Hanja Proficiency Test
Complete Level Guide
From Level 8 to Level 1 — exam scope, passing criteria, and recommended study methods. Useful for job applications and school credits.
What is the Hanja Proficiency Test?
The Hanja Proficiency Test is a nationally certified exam administered by the Korean Language Society, assessing Hanja reading/writing ability and idiom comprehension. Held 4 times a year with 11 levels from Level 8 to Special Level.
Exam Frequency
Lv.8 ~ Special
Certified
Level 3+
Lv.8 · 7-II · 7
Elementary (Lower) · 50 ~ 150 chars
Foundation level for basic Hanja: numbers, nature, people. Suitable for grades 1-3.
Representative Idioms
一石二鳥, 四面楚歌, 三三五五
ONGO Study Tip
Start with "Numbers & Directions" and "Nature & Animals" groups in ONGO's 100 Essential Hanja.
Lv.6-II · 6
Elementary (Upper) · 225 ~ 300 chars
Intermediate-basic level covering everyday Hanja. Emotions, actions, and qualities are added. Simple idiom comprehension begins.
Representative Idioms
苦盡甘來, 自業自得, 以心傳心
ONGO Study Tip
Daily idiom quizzes in ONGO Brain Exercise naturally teach Hanja in context.
Lv.5-II · 5
Middle School · 500 ~ 700 chars
Level for understanding Hanja in school textbooks. Abstract concepts and academic terms are included. Idiom questions increase significantly.
Representative Idioms
切磋琢磨, 溫故知新, 臥薪嘗膽
ONGO Study Tip
ONGO's character breakdowns (苦+盡+甘+來) naturally cover 60%+ of Level 5 Hanja.
Lv.4-II · 4
High School · 1,000 ~ 1,500 chars
Level for understanding Hanja in newspapers and literature. Covers college entrance exam Hanja questions. Some universities offer bonus points.
Representative Idioms
刻舟求劍, 指鹿爲馬, 守株待兔
ONGO Study Tip
ONGO's historical idiom series helps memorize difficult Hanja through narrative context.
Lv.3-II · 3
University / Job Seekers · 1,817 ~ 2,355 chars
Job application bonus level. Government exams, major corporations, and media companies prefer Level 3+. Professional terminology and advanced idioms are tested.
Representative Idioms
走馬加鞭, 塞翁之馬, 螳螂拒轍
ONGO Study Tip
Use ONGO's Interview 40 and Business 30 idiom collections to learn expressions usable in real situations.
Recommended Study Strategy by Level
Phase 1: Start with Idioms (Lv.8-6)
Instead of memorizing individual characters, meet them in idioms. Learn four characters at once with meaning through "苦盡甘來". ONGO's music doubles the memory effect.
Phase 2: Understand Radicals & Structure (Lv.5-4)
Understanding radicals (basic meaning components) lets you guess unknown characters. Example: 水(water) → 海(sea), 河(river), 洋(ocean). Learn key radicals in ONGO's 100 Essential Hanja.
Phase 3: Context Learning through Stories (Lv.3+)
Advanced idioms are memorable through their origin stories. ONGO's idiom detail pages provide the original tales for each idiom.
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