You've been studying Korean for a while, and now you need to find a means to formally recognize your mastery of the language. present TOPIK. A written exam called the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) is used to gauge the Korean language proficiency of non-native speakers. It is a widely recognized credential that is helpful when applying for university programs, internships, or jobs where language proficiency is required.
Arrangement of TOPIK I
The levels of TOPIK are TOPIK I and II. We will discuss TOPIK I today, which is the entry level. This one is for language learners who are just starting out and have a vocabulary of between 800 and 2000 words.
TOPIK I is a 100-minute-long exam, and consists of reading and listening sections. All questions are multiple choice, with 40 reading questions and 30 listening ones. The listening section has 40 minutes and the other 60 are for students to complete the reading part of the exam. Each section is for a total of 100 marks.
Scoring for TOPIK I
TOPIK I is divided and scored in two levels: 1 and 2. The level awarded depends on your skill level and score. Out of a total possible 200 marks, each level has its own passing marks.
A score between 140 and 200 gets you a TOPIK Level 2 certification. A score between 80 and 139 will get you a TOPIK Level 1 certification. Anything between 0 and 79 means that the student has failed and needs to retake the exam.
Competency for TOPIK 1
TOPIK I is judged on students’ linguistic competency and comprehension skills.
First of all, you need to know Hangul, the writing system of the Korean language. The exam will be in Hangul, without any English translations given in the exam paper. The good thing is, TOPIK I does not require students to write anything in Hangul since all the answers are multiple choice. So for this exam, being able to recognize, read, and understand Hangul is plenty.
TOPIK Level 1 students are judged on their ability to understand and carry out basic daily conversations, including self-introductions, ordering food, purchasing items, etc. Along with this, they must be able to structure and craft simple sentences based on a vocabulary of approximately 800 common words, and have an understanding of basic grammar concepts and rules.
TOPIK Level 2 students are expected to be able to carry out conversations related to making phone calls, asking for help, their daily routines, etc. A Level 2 student should have a vocabulary of around 1500-2000 words and be able to use formal and informal expressions correctly, depending on the context.
Preparing for TOPIK I
After around 80 hours of instructed classes, students are usually ready to successfully complete TOPIK I. At The Oriental Dialogue, we also have a specific preparatory course for students planning to appear for TOPIK. You can attend this course after Level 1 and 2 of Korean at TOD.
More from
Languages
category
