TOPIK Practice Tips

The Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) is the standard Korean language proficiency exam recognized worldwide. Whether you're aiming for TOPIK I (levels 1-2) or TOPIK II (levels 3-6), strategic preparation makes a significant difference.

Understanding the Exam Structure

TOPIK I (Beginner)

• Listening: 30 questions, 40 minutes
• Reading: 40 questions, 60 minutes
• Level 1: 80+ points / Level 2: 140+ points (out of 200)

TOPIK II (Intermediate-Advanced)

• Listening: 50 questions, 60 minutes
• Reading: 50 questions, 70 minutes
• Writing: 4 questions, 50 minutes
• Level 3: 120+ / Level 4: 150+ / Level 5: 190+ / Level 6: 230+ (out of 300)

Section-by-Section Strategy

Listening

The key skill: anticipation. Before the audio plays, read the answer choices. They often reveal what the question will ask about.

For TOPIK I:

• Questions 1-10 are short conversations. Focus on the final sentence — it usually contains the answer
• Questions 11-20 involve matching dialogues to situations or images
• Questions 21-30 test your ability to understand the main idea

For TOPIK II:

• Questions get progressively harder. Don't spend too long on difficult ones
• News-style passages appear in questions 40-50. Practice listening to KBS news at 0.75x speed
• Take notes on numbers, dates, and key nouns as you listen

Reading

Speed is your biggest challenge. You need to read approximately one passage per minute in TOPIK II.

Effective strategies:

• Read the questions first, then scan the passage for answers
• Don't translate word-by-word — read for overall meaning
• Watch for grammar patterns that signal answers: 그러나 (however) often introduces the main point, 따라서 (therefore) signals conclusions
• For vocabulary questions, use context clues and word roots (Sino-Korean compounds share roots with Chinese-derived words)

Writing (TOPIK II Only)

This is where most students struggle. The writing section has 4 questions:

Questions 51-52: Fill in the blanks in short texts. Practice common sentence patterns and connectors. These are relatively easy points.

Question 53: Write a 200-300 character explanation based on data (graph, chart, or table). Practice describing trends: 증가하다 (increase), 감소하다 (decrease), 비슷하다 (similar), 차이가 있다 (there is a difference).

Question 54: Write a 600-700 character essay on a given topic. Structure matters:

1. Introduction (1-2 sentences): State the topic and your position
2. Body 1: First supporting point with example
3. Body 2: Second supporting point with example
4. Conclusion: Summarize and restate your position

Use formal written style (-ㅂ니다/습니다 or -다 endings). Avoid spoken forms like -요.

Study Schedule

3 Months Before the Exam

• Take a full practice test to identify weaknesses
• Begin daily reading practice (Korean news articles, webtoons)
• Start a vocabulary notebook organized by TOPIK frequency lists

2 Months Before

• Do 2-3 practice tests per week (timed)
• Focus on your weakest section
• For writing: practice one essay per week and get it corrected

1 Month Before

• Full practice tests every weekend under exam conditions
• Review all mistakes from previous practice tests
• Focus on time management — practice finishing each section early

Final Week

• Light review only. Don't cram new material
• Review common grammar patterns and vocabulary
• Get good sleep. Test performance drops significantly with sleep deprivation

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Over-relying on translation. If you're translating Korean to English in your head, you'll run out of time. Practice reading Korean text and understanding it directly.

Ignoring the writing section. Many students focus only on listening and reading because they're multiple choice. But writing is worth 100 points in TOPIK II and has the most room for improvement with practice.

Not practicing with real past exams. TOPIK recycles question types and formats. Past exams are freely available on the official TOPIK website. Use them.

Studying vocabulary in isolation. Words are easier to remember and use correctly when you learn them in context. Read them in sentences, not just flashcard lists.

Resources

• Official TOPIK website (topik.go.kr) — past exams and registration
• Chamelingo — grammar and vocabulary aligned with TOPIK levels, with spaced repetition to ensure long-term retention
• TOPIK Guide — free vocabulary lists organized by level
• KBS World Radio — Korean listening practice at natural speed

The most reliable predictor of TOPIK success is consistent daily practice over months, not intense cramming in the final weeks. Start early, practice regularly, and track your progress with timed practice tests.