The KIIP Exam System: 사전평가 Dates, Centers, and the Retake Trap

2026-06-08 · Written by Sajid Ali, Founder

If you are starting the Korea Immigration and Integration Program (KIIP), the exam logistics get confusing fast. Expats constantly struggle to figure out if the test covers everything at once, how center selection works, and what happens if your score comes back lower than expected.

Below is the definitive, fact-checked breakdown of how the official KIIP 사전평가 (pre-evaluation test) actually operates, based on the latest guidelines from the Ministry of Justice and the Korea Immigration Foundation (kiiptest.org).

Note: HanSups helps you prepare and estimate your level, but only the official government test decides your real placement. Everything below is about that official process.

One Placement Test, Then Stage Tests Later

The first thing to clear up because it trips almost everyone up: there is no separate entry exam for each level.

The 사전평가 is a single, overall placement test. You take it once to enter the program. Your score dictates exactly which stage (단계 0 to 5) you are placed into. A higher score means you skip the lower levels and the hundreds of mandatory classroom hours that go with them.

The other KIIP tests only come later as you move through the program:

  • 중간평가 (Interim Evaluation): You take this after completing Level 4. Passing it unlocks Level 5.
  • 종합평가 (Comprehensive Evaluation): You take this at the end of Level 5. It is split into two versions depending on your visa goal: 영주용 (for permanent residency) and 귀화용 (for naturalization). The passing mark for both is 60 out of 100.

So, to answer the “level-wise or overall” question: the initial entry test evaluates your overall ability, while the later tests act as specific stage-gates.

The 85-Point Shortcut

Here is a massive advantage most applicants do not know: if you score 85 points or higher on the 사전평가, you can bypass the classroom requirements entirely and register directly for the 영주용 종합평가 (Permanent Residency test). This is exactly why preparing properly for the placement test is the highest-leverage thing you can do for your visa.

What the 사전평가 Looks Like on Test Day

The 사전평가 is a single-day event. You cannot split it up. It consists of two parts taken back-to-back:

  • The Written Test (필기시험): You have exactly 60 minutes to complete 50 questions (48 multiple-choice and 2 short-answer). This section is worth 75 points and evaluates your Korean language skills alongside your knowledge of Korean society and culture (한국사회이해).
  • The Oral Test (구술시험): Immediately following the written portion, you will face a 10-minute interview with official examiners. You will answer 5 questions worth a total of 25 points.

This brings the total possible score to 100 points. Your final combined score dictates exactly where you start in the KIIP system.

The Official Placement Rubric

Total ScorePlacement LevelCourse Required
0 to 2 points (or oral score < 3)단계 0Basic
3 to 20 points단계 1Beginner 1
21 to 40 points단계 2Beginner 2
41 to 60 points단계 3Intermediate 1
61 to 80 points단계 4Intermediate 2
81 to 100 points단계 5Understanding Korean Society

Note: If you are looking for a deep dive into the psychological and structural reasons why people fail to finish on time, check out our dedicated breakdown: Why the KIIP Pre-Evaluation is Harder Than You Expect.

When Is the Test Held?

KIIP exams now run in two formats. Which one you pick dictates how and when you book your seat:

  • Paper-Based Test (PBT): Held on fixed dates a few times a year.
  • Computer-Based Test (CBT): Bookable on a rolling basis, but restricted to a small number of dedicated computer test centers.

Because the official calendar changes every year, never trust test dates published on random blogs (including this one). The official schedule is only published on kiiptest.org and socinet.go.kr.

A warning on deadlines: The application window for a paper test usually closes about two weeks before the test date. Last-minute signups are impossible. If you miss the window, you wait for the next cycle.

How to Apply: The Two-Website Rule

Registration is done entirely online, but it requires navigating two separate official platforms. Do not wait until registration day to set this up.

Step 1: Create Your Profile (Socinet)

Go to the Ministry of Justice’s official portal, Socinet (사회통합정보망, socinet.go.kr). You must create an account here first. You will need a valid Alien Registration Card (외국인등록증) or an equivalent residence document to verify your identity.

Step 2: Book the Exam and Pay (kiiptest.org)

Once your Socinet account is active, start your placement request inside Socinet (look for the 단계 배정 / Level Assignment option and choose to be placed through the 사전평가). Socinet then connects you to the Korea Immigration Foundation’s test portal, kiiptest.org, where you sign in, select your region, choose a specific test location, pick your date, and pay the 38,000 KRW application fee.

Step 3: Print the Ticket

You can only sit the test at the exact date and location you registered for. Print your registration ticket and bring it with your ARC on test day.

Can You Choose Your Test Center?

Yes, but within strict limits. When you register, you select your region and specific test location yourself. However, keep these two caveats in mind:

  • The First-Come, First-Served Bloodbath: Seats are limited. Popular dates and university centers fill up in minutes. The real answer is “yes, if you register fast.” Wait too long, and you will be stuck traveling to whatever center is left.
  • CBT Centers Are Limited: The computer-based test is currently restricted to just three standing centers nationwide: Seoul, Gwangmyeong, and Daejeon. The paper test (PBT) is available in far more locations, roughly fifteen cities.

Always check kiiptest.org for the current test venues and CBT centers, since locations shift between rounds and any list older than a year is dangerous to rely on. (Socinet’s 운영기관 finder is a separate tool, the course institutions you attend after placement, not the test centers themselves.)

How Many Times Can You Take It? (The Retake Trap)

There is no casual, unlimited re-sitting. The official rule is that if you want to take the 사전평가 again, you generally have to wait until 6 months have passed from your course completion or suspension date (이수정지일).

More importantly, retaking the test cancels your previous level placement. Your newest score is the only one that matters.

In plain terms: you do not get to sit it over and over hunting for a higher number without risk. A retake is not free because it wipes out the level you already earned. Furthermore, the moment you officially register for and begin attending a KIIP class, you are generally blocked from taking the placement test again. You cannot use the placement test to jump ahead once you are in the classroom system.

The retake rules are strict and depend on your exact status in the program, so always confirm your own situation on the official Socinet site before you assume you can re-test.

The Real Takeaway: Your Score Is Time

The 사전평가 is not pass or fail. It is a placement tool. A higher score places you into a higher 단계, which means you skip the lower levels and the months of mandatory class hours that come with them.

That is the whole game. It is why walking into the exam room unprepared, or guessing at your current level, is so expensive.

That is exactly what we are building HanSups to solve: KIIP-specific prep that estimates where you stand before test day, so you can aim for the highest level you are actually capable of achieving.

We are currently pre-launch. Take our free diagnostic to get an estimate of your current level, and join the waitlist so you are ready the moment we go live.

References

  • KIIP 사전평가, official guide (kiiptest.org, run by the Korea Immigration Foundation / 한국이민재단 under the Ministry of Justice): single placement test; 50-question / 60-minute written (75 points) plus 5-question / 10-minute oral (25 points); 100-point total; the score-to-level table; and the 6-month retake rule: kiiptest.org/guide/pre-evaluation
  • KIIP 중간평가 and 종합평가, official guides: the 중간평가 taken after Level 4, and the 영주용 and 귀화용 종합평가 after Level 5 (pass mark 60 out of 100): kiiptest.org/guide/mid-evaluation and kiiptest.org/guide/compre-evaluation
  • 사회통합정보망 (Socinet), Ministry of Justice (법무부): account registration, the official evaluation calendar, the test-center finder, and the 단계 0–5 program structure. Always check here for current dates and locations: socinet.go.kr
  • Hi Korea, Immigration portal: how KIIP completion feeds into F-2 and F-5 visa points and residency: immigration.go.kr
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