UBT and CBT Explained: How the EPS-TOPIK Screen and Rules Work
Paper tests are gone — EPS-TOPIK is now on screen
EPS-TOPIK today is delivered as a CBT (Computer-Based Test) or UBT (Ubiquitous-Based Test, on a tablet). On the official 2026 schedule every round is labeled CBT or UBT; the old paper-based test (PBT) is no longer used for regular rounds (source: epstopik.hrdkorea.or.kr schedule page, checked 2026-08-24). The question content is the same in both formats: 20 listening and 20 reading questions, all 4-choice multiple choice, in 50 minutes (source: epstopik.hrdkorea.or.kr, checked 2026-08-24).
CBT: at a computer
- You sit at a desktop computer in an official test center
- Questions appear on the monitor; you click your answer choice with the mouse
- Listening audio plays automatically through headphones — you cannot pause or replay it
- A timer on screen shows remaining time; the section ends automatically
UBT: on a tablet
- You receive a tablet and headphones at your seat (for example, Nepal's 2026 rounds run on UBT at the UBT Building in Bhaisepati, Lalitpur — source: EPS Korea Section notice, checked 2026-08-24)
- You touch the screen to choose answers and move between questions
- Listening plays automatically, one question after another, at fixed timing
Rules that decide your result
- Identity check: your face, admission card and passport/ID are compared before you sit down
- All electronic devices (phone, smart watch, earphones) must be surrendered before entering; possession during the test is treated as cheating
- Arrive by the time on your admission card; late arrivals are refused
- Do not talk, look at other screens, or leave your seat without permission
- Cheating can lead to invalidation of the test and restriction from future EPS-TOPIK rounds — the exact penalty is in each round's official notice
How to prepare for the screen format
The official site provides free practice materials: open questions (question book), e-book and self-study pages that let you experience the question types before test day (source: epstopik.hrdkorea.or.kr Download and E-Book menus, checked 2026-08-24). Practice answering within about 75 seconds per question, and train listening with audio you play only once. If any rule here conflicts with your admission card or your country's official notice, the official notice wins.