Korean Job Discussion Forums

[PigeonFart]

This question is aimed at those Sogang students (ex or current) who have experience of taking the TOPIK test.

How are the Sogang Levels matched with the TOPIK levels? Of course there will be individual differences but there must be some general consenus that being in a certain level at Sogang means you're likely to pass a certain level in the Topik test.

I have a particular interest in hearing about how Sogang levels 1, 2 & 3 relate to the TOPIK, although higher levels would be welcome too (by me and possibly future readers of this thread).

Thank you.

[taobenli]

I can't directly answer your question, but I have done through level 6 at SNU and earlier, levels 3 and 4 at Sogang. I am studying for the TOPIK advanced test now (aiming for level 6, have a better chance of getting level 5) since I have some time and money (for a TOPIK tutor) to do so. In true Korean fashion, I find the advanced test more difficult in most respects than any advanced Korean class out there that might prepare you for it. We covered a lot of grammar at SNU, but NONE (and I mean none) of the obscure grammar in the practice tests I have taken was covered at either SNU or Sogang. I love studying Korean for the most part, but have gotta say it's discouraging that Korean language curriculum has pretty much not even come close to keeping up with the curriculum (and pedagogy) of other languages I have studied.

[PigeonFart]

Thank you for your interesting analysis.

Given that you did Sogang levels 3 & 4, could you hazzard a rough guess as to what TOPIK test level they'd equate to?

Good luck with all the studying you're doing. I would love to be that high up the linguistic ladder. Right now i'm at the bottom rung and i hope i can climb up without gettting Vertigo.

[nate1983]

I also did through level 6 at SNU, and given that the university systems are pretty comparable, I'd say roughly

Complete uni level 3 to get TOPIK level 3
Complete uni level 4/5 to get TOPIK level 4
Complete uni level 6 to get TOPIK level 5

[PigeonFart]

Thank you both for your contributions. Those are helpful guides. I wish i was as linguistically experienced as you both. My korean is much more basic.