AraKo TOPIK Preparation Class

Course details

TOPIK(Test of Proficiency in Korean) is a Korean language test offered four times annually (in Jan, Apr, Jul, Sept) to foreigners in Korea and twice annually (Apr, Sept) to people studying Korean language in other countries. TOPIK is administered by the National Institute for International Education.

Purpouse of Exam

• To propagate and set direction for learning Korea for non-native Korean speakers and overseas Koreans.
• To measure and evaluate their Korean language skills and utilize the results for in-Korea colleges and job-seeking

Applicant Qualification

Overseas Koreans and foreigners for whom Korean is a second language and who:

• Aim to learn the language and enter in-Korea universities
• Seek jobs in companies and public institutions in Korea and overseas
• Reside overseas or are attending/graduated from a foreign school

Exam Levels and Difficulties

• Exam Difficulties: Elementary, Intermediate, Advanced
• Exam Levels: 6 Levels (Level 1~6)

Evaluation Area and Material Distribution

• Evaluation Areas : 4 areas (Grammar & Vocabulary / Writing / Listening / Reading)
• Score Distribution : 100 points per area, 400 total

Types of Problems

• Multiple Choice (4 choices)
• Written Answers (Writing)
• Complete Sentence/Paragraph, Writing Sentences/Paragraphs: 4~6 questions
• Short Essay Writing (Elementary: 150~300 letters, Intermediate: 400~600 letters, Advanced: 700~800 letters) : 1 question

Test Question Policy

• Test questions that are capable of measuring proficiency in modern Korean language usage
• Balanced composition of tested areas in testing material
• Test questions that will enhance the testee’s understanding of Korean culture and society
• Test questions that are based on a wide range of Korean and Foreign Language institutions’ curriculum
• Avoided Test questions that are not advantageous to any certain language/linguistic group

Evaluation Content by Level

• Beginner
  • Level 1
    • Able to basic language functions such as introducing oneself, purchasing products, ordering food, and expressing and understanding private and familiar topics.
    • Able to generate simple sentences using a 800-word basic vocabulary and beginner grammar.
    • Able to form and understand potential, everyday language.
  • Level 2
    • Able to express language functions such as phone calls, asking favors, and using public facilities such as post offices and banks.
    • Able to use a 1500~2000-word vocabulary to understand and express paragraphs involving private and friendly topics.
    • Know how to use language in separate situations – official and unofficial situations.
• Intermediate
  • Level 3
    • Having no difficulty in language functions needed in living an everyday life, using various public facilities and maintaining social relationships.
    • Able to understand and express familiar, specific social topics in units of paragraphs.
    • Able to understand and express basic characteristics of colloquial and written English.
  • Level 4
    • Able to perform functions needed in using public facilities, maintain social relationships and carry out normal functions.
    • Able to understand plain content in the new or newspaper columns.
    • Able to fluently understand and express social and abstract themes.
    • Able to understand and express social and cultural context based on an understanding of widely used idiomatic expressions and representative Korean culture.
• Advanced
  • Level 5
    • Able to express language functions needed in research and work in fields of expertise to a certain extent.
    • Able to use language skills in unfamiliar themes such as politics, economics, society and culture.
    • Adequately able to use language in official and unofficial context, and in colloquial and literary context.
  • Level 6
    • Able to fluently and perfectly express language functions needed in research and work in fields of expertise.
    • Able to use language skills in unfamiliar themes such as politics, economics, society and culture.
    • Has no difficulty in language functions or language expressions to a near-native extent.