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- Guidance on TOPIK
Guidance on TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean)
KAIST Language Center is offering Korean conversation class and Prep for TOPIK in every month. Please get more information about Korean class at https://lang.kaist.ac.kr/pages/view/lang_03?lang=en
○ Level and grade of examination
- - • Level of examination: TOPIK I, TOPIK II
- - • Evaluation grade: 6 grades(1st to 6th grades)
○ The evaluation is based on the total scores earned, and the cut-off scores by grade is as follows:
| Type | TOPIK I | TOPIK II | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st grade | 2nd grade | 3rd grade | 4th grade | 5th grade | 6th grade | |
| Determination of grade | Over 80 scores | Over 140 scores | Over 120 scores | Over 150 scores | Over 190 scores | Over 230 scores |
- ※ Based on the difficulty level before the 35th examination, TOPIK I is the basic level and TOPIK II is intermediate/advanced level.
○ Structure of questions
- 1) Structure by difficulty level
| Examination level | slot | area/examination hour | type | number of questions | scoring | total scores |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOPIK I | 1st slot | listening(40 minute) | multiple-choice question | 30 | 100 | 200 |
| reading(60 minute) | multiple-choice question | 40 | 100 | |||
| TOPIKII | 1st slot | listening(60 minute) | multiple-choice question | 50 | 100 | 300 |
| writing(50 minute) | short-answer question | 4 | 100 | |||
| 2nd slot | reading(70 minute) | multiple-choice question | 50 | 100 |
- 2) Type of questions
- - Multiple-choice question(selecting 1 answer among the 4 choices).
- - Short-answer question(writing part).
- · Sentence completion type(short-answer): 2 questions
- · Essay type (1 descriptive essay ranging from 200-300 words for intermediate level, and 1 argumentative essay ranging from 600-700 words for advanced level.
○ Evaluation of writing part
| Questions | Evaluation Category | Evaluation Details |
|---|---|---|
| 51-52 | Content and task execution | • Are the written contents suitable for the presented task? |
| Use of language | • Are the vocabulary, words, etc., correct? | |
| 53-54 | Content and task execution | • Has the given task been performed adequately? • Is the related writing rich in content and being constructed in a diversified way? |
| Development structure | • Is the wring structure clear, logistic, and conveying the key idea well? • Was the discourse cover used properly which is helpful for the development of logic? |
|
| Use of language | • Were the vocabulary, grammar, etc., used correctly and in a diversified way? • Does the writing suit the purpose and function according to formalities? |
○ Type of examination paper : 2 types(type A, type B)
| Type | A Type | B Type |
|---|---|---|
| Region of implementation | Americas, Europe, Africa | Asia/Oceania |
| Day of implementation | Saturday | Sunday |
○ Evaluation standard by grade
| Examination Level | Grade | Evaluation Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| TOPIK I | 1st grade | Able to carry out basic conversations related to daily surviving skills such as self-introduction, purchasing, ordering food, etc., and understand the contents related to very personal and familiar subjects such as himself/herself, family, hobby, weather and the like. Able to create simple sentences based on about 800 basic vocabulary and possess understanding of basic grammar. Albe to understand and compose simple and usefulsentences related to everyday life. |
| 2nd grade | Able to carry out simple conversations related to daily routines such as making phone calls and asking favour, as well as using public facilities in daily life.(Able to use about 1,500 to 2,000 vocabulary and understand personal and familiar subjects in certain order, such as paragraphing.) Able to use formal expression and informal expression accordingly depends on the situation. |
|
| TOPIK II | 3rd grade | Able to perform basic linguistic functions necessary to use various public facilities and maintain social relationship, not experiencing significant difficulty in routine life. Able to carry out daily routine, with fair use of public facilities and able to socialize without significant difficulty. Able to express or understand social subjects familiar to himself/herself, as well as specific subjects, based on paragraph. Able to understand and use the speaking language and spoken language based on their distinctive basic characteristics |
| 4th grade | Perform linguistic function necessary to use various public facilities and maintain social relationship, and carry out the function to some degree which is necessary for the performance of ordinary works. Able to use various public facilities, socialize, and carry out some degree of ordinary work. Able to understand easy parts in news broadcasts, newspapers, and understand and use the expressions related to social and abstract subjects relatively correctly and fluently. Able to understand social and cultural subjects, based on the understanding of Korean culture and frequently used idiomatic expression. |
|
| 5th grade | Able to perform linguistic function to some degree which is necessary for research and works in professional fields. Able to understand and use the expressions related to even unfamiliar aspects of politics, economics, society, and culture. Able to use the expression properly, depending on formal, informal, spoken/written context. |
|
| 6th grade | Able to perform linguistic function necessary to the research and works in professional fields relatively correctly and fluently. Able to understand and use the expressions related to even unfamiliar subjects of politics, economics, society, and culture. Experience no difficulty in performing the functions or conveying the meaning, although the proficiency has not reached full native speaker proficiency. |
○ Application of TOPIK: http://www.topik.go.kr
