Are you looking for a job in Korea or do you want to study in Korean Universities? Are you looking forward to working in Korea ? Or maybe just want to check your Korean skills. Then the TOPIK test can help.
There are various advantages to learning Korean language and using it as a future job prospect. Learning and other languages always opens up new doors in understanding various cultures and also brings up new opportunities to try and explore.
What is TOPIK?
TOPIK, the abbreviation of Test Of Proficiency in Korean, is a written test designed to evaluate the Korean language proficiency of non-native speakers. This test measures the sufficiency in the understanding of reading, writing and listening in the Korean language
TOPIK has three different levels, namely Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced . Moreover every level has two grades.
The main reason why people take the TOPIK is for them to get an official record of their proficiency in Korean. Many do it to evaluate their future career prospects, or to get better educational opportunities in Korea. The South Korean government provides scholarship opportunities to deserving international students to study in Korea. It has been seen that students who have up to TOPIK level 3 have a better chance in getting the scholarship and have an edge over the students. Students who are willing to apply for scholarships for masters and PhD are required to attain TOPIK level 4 by some Korean universities. Nevertheless attaining a level in TOPIK would make your selection much easier. For such scholarships, TOPIK Certification is a prerequisite.
Also, it is also vital if you’re planning to attain permanent residency or a marriage visa in Korea.
In short, this Certification confirms your proficiency in Korean language which can be used for various purposes apart from studies also.
TOPIK exam structure for different levels.
TOPIK I consists of Level 1 and level 2 and TOPIK II consists of Level 3,4,5 and 6. The test consists of mostly multiple-choice questions; however, the TOPIK II level writing examination will require a short-answer. TOPIK I consists of multiple-choice questions for listening (40 minutes long with 30 questions) and reading (60 minutes long with 40 questions). Both examination areas are worth a score of 100 with a combining score of 200. TOPIK II has two slots. The first slot is the listening examination (60 minutes long with 50 questions) and writing (50 minutes long with 4 short-answer questions). The second slot is for the reading examination (70 minutes long with 50 questions). All three examinations of TOPIK II are worth a score of 100 with a combining score of 300.
Different levels have different passing requirements. The below table shows the current pass grade and evaluation criteria broken down by section.
How to apply for TOPIK exams in India ?
If you are living in Korea, you can submit an application online for yourself or for a group of over 10 persons.
If you are living outside of Korea, you may submit applications online as well as offline, depending on the designated organization to accept applications.
You can register here for the next TOPIK exam..
For Indian students, the registration process takes place in offline mode.
Only the Delhi center provides facilities for online registration.
For registration, you have to visit the embassy or affiliate institution with TWO passport size photographs and the registration fee which varies country to country. To check the address of the embassy of your country visit www.topikguide.com
You can watch the video below to see the complete registration process.
Fees of the Examination
The TOPIK test fees will depend on the level that you sign up for and the country in which you'll take the examination.
TOPIK exam fees in India are ₹ 800 (TOPIK 1) and ₹ 1,000 (TOPIK 2).
When is the test conducted?
TOPIK is usually conducted twice a year in India, once in April and then in October. Mostly TOPIK I takes place in the morning and TOPIK II is held in the afternoon.
However due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis the dates for the examination may vary.
To check the dates of examination in India, visit the official site of KCCI HERE..
TOPIK Centres in India
The centers for the TOPIK Exam in India are held in 5 locations, namely Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Jharkhand, and Manipur.
Address: Korean Culture Center, 25-A, Ring Road, Lajpat Nagar – IV, New Delhi.
Contact: 011 – 43345046 / 5000. Email: [email protected]
Website: LINK
Address: The InKo Centre, 18, Adyar Club Gate Road, Chennai.
Contact: 044 – 2436 1224/6, Email: [email protected]
Website: LINK
Address: CFEL, Room No 29, Central University of Jharkhand, Brambe, Ranchi.
Contact: 8797811727 / 8800256914, Email: [email protected] / [email protected]
Website: LINK
Address: 2nd Floor, Manipur University, Canchipur, Imphal, Manipur.
Contact: 98560-71440, Email: [email protected]
Website: LINK
For Hyderabad
Registration Centre
Address: Honorary Consulate General, Korea House, No. 64, Road No. 14, Film Nagar, Hyderabad.
Contact : 044 – 23/24 999999, 99080-50005
Examination Centre
Address: Hyundai R&D Centre, Annex Building, First Floor 1, Survey No 5/2 & 5/3, Opp. HITEC City MMTS Railway Station, Izzathnagar, Kondapur, Hyderabad.
One very important question still left unanswered is if you should apply for TOPIK or not? Or in other words, who should apply for the TOPIK test ?
Well the answer is simple , if you’ve robust plans to study or work in Korea, then TOPIK is a must. While it’s true that not every Korean university demands a TOPIK certificate at the time of admission from the foreign students but having a TOPIK score would benefit you for getting a Korean scholarship. Similar is the case in Korean workplaces. However, having a proficiency certificate will only add more value to your resume and increase the chance of selection.
But if you’re just a casual learner of the Korean language, then this test will not benefit you much. Just focus on your happy learning.
Follow our Seoul National University Lesson study.
Is self-study sufficient to pass the TOPIK Test?
Self-study is definitely required if you want to clear this test. But oftentimes, self-study can prove to be not so effective.
This is because self-study has its limitations such as:
- You don't have proper guidance to check if you are speaking or writing correctly in Korean.
- You don't have enough material suited to your level to do listening practice.
- You may get confused about the usage of words in particular sentences.
- You may not be able to do speaking practice
If you are serious about studying Korean then we have a present for you.
Our online course is developed by people who are top level experts in Korean language. Along with guiding the students related to scholarships or future job prospects in Korea we provide this course you can kick-start your language learning journey in order to achieve your dreams.
Click on the link given below to know more about our course.
FAQs
1. What is the validity of TOPIK Certification?
TOPIK certificate is valid for 2 years from the time of test results announcements.
2. Can I give the TOPIK exam outside India ?
Yes you can register and give your topic exam anywhere in the world. Check for the required documents HERE.
3. Is there any special eligibility criteria for the exam?
No. Anyone who is studying Korean Language (at an institution or by self-study) can appear in the exam. There is no age limit.
4. Is there any Sample Paper to understand and practice the New TOPIK Format?
Yes, you can download the Previous and Sample Test Paper with answer keys HERE.
You can also practice by taking an online Mock Test from Topik Guide site and check your scores HERE.
For more information and tips for TOPIK exams, check out ~ www.topikguide.com
Author : Smriti Ekka & Sanjana Singh
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