Author Topic: TOPIK - Test of Proficiency in Korean (Read 12072 times)

Brian · « **on:** November 22, 2007, 10:21:19 am »

UPDATEI see people are checking this from time to time. The links I had posted earlier were broken, but you can still browse the old tests on the TOPIK website.

The test is given twice a year: April and October. Registration is a few months before, so check the TOPIK site in late-January for April, and July for October.

ORIGINAL POST
The TOPIK test is given twice a year, and might be a nice thing to show for your time spent in Korea. The next test is in April, and the nearest testing center is in Gwangju at Chonnam University (전남대학교).

There are six levels and three tests. Levels 1 and 2 are beginner, 3 and 4 are intermediate, and 5 and 6 are advanced. If you take the beginner test and score above a 70%, you pass Level 2. If you score between 50 and 69%, you pass Level 1.

There are test prep books available at the large bookstores in Seoul. You can also get previous exams on the TOPIK website. Go to http://www.topik.or.kr/ and click on 자료실 on the left sidebar, and browse eight pages. 초(1~2)급 indicates beginner.

Before I came back to Korea this year I had planned to study hard for half the year and take the intermediate exam. I browsed through the practice exams and its really hard. There's another blogger (some pics NSFW) whose Korean skills are light years beyond mine, and he's still at level 3, so I guess level 2 is a more reasonable goal, even with 3-4 months left to study.

matthew254 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 16, 2010, 08:33:58 am »

Anyone else studying for the TOPIK might like this:
http://sites.google.com/site/matthewpluskoreanequalsfun/topik-questions

I also stumbled upon someone else's TOPIK blog that looks promising:
http://topikexam.wordpress.com/

elprofesor · « **Reply #2 on:** February 15, 2011, 03:00:57 pm »

i really want to prepare for levels 5 and 6...is there any materials i can get to self study for the next 2 months?

siamagoo · « **Reply #3 on:** February 15, 2011, 03:11:56 pm »

I'm preparing to take the Beginning TOPIK this April. Is anyone out there interested in a study group? We can share materials and ask questions.

Attached is my verb word list. Most of the constructions are WAY over my head, but it's good when I want to look up something I don't understand. The page numbers are from "Korean Grammar for International Learners".

Full disclosure: I typed the list up myself, so I would be shocked if there weren't typos/misunderstandings all over it.

And does anyone know if there's a list of the words/patterns we are expected to know for the test?

notinKS · « **Reply #4 on:** March 04, 2011, 09:32:28 am »

I'm also taking the beginner test in April and just stumbled onto a list of words we're expected to know for the beginner test. I've saved it in Excel format. I'm so happy I found this!!!

valium kilmer · « **Reply #5 on:** March 04, 2011, 09:46:27 am »

I'd love to do this and have been thinking about it - though I won't be in Korea in October. Are there only two tests a year? I was under the impression there were a few more....

hankmcmasters · « **Reply #6 on:** March 04, 2011, 09:56:54 am »

where are you going? there are tests in other countries as well. http://www.topik.go.kr/ if you change it to English and click on test sites you can see where the tests are

or maybe its just more time to study

Koreak · « **Reply #7 on:** March 04, 2011, 09:59:09 am »

Out of curiosity, how much does the beginner test cost? Also do you have to take the beginner test or could I possibly skip those and go to intermediate?

notinKS · « **Reply #8 on:** March 04, 2011, 10:02:41 am »

Beginner test is 40,000원. I don't think you have to take the beginner test, but there's HUGE jump in the levels between the beginner and the intermediate...depending on your level, you may want to just in case.

gilbert.a.h · « **Reply #9 on:** March 04, 2011, 10:07:24 am »

I studied Korean for a year and a half at my university before coming here. How hard would it be for me to get the first level on the test? I saw the exel file, and it seemed like a few words I don't know.

valium kilmer · « **Reply #10 on:** March 04, 2011, 10:18:22 am »

I'll actually be in the UK - I'll source out a few dates there. I've also realised I'll be in the UK in April too!

I did actually look at the website briefly, but there's a certain irony looking at the level of the English on there, giving information about tests of proficiency in another language!

Are there any books people on here would recommend in order to study for it? I went to buy some, but I could find no text books outlining the different grammar you were supposed to know. I think I have studied a fair few grammar points, but somewhat at the expense of vocabulary (which I'm trying to compensate for these days) so I'm worried about failing a basic grammar question simply because I don't know the vocab.

siamagoo · « **Reply #11 on:** March 04, 2011, 10:27:15 am »

To the people who don't know their level - I believe you can take two tests in one day, but beware test fatigue!

I'm studying by going through a practice test, learning the things I didn't know, and then taking another practice test.

You can find tests, answers, and audio files at http://www.topikguide.in/

valium kilmer · « **Reply #12 on:** March 05, 2011, 07:07:39 am »

Quote from: notinKS on March 04, 2011, 09:32:28 am

I'm also taking the beginner test in April and just stumbled onto a list of words we're expected to know for the beginner test. I've saved it in Excel format. I'm so happy I found this!!!

Wow - you typed this up yourself?

Thanks!

I have the book, even bought the workbook, but never manage to get beyond 2 pages because of the way the English is structured (though others tell me its a really good book to use.)

Well, today is an early saturday - all set for the new Korean semester at the YMCA - I may even venture out with both books today and have a good long study day!

notinKS · « **Reply #13 on:** March 05, 2011, 10:11:28 am »

Quote

Wow - you typed this up yourself? Thanks!

LOL, No, I actually found it on the TOPIK website. I am working on defining it one word at a time though...543 down!! Glad to know I'm not the only one spending Saturdays studying

anigerla · « **Reply #14 on:** March 05, 2011, 01:32:51 pm »

Quote from: notinKS on March 05, 2011, 10:11:28 am

Quote
Wow - you typed this up yourself? Thanks!

LOL, No, I actually found it on the TOPIK website. I am working on defining it one word at a time though...543 down!! Glad to know I'm not the only one spending Saturdays studying

Hi! This is very useful! Could you give directions where you found it? TOPIK homepage is not ver user friendly and I think some things are not available in English. I was able to find previous exam through Korean page but not vocab lists. I would appreciate your help! ^^

valium kilmer · « **Reply #15 on:** March 05, 2011, 03:00:49 pm »

Quote from: notinKS on March 05, 2011, 10:11:28 am

Quote
Wow - you typed this up yourself? Thanks!

LOL, No, I actually found it on the TOPIK website. I am working on defining it one word at a time though...543 down!! Glad to know I'm not the only one spending Saturdays studying

Ha - i've just realised I quoted the wrong person - the poster above you talked about typing up the document!

siamagoo · « **Reply #16 on:** March 07, 2011, 11:25:43 am »

Quote from: valium kilmer on March 05, 2011, 07:07:39 am

Wow - you typed this up yourself? Thanks!

I have the book, even bought the workbook, but never manage to get beyond 2 pages because of the way the English is structured (though others tell me its a really good book to use.)

I was practicing my typing (both Korean and English!).

I have the workbook, too, but have found it to be way too difficult/confusing to use. I'm glad others have found it useful, but the feeling's not universal.

Another bit of advice: cut the book up into sections. I just took a exato(?) knife to it and then rebound it with tape. It's a huge book, so I carry around only the section I want (this technique is also great with guide books. I got it from Tourism God, Rick Steves.).

siamagoo · « **Reply #17 on:** March 07, 2011, 05:03:58 pm »

Quote from: notinKS on March 04, 2011, 09:32:28 am

I'm also taking the beginner test in April and just stumbled onto a list of words we're expected to know for the beginner test. I've saved it in Excel format. I'm so happy I found this!!!

This list is awesome - and depressing. Thanks so much.
I've re-posted it as a word document with Google Translate's translations. There are some pretty bad mistakes, but on the whole it's a great start. And it's only 14 pages!

Also attached are some of my favorite endings, with examples. It was proof-read by a real-live Korean person, so there shouldn't be too many typos.

valium kilmer · « **Reply #18 on:** March 08, 2011, 10:53:29 am »

Quote from: siamagoo on March 07, 2011, 05:03:58 pm

Quote from: notinKS on March 04, 2011, 09:32:28 am
I'm also taking the beginner test in April and just stumbled onto a list of words we're expected to know for the beginner test. I've saved it in Excel format. I'm so happy I found this!!!

This list is awesome - and depressing. Thanks so much.
I've re-posted it as a word document with Google Translate's translations. There are some pretty bad mistakes, but on the whole it's a great start. And it's only 14 pages!

Also attached are some of my favorite endings, with examples. It was proof-read by a real-live Korean person, so there shouldn't be too many typos.

Thanks - that version with examples is superb. I was going to use this with my Korean tutor - try and use some examples but this is even better.

The google/TOPIK one is also good - though I intend to do that one myself as a vocab builder

daninsanam · « **Reply #19 on:** March 08, 2011, 11:14:44 am »

Thanks notinKS for the list and Siamagoo for the translate, for the most part it looks correct, just a few words google translate skipped. The only glaring mistakes I spotted were 바쁘다, obviously not "plate" but "busy" and 비밀 is "secret" not "facebook".

Will post a corrected version later if no-one else does it first.

Thanks again

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Author Topic: TOPIK - Test of Proficiency in Korean (Read 12072 times)

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