SKA in 5th Year of Comprehensively Measuring Korean Communication Skills
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작성일 2026-04-16
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SKA in 5th Year of Comprehensively
Measuring Korean Communication Skills
Measuring Korean Communication Skills
> Strength in evaluating all areas (listening, reading, writing, and speaking): Steady increase in the number of test-takers since launch
> Expanding applications in university admissions and corporate recruitment: Scaling up to meet growing global demand
The number of applicants for the Sejong Korean Language Assessment (SKA) has steadily grown since its first administration in 2022. By the end of 2025, the test had been conducted a total of 10 times, with a cumulative 18,457 applicants and 13,617 test-takers. Notably, the 11th test, held on March 14, recorded a high turnout rate of approximately 80%.
The SKA is a Korean proficiency test developed and administered by the King Sejong Institute Foundation (Acting President and Secretary General Choi Hyun-Seung; hereafter referred to as the “KSIF”). It is designed to comprehensively measure the communication skills of learners whose native language is not Korean. Unlike the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK), which primarily focuses on listening, reading, and writing, the SKA evaluates all four skills (listening, reading, writing, and speaking) through a hybrid format combining Internet- and paper-based testing. Another key feature of the SKA is its emphasis on the language used in everyday life, with test items reflecting practical communication contexts, such as daily-life and workplace situations, to assess test-takers’ ability to use Korean effectively in real-world settings. The assessment is also closely aligned with the KSI curriculum.
The SKA is a Korean proficiency test developed and administered by the King Sejong Institute Foundation (Acting President and Secretary General Choi Hyun-Seung; hereafter referred to as the “KSIF”). It is designed to comprehensively measure the communication skills of learners whose native language is not Korean. Unlike the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK), which primarily focuses on listening, reading, and writing, the SKA evaluates all four skills (listening, reading, writing, and speaking) through a hybrid format combining Internet- and paper-based testing. Another key feature of the SKA is its emphasis on the language used in everyday life, with test items reflecting practical communication contexts, such as daily-life and workplace situations, to assess test-takers’ ability to use Korean effectively in real-world settings. The assessment is also closely aligned with the KSI curriculum.
10th SKA Speaking Test using the SKA system
(KSI Namangan, Uzbekistan)
(KSI Namangan, Uzbekistan)
10th SKA Listening, Reading, and Writing Test
(KSI Surabaya, Indonesia)
(KSI Surabaya, Indonesia)
To improve test efficiency, the KSIF introduced the stepwise adaptive Sejong Korean Assessment (iSKA) in 2024. For the internet-based iSKA, the difficulty of questions is adjusted in stages according to each test-taker’s proficiency level. Compared to the traditional paper-based SKA, the iSKA can assess Korean communication skills more efficiently with fewer questions and a shorter test time. The first test was held in 2024 and the second in 2025, and through these, the KSIF has verified the reliability and operational efficiency of the system. It has also introduced both at-home and on-site testing formats to enhance accessibility. Starting this June, the iSKA will be made available to online KSI learners as well.
Administration of the 2nd iSKA in 2025 (KSI Center, France)
In 2025, a mobile application for the SKA Speaking Test was introduced, enabling KSI locations with limited access to internet-based testing infrastructure to conduct speaking assessments more easily. For quality control, the assessment is supported by a systematic evaluation framework. To ensure high reliability, the listening and reading sections are scored based on item response theory, while the writing and speaking sections are graded through cross-evaluation by trained professional raters.
The 10th SKA Speaking Test using a mobile app (KSI Hanoi1, Vietnam)
Applications Spanning University Admissions to Employment
The SKA is being utilized across a wide range of fields, including university admissions and scholarships in Korea, visa issuance, and corporate recruitment. Discussions are currently underway to establish a stronger institutional framework for the SKA. Once the necessary legal foundations are established, the KSIF is planning for expanded application within official systems, including for visa issuance.
The SKA is being utilized across a wide range of fields, including university admissions and scholarships in Korea, visa issuance, and corporate recruitment. Discussions are currently underway to establish a stronger institutional framework for the SKA. Once the necessary legal foundations are established, the KSIF is planning for expanded application within official systems, including for visa issuance.
Major institutions using the SKA and partner organizations (as of Dec 2025)
To meet the growing global demand for Korean language evaluations, the KSIF plans to add more overseas test locations, introduce domestic test administrations, and expand the application the iSKA for improved accessibility. Per year, the SKA is conducted three times abroad and twice in Korea, while the iSKA is conducted a total of four times.
[SKA Overseas Schedule in 2026 (3 Sessions)]
- Listening, Reading, & Writing (PBT), and Speaking (iBT)
- Listening, Reading, & Writing (PBT), and Speaking (iBT)
※ Speaking assessments are held on the 1st of each month.
[SKA Korean Schedule in 2026 (2 Sessions)]
- Listening, Reading, & Writing (PBT), and Speaking (iBT)
- Listening, Reading, & Writing (PBT), and Speaking (iBT)
※ In Korea, all four SKA assessments are administered on the same day.
[iSKA Schedule in 2026 (4 Sessions)]
