EPS-TOPIK photo, ready to upload.

EPS-TOPIK photo requirements

When you register for the EPS-TOPIK, you upload an ID photo. The online form is strict, and a photo that does not match is a common reason for an application to be sent back. The photo must be:

• 3.5 cm wide and 4.5 cm tall. On screen this is usually 350 × 450 pixels; some forms accept smaller sizes with the same shape.
• A JPG (JPEG) file. PNG, HEIC and PDF files are not accepted.
• Very small in file size, usually no more than 13 to 15 KB. A normal phone photo is 2 to 5 MB, hundreds of times too big.
• On a plain white background, with no pattern, colour or shadow behind you.

The KB limit and the exact pixel size can differ from one registration round or portal to the next. Check the notice for your round, and pick the matching limit in the tool above. If you are unsure, use 13 KB: a photo under 13 KB is also under 15 KB.

How to take a photo that passes

You do not need a studio. A phone and a white wall are enough.

1. Stand about half a metre in front of a white wall, so your shadow falls behind you and not on the wall around your head.
2. Face a window or a light, not with the light behind you. Even light on your face removes shadows.
3. Ask someone else to take the photo at eye level, from about one metre away. Selfies taken at arm's length make the face look wider.
4. Look straight at the camera with a neutral expression and your mouth closed. Keep both ears visible if you can, and do not wear a cap or sunglasses.
5. Wear a dark or coloured top, so your shoulders do not blend into the white background.

How the tool works

When you choose a photo, it is opened by your phone's browser. Nothing is uploaded to UBTApp or anywhere else: cropping and compressing happen on your device, which is why it works even on a slow connection once the page has loaded.

The tool crops your photo to the 3.5 × 4.5 shape, puts it on a white canvas, and then tries different JPG quality levels until it finds the best one that fits under your size limit. If the photo cannot fit even at low quality, it makes the image a little smaller and tries again. It also checks the edges of the photo and warns you if the background does not look white.

Common reasons photos are rejected

• The file is too large, or it is not a JPG.
• The background is coloured, patterned, or has a door or furniture in it.
• The face is too small in the frame, or the top of the head is cut off.
• The photo is blurred, too dark, or has a strong shadow across the face.
• The photo was edited with filters or beauty effects.

After registration

The photo is one small step. The selection itself depends on your EPS-TOPIK score, and the listening section is where most candidates lose marks. Practising full tests in the real format is the best use of the time before your exam.