WIA Korean Proficiency Test (CKL)
Exam Guide

01 Levels & digital badges

CKL has three levels. Grade 1 is the highest (the reverse of TOPIK). Each level earns a verifiable digital badge.

🥇 Grade 1 — Gold

Expert. Understands complex discourse, nuance and long passages across many domains.

🥈 Grade 2 — Silver

Upper-intermediate. Communicates on varied real-world topics, discussion and problem-solving.

🥉 Grade 3 — Bronze

Entry. Understands everyday conversation, simple instructions and short passages.

02 Exam subjects

Subjects differ by grade. CKL assesses four skills — two receptive (Listening, Reading) and two productive (Writing, Speaking). Grade 3 covers two skills, Grade 2 covers three, and Grade 1 is the only grade assessed on all four. Each subject is out of 100.

🥉 Grade 3 — Written only

🥈 Grade 2 — Written + Practical

🥇 Grade 1 — Written + Practical

Rollout notice. The productive-skill subjects — Grade 2 Speaking & expression, and Grade 1 Writing & expression and Speaking & expression — are being rolled out. Written subjects are available now. The first sitting date for each productive subject will be announced here.

Subject areas include Korean linguistics (phonology, grammar, semantics, pragmatics, history, vocabulary, hanja, orthography), applied/socio/psycho-linguistics, and Korean culture & literature.

03 Eligibility (step by step)

Levels are taken in order — earn the level below before moving up.

• Grade 3: Open to everyone — no age, education or nationality requirement.
• Grade 2: For holders of a valid CKL Grade 3 certificate (within its 2-year validity).
• Grade 1: For holders of a valid CKL Grade 2 certificate (within its 2-year validity).

Your WIA SOOM plan bundles the free exams up this ladder: One Soom covers Grade 3, Two Soom covers Grade 3→2, Three Soom covers the full Grade 3→2→1 path.

04 Fees — how to pay $0 or $1

Use-it-or-lose-it: a free voucher is valid for 6 months from issue — study and take your exam within that window. Partial re-sit: you re-sit only the subject you failed, at about 60% of the full fee — $33 for Grade 2, $44 for Grade 1. Note: Grade 1 Speaking & expression is held once a month, so re-sitting it can mean waiting up to about one month for the next session. Every other subject can be re-sat on demand.

05 Passing, certificate & renewal

• Passing criteria: Each subject is out of 100. You must score at least 40 in every subject (below 40 fails that subject) and average 60+ overall.
• Digital certificate: Issued online at no extra cost — with your gold/silver/bronze badge and a verifiable record (WIA Chain).
• Physical certificate: From 2026, physical cards/diplomas are discontinued as part of our environmental policy — certificates are digital.
• Renewal: Valid for 2 years from the pass date; renew by completing 30 continuing-education credits.

06 How the exam runs

• Online CBT, anytime: Written subjects, Grade 2 speaking and Grade 1 writing are taken online 24/7, 365 days — no fixed test date. Apply, then sit when you're ready. The one exception is Grade 1 Speaking & expression (a 1:1 video interview), held once a month on a Saturday and scheduled in your local time.
• AI proctoring: Identity and integrity are verified during the exam (camera + activity checks).
• Results: Multiple choice is auto-scored on submit. Writing is scored against a rubric — most results are confirmed automatically, and any sent for human review are returned within 3 business days. Speaking is assessed by human assessors and returned within 3 business days. Business days follow the Korean calendar (public holidays excluded).

07 Refunds (paid exams)

• Cancel within 12 hours of payment, exam not yet started: 100% refund.
• Cancel more than 12 hours after payment, exam not yet started: 50% refund.
• Once the exam has started — including if you quit partway or do not finish: 30% refund.
• No refund if the exam is voided for misconduct.