This file photo shows Kazakhstan applicants taking a Korean language proficiency test at the Korean Language Education Center in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on April 21, 2013. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Oct. 29 (Korea Bizwire) — The Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) will include a speaking section later next year for the first time.
The Ministry of Education announced plans for a new Korean proficiency test for foreigners and expatriates on Thursday.
Next year’s examinations will be held six times in total, three of which will be held overseas.
The new test format will go through a trial period until early next year. The exam’s first internet-based test (IBT) for speaking will take place on November 19 next year.
The government plans to increase the number of speaking tests from 2023 onwards.
The first TOPIK speaking test will be held in South Korea.
TOPIK will transition into internet-based tests starting in 2023 to allow potential applicants to take the test at least once a month. The Ministry of Education will trial the new tests next year.
The number of TOPIK applicants has increased from 290,638 people from 70 countries in 2017 to 375,871 people from 83 countries in 2019. Aside from the last two years affected by COVID-19, the number of applicants continues to rise each year.
H. M. Kang (hmkang@koreabizwire.com)
