If you are learning Korean in Singapore, then you have to know about the TOPIK guidelines. Let us share what they are and how our Korean language classes can prepare you for the exams.
TOPIK Schedule
- 87th examination in April has already closed.
The next TOPIK exam date in Singapore is expected to be on 15 October 2023 (90th TOPIK Exam).
The registration period will be between 1st – 7th August.
Results will be released on 30th October.
What is TOPIK?
TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) is an external exam conducted twice a year in Singapore, typically in April and October. The test is divided into two levels – TOPIK I and TOPIK II. TOPIK I consists of two grade levels, 1 and 2, whereas TOPIK II has four grade levels, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Participants will be graded on their Korean proficiency level. Their total score will determine which grade level they receive on their certificates.
Why should you take the TOPIK exams?
If you plan to migrate to Korea or apply for a Korean university, you will require a TOPIK certificate. This is because Korea’s immigration authority utilises a point-based system that grades potential applicants based on their language proficiency level. Therefore, you stand a much better chance of securing a long-term visa for study or work if you ace your TOPIK exams.
Additionally, it is vital to note that the TOPIK certification differs from the credentials obtained from your Korean language classes. Even though these certificates signify your completion of the respective Korean language courses, they may not be recognised internationally. However, you will not encounter this issue with a TOPIK certification, which is why it is highly sought after worldwide.
How to register for the TOPIK exams?
If you are learning Korean in Singapore and wish to take the TOPIK exams, you can register for the tests online through the Singapore Korean International School’s website. However, the exams are held at the school, so you are required to head down to the campus, which is located at 71 Bukit Tinggi Road.
The application fees are as followed:
| Level | Fee (SGD) |
|---|---|
| TOPIK I (Grade 1 and 2) | $100* |
| TOPIK II (Grade 3 to 6) | $120* |
* The application fees listed are subject to change. Please verify the latest costs with the Singapore Korean International School.
How to prepare for the TOPIK exams?
The best way to prepare for the TOPIK exams is to enrol yourself in a Korean language class. At ONLYOU Korean Language School, our syllabus is closely aligned with TOPIK exam guidelines. In addition, our teachers are part of the Korean Society of Bilingualism and the International Association for Korean Language Education. Therefore, they are constantly kept informed of the latest changes to the Korean syllabus.
Moreover, our teachers possess an in-depth understanding of the exam format. As a result, our group and private classes are specifically curated to ensure our students are well-equipped to take on the tests and pass with flying colours.
Overview of TOPIK
Objectives of Topik
- To guide those studying Korean as a second language and promote widespread use of the Korean language.
- To assess test taker's level of Korean language proficiency and to allow them to use their test results when applying for jobs, colleges, etc.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Overseas Korean or non-Korean whose first language is not Korean and who:
- is currently learning Korean or wishes to study at a Korean college;
- wishes to work for a Korean company or public agency based in or outside Korea.
- Korean national who is currently studying at or has graduated from a school abroad
VALIDITY
TOPIK results are valid for two (2) years from the time of test result announcements.
TOPIK POTENTIAL USES
- serving as admission and graduation standard for universities in Korea.
- applying for companies and public institutions in Korea and abroad.
- obtaining Visa for qualifications of permanent residency and employment, etc.
- taking courses under Global Korean Scholarship (GKS) Program
- serving as substitute credits and requirements of graduation for Korean majors in overseas universities.
Details of TOPIK
Type and Level
- Test Type(level): TOPIK I(novice), TOPIK II(intermediate and advanced)
-
Level: Level 1 ~ Level 6(from basic to advanced)
The level is determined by the total scores achieved in the respective test type, and range of total scores for each level is as follows:
| Type | TOPIK I | TOPIK II | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level | Fail | Level 1 | Level 2 | Fail | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | Level 6 |
|
Score Range (ponits) |
0 ~ 79 | 80 ~ 139 | 140 ~ 200 | 0 ~ 119 | 120 ~ 149 | 150 ~ 189 | 190 ~ 229 | 230 ~ 300 |
Testing Sections Breakdown
| Test type | Test period | Test section (duration) | Test item type | Number of test item | Range of score | Total score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOPIK I | 1st | Listening(40mins) | Multiple-choice | 30 | 0~100 | 0~200 |
| Reading(60mins) | Multiple-choice | 40 | 0~100 | |||
| TOPIK II | 1st | Listening(60mins) | Multiple-choice | 50 | 0~100 | 0~300 |
| Writing(50mins) | Supply type | 4 | 0~100 | |||
| 2nd | Reading(70mins) | Multiple-choice | 50 | 0~100 |
※Test Item Type Description
- Multiple-choice : Selecting 1 answer among the 4 choices.
- Supply type question(writing part)
- Sentence completion type : 2 questions total
- Essay type
- I descriptive essay ranging from 200-300 letters (including spaces) for intermediate level.
- I argumentative essay ranging from 600-700 letters(including spaces) for advanced level.
Evaluation of Written Test Items
| Questions | Evaluation Category | Evaluation Details |
|---|---|---|
| Sentence completion (2 test items) |
Content and Task Achievement |
|
| Language Use |
|
|
| Essays (1 test item) |
Content and Task Achievement |
|
| Coherence and Cohesion |
|
|
| Language Use |
|
Linguistic Competence for Each TOPIK Level
| Test Type | Level | Linguistic Competence |
|---|---|---|
| TOPIK I | Level 1 |
|
| Level 2 |
|
|
| TOPIK II | Level 3 |
|
| Level 4 |
|
|
| Level 5 |
|
|
| Level 6 |
|
What are the benefits of taking the TOPIK exams?
Possessing a TOPIK certificate not only improves your chances of enrolling in a top Korean university or landing your dream job in Korea, but it also reduces the cost of your Korean language classes. That’s right; we incentivise our students to score well on their TOPIK exams by offering special rewards based on their obtained grades.
ONLYOU REWARDS SUMMARY
| TOPIK grades | Reward amounts | |
| Grade 2 | ──── | $50 discount |
| Grade 3 | ──── | $60 discount |
| Grade 4 | ──── | $80 discount |
| Grade 5 | ──── | $100 discount |
| Grade 6 | ──── | $150 discount |
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Students must meet the following eligibility criteria to qualify for the rewards:
| 1. | Students are required to participate in our lessons for more than 6 months prior to their exam dates. |
| 2. | Current ONLYOU students as of the result announcement date. |
| 3. | Students can apply for their rewards a second time when they receive a higher grade in future exams. |
| 4. | Students can only claim the rewards twice. |
| 5. | The reward must be redeemed within 6 months from the result announcement date. |
| 6. |
The reward can be split over consecutive terms.
|
Hear from our students as they share how they prepared for the TOPIK exams
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Were ONLYOU Korean lessons helpful in preparing for TOPIK?
My Korean lessons at ONLYOU were very helpful! The topical structure of the lessons helped me to learn a variety of vocabulary and grammar that covered everything from everyday conversational topics, to Korean history, and even idioms and metaphors that were great additions to my writing (쓰기) skills.We would also have mini exam sessions once every few months, and that especially helped me to train my time management skills, especially for writing (쓰기) and reading (읽기) sections.
Besides attending lessons, did you do anything else to prepare for TOPIK?
- I did the official online copies of past-year TOPIK papers, albeit starting on them only a week before the TOPIK exams. I don't recommend doing this at all, but I was very grateful to have been able to fall back on my lesson notes from ONLYOU lessons to fortify my revision!
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Were ONLYOU Korean lessons helpful in preparing for TOPIK?
Korean lessons were very helpful in my preparation for TOPIK.Each lesson chapter comprises a good combination of vocabulary and grammar (3-4 grammar) which makes it easier for students like me to learn Korean at an appropriate pace.
My teacher at ONLYOU also helps a lot in the improvement of my Korean skills by teaching us in a fun way that relates to everyday life and giving useful homework and assignment feedback.
Besides attending lessons, did you do anything else to prepare for TOPIK?
- I like watching Korean dramas since young and also watch Korean variety shows once in a while which I believe help with learning Korean.
- I enjoy listening to K-drama OSTs and some K-pop songs.
- I also find that reading and revising through past essay writings/assignments completed through the course of studying Korean helps in my preparation for TOPIK.
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Were ONLYOU Korean lessons helpful in preparing for TOPIK?
Yes, ONLYOU lessons were very helpful in my preparation for TOPIK.Focus on grammar: Examples of usage, how to form a sentence, compare/contrast with similar grammar, detailed explanations even for slight differences in grammar usage. Time was given for us to form our own conversation with the grammar learnt.
Writing assignments similar to TOPIK and a wide range of topics were covered. Homework feedback is also fast and efficient. 🙂
ONLYOU term test and TOPIK test have similar formats so it was good practice for me.
Besides attending lessons, did you do anything else to prepare for TOPIK?
- Practice past year TOPIK papers.
- Watch Korean drama and variety shows with Korean subtitles (to train listening and also learn new words/spelling)
- Talk to Korean friends.
- Read Korean books, starting with novels for elementary school students.
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Were ONLYOU Korean lessons helpful in preparing for TOPIK?
Korean lessons were helpful to prepare for TOPIK, especially since each chapter is broken down to a theme with related vocabulary so it was easier to memorise vocabulary based on a topic rather than memorising words randomly.It was also helpful that each chapter had only 3-4 new grammar rules that allowed me to familiarise myself with new grammar patterns at a steady pace and not be too overwhelmed while learning.
Besides attending lessons, did you do anything else to prepare for TOPIK?
- Besides Korean lessons I found practising past TOPIK papers that I found online as well as memorising words from a TOPIK Vocabulary Handbook to be helpful in understanding some of the harder questions.
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Were ONLYOU Korean lessons helpful in preparing for TOPIK?
Yes, very helpful 😀 Personally, learning through the lessons is much more effective for me than to do self-learning.The clear class structure made it so that I consistently made progress with every lesson. It also helped me to keep track with what I was learning so that practice and revision would be a lot easier to do.
I was able to ask the teacher questions, and she could correct me when I made a mistake, so that I wouldn’t make the same mistake during the exam. If I were to learn Korean by myself, I wouldn’t know where to start/what I would need to know/what I didn’t know.
Of course, the classes were fun and interesting so I didn’t get bored and it was easier to pay attention.
Besides attending lessons, did you do anything else to prepare for TOPIK?
- I practiced with my Korean friends by messaging them in Korean almost everyday.
- I watched a lot of KBS/SBS programmes and vlogs (with subtitles) to see how people conversed in real life.
- I also tried to read books and Instagram posts just to practice my reading as well.
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Were ONLYOU Korean lessons helpful in preparing for TOPIK?
The TOPIK practices and frequent speaking opportunities during lessons have helped prepare me for the TOPIK exam.In addition, my teacher gives good advice and always explains clearly whenever i made a mistake.
Besides attending lessons, did you do anything else to prepare for TOPIK?
- I always watch Korean shows and read articles once awhile so I think that has helped maintain me in an environment that constantly uses the Korean language.
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Were ONLYOU Korean lessons helpful in preparing for TOPIK?
Yes! Onlyou Korean lessons were definitely helpful in my preparation for the TOPIK test. Attending lessons allowed me to have frequent listening, reading, writing, and speaking practices which I believe are key in picking up language skills.The learning materials provided are also easy to understand and great for revising.
Furthermore, our frequent exams every few months encourages me to revise and serves as good practices.
Besides attending lessons, did you do anything else to prepare for TOPIK?
- Apart from watching Korean Dramas and Variety shows almost daily, I have done multiple past exam papers from the Topik website to practice time management and to get used to the exam format.
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Were ONLYOU Korean lessons helpful in preparing for TOPIK?
Definitely! Korean lessons at ONLYOU were especially helpful in my preparation for TOPIK; the grammar points and vocabulary taught each week helped me build up my Korean language skills and were also language points which were tested in the TOPIK exam.The end-of-term tests also gave me a taste of how the TOPIK test would be like as they were of similar format - listening, reading and writing.
Besides attending lessons, did you do anything else to prepare for TOPIK?
- Yes I did. I purchased a book containing a compilation of TOPIK-like test papers and did a test paper each week within the exam time limit. This helped me familiarise myself with the exam format as well as the various question-types which would be tested in the TOPIK exam.