED) simultaneously released two documents: the "2027 TOPIK Implementation Plan" and the "TOPIK Reform and Expansion Implementation Plan." For students planning to study in South Korea in 2027 and 2028, there are three key takeaways: there will be a total of 15 TOPIK test sessions available in 2027; the current test format will remain in use until at least 2028, with a new system starting in 2029; and penalties for cheating have been significantly increased, with a maximum test ban of 5 years.
Number of Test Sessions in 2027
A total of 15 TOPIK sessions are scheduled for 2027:
- 6 Paper-Based Test (PBT) sessions
- 6 Internet-Based Test (IBT) sessions
- 3 Speaking Test sessions
Both the PBT and IBT cover listening, reading, and writing (TOPIK I does not include writing). The Speaking Test is administered and scored separately. The 3 Speaking Test sessions in 2027 will only be held within South Korea. The overseas Speaking Test will undergo a second round of pilot testing in 2027, with plans to officially launch overseas starting in 2028.
Sessions Available for Overseas Candidates
The table below only lists sessions open in both South Korea and overseas. The registration periods are based on the official schedule for South Korea. Registration periods for overseas test centers are determined separately by local administering institutions and may vary; please refer to the notices from your local test center.
| Session | Format | Registration Period (South Korea) | Test Date | Score Release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18th | IBT | Jan 12 to 18 | Mar 20 | Apr 9 |
| 111th | PBT | Jan 26 to Feb 1 | Apr 10 to 11 | May 31 |
| 112th | PBT | Mar 9 to 15 | May 15 to 16 | Jun 24 |
| 19th | IBT | Apr 6 to 12 | Jun 12 | Jul 2 |
| 113th | PBT | Apr 20 to 26 | Jul 3 to 4 | Aug 12 |
| 20th | IBT | Jul 6 to 12 | Aug 28 | Sep 17 |
| 114th | PBT | Aug 3 to 9 | Oct 16 to 17 | Dec 9 |
| 21st | IBT | Aug 17 to 23 | Oct 23 | Nov 12 |
| 115th | PBT | Aug 31 to Sep 6 | Nov 14 | Dec 23 |
| 22nd | IBT | Sep 21 to 27 | Nov 27 | Dec 17 |
Two additional sessions are held exclusively in South Korea: the 110th PBT (registration from Dec 8 to 14, 2026; test on Jan 10, 2027) and the 17th IBT (registration from Dec 15 to 21, 2026; test on Feb 20, 2027).
There are two important points to note:
- The IBT is currently only available in select countries. The Ministry of Education document mentions that the IBT was held in 12 countries in 2025. For test centers in China, please refer to local test center notices to confirm whether the IBT is offered and which sessions are available.
- Among the PBT sessions in the same year, the 111th is the first one available overseas. If you want to receive your scores in the first half of 2027, registration is from late January to early February, which is very early, so you need to prepare in advance.
New System Starting in 2029
The current TOPIK evaluation framework was established in 2014. After more than a decade of use, the test formats and preparation strategies have become highly fixed. The Ministry of Education also noted in the document that universities have reported students achieving certain levels through test-taking tricks without possessing the corresponding practical communication skills. The timeline for this reform is as follows:
- October 2026: Establish the "TOPIK Reform Committee," composed of experts in Korean language education, measurement and evaluation, and artificial intelligence.
- June 2027: Announce the new system plan for 2029 and host the 30th Anniversary Forum of TOPIK Implementation.
- 2028: Conduct pilot testing in South Korea and overseas, and provide online practice questions.
- 2029: Officially implement the new system.
Issues to be studied by the Reform Committee include whether to merge or separate the intermediate and advanced levels, how to test writing and speaking, how to equate scores between the PBT and IBT, and whether to develop a TOPIK for adolescents. Specific test formats will be detailed in the official plan in June 2027.
Technologically, the Ministry of Education plans to build an AI-powered system for test creation and grading by 2029, with the requirement that all AI-generated content must be reviewed by experts. The at-home test (TOPIK Home Test) will also be gradually introduced starting in 2029, beginning with lower levels that are not directly used for university admissions or visas.
For test takers, this means that all tests taken before 2028 will use the current format, and existing preparation materials remain applicable. Students planning to take the test in 2029 or later should pay attention to the new plan to be announced in June 2027.
Stricter Penalties for Cheating
The Ministry of Education document mentions that 606 people were caught cheating in 2025. The main changes in the new regulations are:
- Proxy testing, leaking test papers, and forging ID documents will be penalized at the highest standard, with the maximum test ban increased from 4 years to 5 years.
- During the test ban period, candidates cannot submit language scores to universities.
- Acceptable ID documents are more strictly regulated, primarily limited to physical passports and Alien Registration Cards.
- The use of devices such as AI glasses is explicitly prohibited, and the use of signal detection equipment will be expanded.
- Test centers in different time zones will use test papers with low similarity to prevent question leaks by exploiting time differences.
Continued Growth in Registrations
| Year | Number of Registrants |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 421,812 |
| 2024 | 493,287 |
| 2025 | 566,665 |
| 2026 (as of Sep) | 564,606 |
As of September 2026, the number of registrants is about 10% higher than the same period last year. In 2025, the test covered 89 countries, and the Ministry of Education has set a goal of reaching 1 million registrants by 2030. Due to the rapid growth in numbers, spots at popular test centers have consistently been tight. The Ministry of Education stated that it will increase the number of test centers both domestically and internationally, but until new centers are established, candidates should still register as early as possible.
Preparation Advice
- First, confirm the TOPIK level required by your target universities and programs, then work backward to determine which test session you need.
- For Fall 2027 university admissions applications, you generally need to have your scores by the first half of the year. Pay special attention to the 111th and 112th PBT sessions, as well as the 18th and 19th IBT sessions.
- Register as soon as registration opens to avoid popular test centers selling out.
- Bring the required valid ID and do not bring any electronic devices into the test center.
- If you plan to take the test in 2029 or later, keep an eye on the new system plan in June 2027.
Need Help?
If you are considering applying for an undergraduate or graduate program in South Korea and want to align your application plan with the TOPIK test schedule, you can check out our University Application Planning Service or directly Book a one-on-one consultation.