Korean

What is the TOPIK exam? The TOPIK exam is the official Korean language exam. It is internationally recognised and can be used to demonstrate your proficiency.

The exam is broken into two levels:

TOPIK 1 – beginner (Levels 1 – 2)
TOPIK 2 – intermediate and advanced (Levels 4 – 6)

TOPIK 1 tests your reading and listening skills and TOPIK 2 tests reading, listening and writing. There are many TOPIK textbooks that can help you to prepare for the exam if it something you wish to take. Below we have included some frequently asked questions regarding the TOPIK exam to give you a better idea of how it works and what you can expect.

IS TOPIK Exam Necessary

Whether or not this exam is necessary will depend on your individual needs. You can study Korean without taking the TOPIK. You can also live in Korea and work in some jobs there without having taken the exam.

However, for studying and some jobs in Korea a demonstration of your Korean proficiency will be necessary meaning that you may need to take the exam. It can also be useful if you’re studying Korean and want a goal to work towards. By signing up for the exam you’re more likely to learn the necessary vocabulary and grammar structures to meet that requirement which will improve your Korean at the same time. Exam sitting can be an incredibly useful way to improve language skills.

How Can I Pass TOPIK Exam?

There are several things you can do to pass the TOPIK exam. Firstly choose a level that is just above the current level you’re at so you can work towards your exam and it is appropriate for your language ability.

Next use a TOPIK textbook to work your way through the appropriate material for the exam you intend to take. In addition to this you should be doing past exams to practise and so that you know what to expect when the day of your exam rolls around. It’s important you do these exams under timed conditions so you have the same time you would in the actual exam.

Finally it can really help to immerse yourself fully in Korean in the lead up to an exam. Try to read in Korean, watch TV and movies, listen to music, keep a Korean diary and even speak Korean as much as possible even though the test doesn’t include an oral component.

Can I Skip TOPIK 1?

Yes you can skip TOPIK 1 and go straight to 2. You don’t have to take the beginner levels before moving onto the more advanced ones. Instead you can book in for whichever level you feel ready to take. We would recommend trying out some practise papers before you do this to see which level would be most realistic for you. Practise papers can be a great way to assess your current level and to give you a good idea of what you need to work on to achieve a pass in your desired exam.

Is TOPIK Hard?

Whether or not you find the TOPIK hard will depend on your level and how much preparation you have done for the exam. Some may find it much more difficult than others and some will find the tests fairly easy. Having said that students have reported there being a big jump between levels, with the jump from level 4 (intermediate) to level 5 (advanced) being greater for them than the jump between level 3 and 4 (both intermediate).

You should expect to find the exam quite difficult and to prepare adequately in order to pass. For this reason it can be incredibly beneficial to do past papers to practise for the TOPIK, not only does this give you a good indication of what level you’re at but it also helps you to be aware of what you’ll encounter on the test and how long you’ll need to complete each section. We can’t recommend this enough in your test preparation.

Is TOPIK A Written Test

Only TOPIK 2 includes a written test. If you are taking TOPIK 1 which is appropriate for beginners you will be tested on your listening and reading skills but if you are taking TOPIK 2 you will be tested on those two skills in addition to writing. Speaking proficiency is not included in the TOPIK exam.

Do I Have To Go To Korean To Sit The TOPIK?

No you can sit the TOPIK exam in your own country. However, if you want to take the test abroad you may also do this. Many people like to go to Korea to study for the exam and immerse themselves in the language then take the test while there. Whichever you choose is fine and will depend on your individual needs at the time and where you’re located. Taking the test abroad can be fun but taking it in your own country is perfectly fine too and incredibly common.

Hopefully we have helped to answer what is the TOPIK exam for you. If you have any further question regarding the exam or learning Korean in general then please let us know in the comments beneath and we’d be happy to answer them for you.

Article: What Is The TOPIK Exam

Suggested Articles: Why Take The TOPIK

Why take the TOPIK is a question that lots of learners of Korean will find themselves taking. What is it? Will it benefit them? And should they take it? These are all questions that may enter their heads when they first hear about the TOPIK exam. First off let’s take a look at what the TOPIK is.

The TOPIK exam is a Korean language proficiency exam that tests a non native speaker’s abilities in reading and listening, or reading, listening and writing at the more advanced levels. There are two main levels to the exam; TOPIK 1 and TOPIK 2. TOPIK 1 is for beginners and is further broken down into level 1 and 2. This exam only tests a learner’s reading and listening skills. TOPIK 2 consists of four levels; level 3 and 4 being intermediate and levels 5 and 6 being for advanced learners. TOPIK 2 tests a learners reading, writing and listening abilities.

What Is The Point Of TOPIK

The point is the test your proficiency in the Korean language. The test can be used as a goal setting method for learners to help them improve their Korean, a bench mark of how they’re progressing or it can be used to help find jobs and studying opportunities in Korea or Korean speaking companies and programmes.

Whether or not the learner will find a point in taking the exam will depend on why they’re learning Korean and what they want to get out of it. If they are looking to improve, study in Korea, work in Korean or even move to the country long term then it would definitely be worthwhile taking these exams.

Should I Take The TOPIK

This really depends on you but if you want to improve your Korean, or you want to live or work long term in South Korea then yes you should take the TOPIK.

Firstly, this exam is very useful for applying to jobs in Korea or if you’re looking to study there. However, the exam can be beneficial even if this isn’t the case for you. When learning a language, it’s easy to become stuck at one point. If you set yourself a goal like an exam at a slightly higher level than you’re currently at, then you’re more likely to improve your Korean as you study towards this goal. You’ll learn new grammar and vocabulary to help you pass the test and improve your language skills at the same time.

If you’re considering taking the exam and you have the time, money and inclination then we see no reason why you wouldn’t.

How To Prepare For The TOPIK Exam

One of the best ways to prepare for the TOPIK exam is to use a TOPIK textbook. You can purchase ones that take you through the appropriate material for each level in addition to ones with mock exams with which you can use to practise.

In addition to revising the material for the exam, it can be useful to immerse yourself in Korean, read, watch TV shows, listen to music and get as much speaking practise as you can. If you don’t have anyone to practise with start keeping a diary, this can be written or a video diary so you get used to thinking in Korean.

One important thing to note is that when you are taking in Korean media, make sure it matches the level you’re currently at. If it’s too difficult to understand you probably won’t take anything in and it won’t help with your learning.

How Much Does It Cost To Take The TOPIK

If you’re taking the test in Korea then the prices are as follows:

KRW 35,000 for TOPIK I

KRW 40,000 for TOPIK II

When Should I Take TOPIK Exam

When you take the TOPIK exam will depend on you, what you need it for, how long you’ve been studying in addition to other factors. One important thing to consider is that the TOPIK exam is only valid for two years and then you have to retake it. So if you’re studying towards this exam solely to improve your Korean then you can choose when to sit it, however, if you’re planning on using your qualification to study in Korea or apply for jobs you may want to consider this time factor when you go to take it.

If you’re not under any time restrictions and you want to sit the exam to improve your Korean then it may be a good idea to book in to take the test when you’re passing practise papers.

Article: Why Take The Topik

Suggested Article: Is It Hard To Learn Korean?

Is It Hard To Learn Korean?

So you want to know is it hard to learn Korean? We’re not going to give you the answer that you’re looking for, unfortunately yes it is relatively difficult to learn Korean but don’t lose hope!

Why Korean Is Difficult

For a start learning any language is difficult, and Korean is more difficult than many European languages as it is not related to English, it doesn’t use the same writing system and they have very few words in common. Korean is also difficult for English speakers grammar is quite different, for example in English we use and SVO sentence structure which stands for subject – verb – object, where as in Korean they use SOV which means subject – object – verb. Let’s take a look at this with an example:

In English:
I speak Korean
I  = subject
Speak = verb
Korean = object

In Korean this would use an SOV structure so would be:
I Korean speak
I = subject
Korean = object
Speak = verb

This of course can be quite difficult to get used to.

Another grammar difference is that English used prepositions where as Korean uses both prepositions and postpositions. When learning Korean people think that the alphabet will be the most difficult but it’s surprisingly easy to manage and it is the grammar that people seem to struggle with.

But don’t lose hope, we’ve covered the more difficult aspects of the language, let’s take a look at why Korean might be easier than we think.

Why Korean May Be Easier

For a start Korean isn’t a tonal language! That’s right, you heard us correctly. Unlike most forms of Chinese and Vietnamese, Korean doesn’t use tones which is one of the things that people struggle with the most when learning an Asian language.

Secondly people tend to look at the Korean writing system and panic. Quite frankly it looks like alien script. However you shouldn’t worry about this, Korean is thought of as the most intuitive writing system in the world. If you concentrated on nothing but the Korean alphabet for a week you would easily be able to learn it as it is a phonetic alphabet you would be able to pronounce any Korean word you read (you just might not understand what it means yet).

These two factors may not seem like a lot but they really set Korean aside from other Asian languages and make them much more accessible for English speakers. So when someone asks is it hard to learn Korean? You can say it depends what you find difficult. If you struggle with tones and new writing systems then no, you’re probably going to be just fine.

Resources For Learning Korean

Although it’s difficult to learn a language like Korean, luckily there are many resources available now to help you. Apps like Duolingo make learning Korean fun and provide you with immediate feedback. There are also a load of learn Korean websites that can help you to work through grammar, vocab and writing in a systematic way. And of course don’t forget the textbooks you can use. If you prefer to cram vocab then you have anki to help you.

If you don’t like this learning approach and prefer a more real life way of learning then why not look for a language partner on italki? Or take skype classes where you can see your teacher face to face and interact with them. Whatever your learning method, with the internet and changing attitudes to languages there should be something that works for you.

So there you have it, our answer to is it hard to learn Korean? Yes it is difficult, especially compared to European languages, however it is not a tonal language which gives it an advantage over many other Asian languages and people say that the Korean alphabet is the easiest alphabet to master in the world.

Can I Learn Korean Online?

Yes of course you can learn Korean online!

As you progress you may want to move to some offline methods just so you’re getting greater exposure but there’s no reason you can’t practise your speaking, writing, reading and listening all online while picking up new vocab and grammar at the same time.

You just need to know how to do it. So here are some handy tips of things you can do online to help you learn Korean.

Use A Korean Website Instead Of A Textbook

There are loads of great learn Korean websites available online with explanations, activities and exercises. You can use them in a similar way to how you would use a textbook but the best thing is most of them are free. At your own pace you can work your way through the exercises and check your progress as you go.

Some of these websites have forums as well so you can chat to other Korean learners and ask any questions that you might have.

Practise Speaking Korean Online

There are lots of websites available that are set up to help you find partners for language exchanges. Italki, HelloTalk and CoversationExchange are just a few examples of these. The websites have a huge database of all of the people with profiles that indicates what language they already speak and what language they’re trying to learn. When you put in what language you’d like to learn, the website pairs you with options of people who speak Korean and are looking to learn your native language.

You then simply message them introducing yourself and arrange a date and time to conduct your language exchange. During the exchange you speak for part of the time in your language and the rest in theirs meaning you both get practise. It’s a simple and free way to practise speaking Korean online.

Watch Korean Dramas On Youtube

Another super fun thing you can do to learn Korean online is to watch Korean dramas. There are so many of these available on places like youtube that you should be able to find some to watch that you enjoy while learning. The best thing about using Korean dramas to help you learn Korean is that you’re engaging with the culture at the same time. For all the jokes people might make about Korean dramas, there’s no denying that they’re a huge part of Korean culture and watching them will help you to start to gain insights into this culture.

Even more so if you’re from the west where Asian culture isn’t something that you’re often exposed to. The culture is so different that it’s important to expose yourself to that side of Korea as well as the language itself.

So Can You Learn Korean Online?

We think that yes you can and there are ways you can learn Korean for free. You can definitely get to quite a high stage of fluency but if you want to take it further you’re probably going to need to adopt some none online methods.