# TOPIK TOPIK 3: Lower Intermediate

> TOPIK Level 3 is the first intermediate grade, awarded for scoring 120 to 149 on the TOPIK II paper. You can manage everyday life and basic social relationships in Korean and express familiar topics in connected paragraphs.

- Framework: TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean), National Institute for International Education (NIIED)
- Typical vocabulary: About 3,000-4,000 words (commonly cited estimate)
- Study to reach this level: 400-800 hours
- Next level: TOPIK TOPIK 4

## What you can do at TOPIK TOPIK 3

- Manage everyday life and basic social relationships without much difficulty
- Express yourself in paragraphs rather than isolated sentences
- Use Korean in familiar workplace situations
- Read and understand texts on familiar social topics
- Distinguish written and spoken registers and use each appropriately

## FAQ

### What does TOPIK TOPIK 3 mean?

TOPIK Level 3 is the first intermediate grade, awarded for scoring 120 to 149 on the TOPIK II paper. You can manage everyday life and basic social relationships in Korean and express familiar topics in connected paragraphs.

### What can you do at TOPIK TOPIK 3?

At TOPIK TOPIK 3 you can typically: Manage everyday life and basic social relationships without much difficulty; Express yourself in paragraphs rather than isolated sentences; Use Korean in familiar workplace situations; Read and understand texts on familiar social topics; Distinguish written and spoken registers and use each appropriately.

### How long does it take to reach TOPIK TOPIK 3?

Reaching TOPIK TOPIK 3 from a standing start typically takes 400-800 hours. A learner at this level generally has an active vocabulary of About 3,000-4,000 words (commonly cited estimate). These are guides, not guarantees: prior languages, study intensity and how much you speak all move the number substantially.

### How do you practise at TOPIK TOPIK 3 with NativePal?

NativePal generates its content at the level you select, so at TOPIK TOPIK 3 your reading lessons, vocabulary and speaking prompts are pitched here rather than at a generic average. Reading lessons produce stories written for TOPIK 3, with every word tappable for a translation and a comprehension quiz at the end. Vocabulary lessons and the spaced-repetition flashcards draw on words appropriate to the level, and Speaking Practice scores your pronunciation on individual sounds, stress and rhythm, fluency and connected speech.

### What comes after TOPIK TOPIK 3?

TOPIK TOPIK 4 is the next level up. TOPIK Level 4 is the second intermediate grade, awarded for scoring 150 to 189 on the TOPIK II paper. You can carry out general workplace tasks in Korean, follow the news, and understand common social and abstract topics.

## More

- [TOPIK levels explained](https://nativepal.app/levels/topik/)
- [All proficiency frameworks](https://nativepal.app/levels/)
- [All supported languages](https://nativepal.app/languages.html)