KIIP Level Evaluation Guide: Level 1·2·3 Passing Scores and Promotion Rules
The Korean-language courses of the Korea Immigration and Integration Program (KIIP, 사회통합프로그램) run from Level 0 through Level 4. Among these, at Levels 1, 2, and 3 you must take a level evaluation (단계평가) when you finish each level's education in order to move up to the next level. This article organizes what the level evaluation is, what score you need for it to count as completion, and what happens if your score is low.
What is the level evaluation
The level evaluation is a promotion assessment administered by the operating institution when you complete Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 education. It checks how well you learned the content taught at each level and judges whether you qualify to move up to the next level.
The name of the evaluation you take differs by level.
| Level | Course | Evaluation at end of level |
|---|---|---|
| Level 0 | Basics of Korean Language and Culture | None |
| Level 1 | Beginner 1 | Level 1 evaluation |
| Level 2 | Beginner 2 | Level 2 evaluation |
| Level 3 | Intermediate 1 | Level 3 evaluation |
| Level 4 | Intermediate 2 | Mid-level evaluation (중간평가) |
In other words, what you take at Levels 1, 2, and 3 is the level evaluation, and when you finish Level 4 you take the mid-level evaluation, which is different in nature. For the mid-level evaluation, refer to the separately organized Mid-level Evaluation (KIIP-KLCT) Guide.
Eligibility requirements
To take the level evaluation, you must complete that level's education. This includes meeting the attendance-rate requirement set by the operating institution. If you do not participate enough in class, you do not become eligible to take the evaluation, so managing your absences matters.
Passing score and completion criteria
The level evaluation is scored out of 100 points, and whether it counts as completion depends on your score range. The criteria below follow the minimum-score-system operating guidelines.
| Score | Handling |
|---|---|
| 60 points or more | Completion by passing |
| 41–59 points | Completion by re-completion |
| Below 41 points | Fail (the re-completion rule below applies) |
If you score 60 points or more, it is processed as completion by passing right away. Scores from 41 to 59 points count as completion by re-completion even though they fall short of the passing line, so you can still move up to the next level.
When you score below 41 points (re-completion rule)
If your evaluation score is below 41 points, you fail that level. However, there is another chance. If you re-complete the same level within 1 year from the last day of the course, you can be promoted to the next level regardless of your evaluation result.
One more thing to remember is that you must start the next level's education within 1 year from the date of promotion. If you get promoted but then put it off for too long, your participation in later levels may be restricted, so once you are promoted it is safest to go ahead and apply for the next level.
These promotion and re-completion rules are also based on the minimum-score-system operating guidelines, and the specific application may vary depending on the operating institution and the point in time.
Are the question count and test time disclosed
Unlike the pre-evaluation or the mid-level evaluation, the level evaluation has no set number of questions or test time announced on the evaluation website. This is because the operating institution runs it itself at the end of each level. As a result, there is no officially published figure for details like "how many questions, how many minutes."
Any specific question count or time you find online can vary by operating institution and by period, so rather than take it at face value, it is more reliable to check the guidance from the institution you attend. What is clearly published is the scoring: 60 points or more to pass, 41–59 points for re-completion, and promotion after re-completion below 41 points.
Where the level evaluation sits in the whole journey
The level evaluation is a gateway placed at intervals within the overall flow of the Korean-language course. The required hours for each level are as follows.
| Level | Required hours |
|---|---|
| Level 0 | 15 hours |
| Level 1 | 100 hours |
| Level 2 | 100 hours |
| Level 3 | 100 hours |
| Level 4 | 100 hours |
Level 0 moves on with no evaluation, and from Level 1 on you take 100 hours each, passing each level evaluation as you go. Once you clear the Level 3 evaluation, you enter Level 4, and when you complete Level 4 you take the mid-level evaluation rather than a level evaluation.
If you are curious about how your level is determined and what the placement route via the pre-evaluation looks like, it helps to read the Level Placement Criteria and Program Structure and the Pre-evaluation Guide together.
Tips for preparing for the level evaluation
Since the detailed question types are not disclosed, it is best to prepare in a direction faithful to the fundamentals.
- Go back over the entire range of your level's textbook from beginning to end. It is reasonable to assume questions come from within the range you learned.
- Review with a focus on vocabulary and grammar. If you learn word meanings and basic sentence patterns accurately, it is easier to handle most questions.
- Practice again out loud the expressions and conversation situations covered in class.
- Manage your attendance so you do not miss the attendance-rate requirement. Eligibility to take the test itself comes from completing the education.
This is a general study direction, not a definitive statement of the specific question formats. The surest preparation is to steadily repeat the range you learned.
Key summary
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | Those who complete Level 1·2·3 education (Level 4 is the mid-level evaluation) |
| Requirements | Completion of that level + meeting the attendance-rate requirement |
| Pass | 60 points or more (completion by passing) |
| Completion by re-completion | 41–59 points |
| If you fail | Promotion by re-completing within 1 year from the last day of the course |
| After promotion | Must participate in the next level within 1 year |
| Questions / time | Administered by the operating institution itself, not officially disclosed |
The KIIP level evaluation is a process that checks how well you have learned the vocabulary and grammar you studied in the textbook. If you would like to learn the vocabulary that frequently appears on KIIP tests just 5 minutes a day, try using the KIIP Study app.
This article is a guide meant to aid understanding and is not official information. Regulations may change, so check the latest details on the Social Integration Information Network (socinet.go.kr) and the evaluation website (kiiptest.org). (Written as of July 2026)