Korean Job Discussion Forums

[excitinghead]

Back in March a few friends of mine wanted to take the 한국어능력시험, Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) but didn't learn about it before the application deadline. So I thought I'd give everyone the heads up.

So, for those interested, this year it's on the 16th of September, and you have until the 31st of July to apply.

Click here for more information:

http://www.topik.or.kr/

I would link to the English version of the site, but the same address comes up. So just click on the link and then on 'English' if you want. For those of you whose Korean is already quite good, click on the '12회 포스터' link to get a poster with the basic details of times and places etc.

See you there!

[taobenli]

Bah, not convenient at all. I will be back in the U.S. by Sept. 16, and it would be a great time to take it (not a lot else going on), but I live in Seattle, and the closest testing center is San Francisco. Not very close! It used to be offered in Vancouver, BC, which would have made it doable, but now the only Canadian city it is offered in is Toronto??

[excitinghead]

Yeah, that is very strange, because with all the Koreans in the Vancouver area (from what I've heard) you'd think interest would be greatest there.

[pkang0202]

How does the test work?

Is there just 1 test and out of your score comes your level of proficiency?

[excitinghead]

There used to be 6 seperate tests for 6 seperate levels, 6 being highest, but now there are only 3 tests: Beginner, Medium and Advanced. If you take the beginner one say, and get over 50%, then you get a Level 1. If you get over 70% then you get a level 2. Same for the medium test, but then you get level 3 or 4 and so on. You can't get less than 40% in any section though to get a level 1, 3 or 5, or less than 50% in any section to get a level 2, 4, or 6. If that makes no sense, sorry, but you can check out the website.

Thare are 4 sections in each test: 45 mins each for vocab and grammar, writing, then a half hour break, then 45 mins each again for writing and reading. It's almost all multichoice, but the writing section has a small compostion section now.

The beginner and advanced tests are from 9am-10.30, then 11-12.30. The intermediate is from 2-3.30 and then 4-5.30.

There's also a business Korean test available, but I'm too drained after a 3-hour hike with my daughter strapped to me to type any more sorry. Check out the website please!

P.S. There's lots of study materials available to buy for the tests, if you want to know more let me know and I'll write when I'm rested.

[Hater Depot]

I took it last time. A computer error left me with 0% in every category. I have a paper certifying that I scored 0/400.

[Alyallen]

Does anyone know the differences between TOPIK and KLPT? I'm studying for the KLPT basic test but am curious to know which if signing up for the TOPIK is advantageous....

Thanks!

[excitinghead]

Same question came up last time. Here's the thread on it from then:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=82555&highlight=

And here's the KLPT website:

http://www.klpt.org/english/

Hope that helps.

[just because]

If the TOPIK test has cut itself back to 3 levels that is pretty bad...

i might start doing the KLPT tests.......

[excitinghead]

Lot's of people have pmed me asking for more info about study resources for the test. It's a shameless plug for my blog sure , but I don't know how to put pictures up here, so I wrote about them on my blog instead. So if you want more info, click on my link below.

Edit 30 July: My blog has moved on a bit since I wrote this, so here's the relevant post on my blog:

http://thegrandnarrative.wordpress.com/2007/07/16/topik-study-resources/

Edit 23 August: I've noticed a lot of people have been clicking on a photo of all the books I mention, but the link was broken. Sorry. It should be working now.

[Smee]

Big Bump.

I'm not taking the one in September, but as I want to have some goals this year in Korea, I'd like to take the one in the spring.

I hear the beginner level is easy, the intermediate is much harder, and the advanced is near-impossible for most. Obviously those are fairly subjective opinions, and I'd like to decide for myself which test I ought to sign up for. Is there any place online with sample tests or sample questions? When I was last in B&L in COEX all the test prep books were sealed, so I couldn't flip through them. I'm thinking I ought to just buy the intermediate-level books and study them, but I'd hate to set myself up for failure, even with a few months to prepare.

Thanks.

[excitinghead]

[excitinghead]

I have a good idea. There is a new book, white cover with a blue border I think, that has all the tests from 2 years ago, not all the tests just for one level. If you buy that one instead of the older ones, obviously you can get a feel for the levels without wasting your money on a book of tests for a level that you might never do.

I would give more info, but I don't have it yet sorry. I'll be buying it this weekend and will show it on the blog when I do.

[out of context]

They have free tests on the TOPIK website going back to the 7th test. Just check where it says 자료실/Data Room in the blue box on the left side of the home page.

[excitinghead]

You're right...tail between legs, I hand the sacred baton of TOPIK expert to you...

Thanks though!

(Still, if anyone's in Busan then I have the L2 and L3 books, barely used, that I'll let go for 5000 won each (18,000 won in the stores). Give me a buzz!)