190+ of 300 · TOPIK II · advanced
190 or more out of 300 on TOPIK II. That is 40 points above Level 4, and it is one of the hardest jumps: you now need at least 55–65 in Writing and above 65 in each of Listening and Reading.
Working in Korean in professional and academic settings: following lectures, writing reports, choosing formal or informal register to suit the situation. Understanding texts on unfamiliar topics such as politics, economics and science. Around 7,000–8,000 words.
Humanities graduate programmes (Korean language, literature, translation) often require 5+. In GKS, TOPIK 5–6 earns the maximum language bonus and in some programmes exempts you from the one-year language course. For professions where language is the main tool — translator, teacher, journalist — Level 5 is the minimum expectation. It brings you close to the maximum language points on the F-2-7 visa.
At this stage a "TOPIK textbook" is no longer enough — you need authentic Korean: newspaper analysis, popular science books, radio and podcasts. In Writing, question 54 needs natural Sino-Korean (한자어) vocabulary and written register (-는다, -ㄴ/는 것이다). Listening questions 41–50 (lectures, documentary excerpts) are aimed precisely at levels 5–6. Level 4 to Level 5 takes 6–12 months, often while living in Korea.