TOEIC vs TOEIC Speaking vs OPIc: Which English Test for Your Career?

TOEIC vs TOEIC Speaking vs OPIc: the short answer

TOEIC (L&R) measures listening and reading on a 10-990 scale, while TOEIC Speaking and OPIc both measure speaking. The key difference is the result format: TOEIC Speaking is score-based, and OPIc is level-based (from NL up to AL). These are not the same test; each one assesses a different skill. That is why Korean job seekers usually build a listening and reading score with TOEIC, then prepare a speaking test (TOEIC Speaking or OPIc) separately.

If you are a job seeker (취준생), it pays to understand how these three fit together early. Many large companies (대기업) look at a TOEIC score and a speaking grade together, so getting the order right from the start saves both time and registration fees (응시료).

What each test measures

The three tests differ in both the skill they assess and the way they report results.

• TOEIC (L&R): a multiple-choice test of listening (LC) and reading (RC), built around real workplace English: meetings, emails, notices. It does not include speaking or writing.
• TOEIC Speaking (토스): a speaking-only test taken at a computer with a microphone. Its question types are fixed, which makes answer patterns easy to prepare, and it is score-based.
• OPIc: a computer-based speaking test where a pre-test survey lets you choose your topics of interest, and questions follow from them. Results come as a level from NL up to AL, not a numeric score.

Detailed comparison table

Here is the three tests side by side.

Score and level scales in detail

The three tests report results differently, which can be confusing at first. Here is what matters most.

• TOEIC (L&R): listening (LC) 5-495 and reading (RC) 5-495 add up to a total of 10-990. What each band means is covered in our score levels guide.
• TOEIC Speaking: reported as a score from 0-200 along with a level (usually 1-8). Job postings often state requirements by level, for example Level 6 (120-130) or Level 7 (140+).
• OPIc: reported as a level rather than a score. From lowest to highest: NL, NM, NH, IL, IM, IH, AL. For hiring, IM or above is common, and IH or above is often considered competitive.

There is no official conversion table between the two speaking tests. The figures below are only a rough guide of the kind often paired in job postings, so treat them as indicative.

Note: these figures are not an official standard, just the rough expectations commonly used in the hiring market.

Which test do you need for a job?

In short, many large companies (대기업) ask for a TOEIC (L&R) score plus a speaking grade (TOEIC Speaking or OPIc). That said, some have dropped strict cutoffs, so requirements vary quite a bit by company and role.

• Baseline: for many roles, around 700 on TOEIC is treated as a basic entry point. For office and administrative roles that is a reasonable starting line.
• Competitive range: for popular roles or popular employers, 800 or above is considered competitive.
• Top / global roles: overseas sales, expatriate postings, and global teams often expect 850-900 or above alongside a high speaking grade (OPIc IH-AL, TOEIC Speaking Level 7+).

Keep validity in mind too. All three scores are valid for only 2 years, and many large companies, including Samsung, accept only scores under 2 years old. Plan your test dates backward from your application. For the same reason, checking the score release schedule (성적 발표) in advance keeps you off the deadline.

For reference, TOEIC registration in Korea costs 52,500 won, the lowest among the countries surveyed, and regular sittings are held 26 times a year (usually 2-3 Sundays a month, sometimes Saturdays). The administrator is YBM / the Korea TOEIC Committee (toeic.co.kr).

In what order should you prepare?

To save time and registration fees, order matters. Here is the flow usually recommended to job seekers.

• Step 1, TOEIC (L&R) first: listening and reading rely on high-frequency vocabulary and predictable question patterns, so scores can rise relatively quickly. Secure your target company's baseline first (for example, 700+).
• Step 2, choose a speaking test: once you have a base TOEIC score, pick the format that suits you between TOEIC Speaking and OPIc. Prefer structured answers? TOEIC Speaking. Comfortable speaking freely on chosen topics? OPIc.
• Step 3, match the employer's standard: accepted tests and required grades differ by company and role. Read the posting and match the exact score (whether a high score is needed) and grade.

Starting a speaking test too early is inefficient while your listening and reading foundation is still weak. Building your English base with TOEIC first, then moving to speaking, tends to shorten your overall preparation time.

So, where should you start?

990prep focuses on TOEIC (L&R), that is listening and reading. Speaking tests like TOEIC Speaking and OPIc need separate speaking practice, but the step before that, your listening and reading base score, is the starting point for almost every large-company (대기업) application.

The recommended strategy is to prepare TOEIC listening and reading systematically with 990prep to build your base score, then add TOEIC Speaking or OPIc. Drilling high-frequency vocabulary and part-by-part questions while tracking your progress gets you a step closer to a high score, even in a short window. Start by checking what each score band means, set your target, and begin.

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