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  • [Test Outline]
■ What is KLAT?
KLAT, Korean Language Ability Test, operated by Korea Educational Testing Service authorized by the Korean government (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) is an international test of Korean language developed to assess systematically the Korean proficiency of non-native Korean speakers by minutely considering their distinct characteristics.

■ KLAT Eligibility
◦Anyone who speaks Korean as a second language.
◦Anyone who wants his/her Korean proficiency assessed officially.
◦Anyone who wants admission to Korean Universities.
◦Anyone who wants a job for Korean-related companies or organizations.

■ The purpose of KLAT
The purpose of KLAT is to assess objectively the Korean proficiency of a non-native Korean speaker by testing his/her practical communication skill as follows;

  ◦ If he/she is able to live his/her basic life in Korean language.
◦ If he/she is able to perform his/her social activities as a member of Korean community by means of his/her Korean communication skill.

Namely, the purpose of KLAT is not only to assess the Korean proficiency of a non-native Korean speaker in performing his/her professional task in a Korean-related company, organization, etc. or studying his/her major in a Korean university but to help him/her understand Korean culture and learn Korean correctly by means of KLAT, a standardized test of Korean language.

■ The feature of KLAT
The features of KLAT are as follows;

  ◦Based on CEFR, Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, assessing the authentic proficiency of Korean language.

  ◦ Aiming to assess the proficiency of practical-Korean language reflecting the reality of a language by utilizing authentic-Korean materials in the questions of KLAT.
◦ Developing and utilizing an assessing tool to include various aspects of linguistic proficiency such as level of general communication, level of task-performance in a society, level of detailed-linguistic activity, and so on.

  ◦Considering as much as possible of the purpose and convenience of a test-taker by making each test section different according to each level of Korean learners.
◦Helping a test-taker locate its weakness and strength in each test section by showing both the test score of each section and the final grade from 1 to 6 in its official score report.
◦Enhancing the convenience of a test-taker by operating internationally both PBT and IBT.

■ The aim of each KLAT level
◦ B-KLAT_Introductory(grade 1 to 2) aims to assess the minimal proficiency of a Korean learner for 150 to 200 hours.
◦ KLAT_Novice(grade 1 to 2) aims to assess the Novice proficiency of a Korean learner for less than 400 hours.
◦ KLAT_Intermediate(grade 3 to 4) aims to assess the independent-linguistic proficiency of a Korean learner for less than 800 hours.
◦ KLAT_Advanced(grade 5 to 6) aims to assess the mastery proficiency of a Korean learner for over 800 hours.

■ Examples of KLAT score to be utilized
◦ Non-native Korean speaker may submit its KLAT score for admission to Korean university, Korean-related company, etc.
◦ Global-Korean company may require the KLAT score to screen or promote non-Korean employees.
◦ Korean or overseas university may require the KLAT score to screen non-Korean students or assess the Korean proficiency of students for the term-end exam.
◦ Government or its affiliated organization may require the KLAT score to screen non-Korean trainees or foreigners for their positions.