TOPIK Study Plan: A 7-Day Routine Before Applying to a Korean University

TOPIK Study Plan: A 7-Day Routine Before Applying to a Korean University

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A seven-day TOPIK routine works best when each day trains one part of the real exam, so you finish the week knowing which section needs more time. TOPIK I has two sections (listening and reading), TOPIK II has three (listening, writing and reading), and some universities ask for a minimum level before you can apply, so start by checking which test and level your target programme requires.

Know the exam before you plan the week

According to Wikipedia’s article on the Test of Proficiency in Korean, TOPIK I has a reading section of 60 minutes with 40 multiple-choice questions and a listening section of 40 minutes with 30 questions, each worth 100 points, for 200 in total. TOPIK II has a listening section of 60 minutes and 50 questions, a writing section of 50 minutes with 4 short-answer questions, and a reading section of 70 minutes and 50 questions, each worth 100 points, for 300 in total. A TOPIK guide on koreantopik.com describes the same structure for the paper-based test, and gives the TOPIK II timetable as a first block of 110 minutes covering listening and writing, followed by a 70-minute reading block.

The sources describe the paper-based format. Check the official TOPIK site for the format, dates and application window of the exam you will actually sit.

Levels and what universities ask for

Both sources give the same score bands. The koreantopik.com guide lists level 1 at 80 to 139 points and level 2 at 140 to 200 on TOPIK I, and levels 3 to 6 on TOPIK II at 120 to 149, 150 to 189, 190 to 229 and 230 to 300. Wikipedia adds that results are valid for two years after the announcement.

Universities set their own rules. Seoul National University’s admissions FAQ says it requires either Korean or English proficiency, with TOPIK level 3 or higher accepted as the Korean option. Yonsei University’s application guide for international students says its pre-medicine, pre-dentistry, nursing and pharmacy tracks require a level 5 or above TOPIK score report or an equivalent certificate, while most majors accept several kinds of language evidence. Use your target programme’s current guide to set your goal level, not another applicant’s result.

A practical seven-day routine

This is a suggested routine, not an official one. It uses the exam’s sections as the weekly structure.

  1. Day 1, vocabulary: choose one topic and collect 20 useful words. Write one short sentence per word instead of memorising only a translation.
  2. Day 2, listening: listen to a short Korean clip twice. The first time, listen for the main idea; the second time, note words or grammar you missed. Listening is a 60-minute section with 50 questions on TOPIK II, so practise staying focused on audio you cannot replay in the exam.
  3. Day 3, reading: read one short passage under a time limit and mark words you had to guess. TOPIK II reading gives 70 minutes for 50 questions, which is about 1.4 minutes per question on average, so practise answering at a steady pace.
  4. Day 4, grammar: review the patterns that appeared in your Day 2 and Day 3 mistakes and write two sentences for each.
  5. Day 5, writing (TOPIK II): answer a short writing prompt in the time you have. The TOPIK II writing section has 4 questions in 50 minutes, so a timed answer is more useful than a long untimed one. If you are preparing for TOPIK I, use this day for a second reading set instead.
  6. Day 6, mixed practice: do a short timed set combining listening and reading, and score it honestly.
  7. Day 7, review: go back through mistakes, redo missed questions, and note which section took the most time.

Turn the week into a repeatable cycle

At the end of the week, compare the sections. If reading ran out of time, shift Day 4 to reading speed. If listening errors were mostly vocabulary, add a second vocabulary day. Repeat the same seven-day pattern for several weeks so you can see whether your timed results improve. Because the listening and writing parts share a block of 110 minutes on the TOPIK II timetable, it also helps to practise at least one session in the same order as the exam.

Before the test day

  • Confirm the registration period, fee and location on the official TOPIK site.
  • Check which identification documents are accepted at the venue.
  • Check how long your result stays valid against your application deadline. Wikipedia gives two years from announcement.
  • Check each target university’s minimum level and whether it accepts alternatives, such as English tests or a language institute certificate.

Common mistakes and what to verify

  • Preparing for TOPIK II when your programme only asks for TOPIK I, or the reverse.
  • Skipping the writing section of TOPIK II until the last week.
  • Practising without a timer, then running out of time on the day.
  • Assuming every university uses the same minimum level.
  • Using an expired score. Results are valid for a limited time.

Rules change: confirm with the official body

This is general study information. Exam format, scoring, fees, schedules and validity periods can change, and universities set their own language rules. Confirm current details with the official TOPIK website and with each university’s admissions office.

Sources