My Experience Taking the TOPIK II in 2023 in Korea
Including important notes everybody should know about how it really unfolds.
After learning Korean on and off for 13 years, I finally decided to take the Test Of Proficiency In Korean (TOPIK), hoping to get a level 5 (out of 6). As I write these words, the test was less than a week ago.
Preparing for the TOPIK and taking it were two widely different experiences. I loved the first and hated the second one.
But before I share these, let me explain what this exam is like.
TOPIK Basics
The TOPIK has two main levels: TOPIK I and TOPIK II.
If you take the TOPIK I, you can get level 1 or 2 depending on your grade. If you take the TOPIK II, you can get level 3 to 6. Level 6 is the highest one and “grants” you the right to say you’re damn good at Korean.
TOPIK I has two sections: Reading and Listening. TOPIK II has one more: Writing. Each section grants you a maximum of 100 points.
The writing section only has 4 questions: two for 10 points each, one…
