Is It Possible to Get a High Score on the Topik Just One Month?

Posted by Farm SuperFarm


Fast-Track Guide for Foreign Students (With Real Tips & Experiences)

If you're planning to study in Korea, apply for scholarships, or prepare for a visa like the F-2 long-term residency, the TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) is a must.


A high score can open doors to universities, jobs, and immigration opportunities in Korea.

But what if you only have one month left before the exam?


Don’t panic! Based on real stories from past test takers, here’s a proven strategy to help you score TOPIK Level 4 or 5 in just 4 weeks.

Week-by-Week Strategy for a High TOPIK Score

Target Level Best for Study Time Needed
Level 3 Beginners with basic Korean 2–3 hours/day
Level 4 University applicants, scholarship seekers 3–4 hours/day
Level 5+ Graduation requirement, employment 5+ hours/day

Week 1 – Understand the Structure + Master the Basics

✅ TOPIK Structure

  • Listening: 50 questions / 60 min

  • Reading: 50 questions / 70 min

  • Writing: 4 questions / 50 min (TOPIK II only)

✅ Start with 1 full past test

  • Understand question patterns

  • Create an "Error Log" to track your weak points

✅ Focus on Vocabulary + Grammar

  • Learn 100 new words per day using a TOPIK word list

  • Master grammar patterns (e.g., ~지만, ~거든요, ~은데요)

📚 Recommended Resources:

  • "TOPIK Essential 3000 Vocabulary List"

  • YouTube: KoreanClass101 for TOPIK strategies

Week 2 – Master Listening & Reading

✅ Listening Strategy

  • Learn test formats (e.g., "Choose the correct dialogue for the image")

  • Practice shadowing twice a day

  • Get used to 15-second answer speed

✅ Reading Strategy

  • Start with short passages → gradually move to longer ones

  • Read answer options first to save time

  • Focus on transition words (e.g., however, therefore)

Week 3 – Writing Focus + Practice Full Tests

✅ Writing Strategy (TOPIK II only)

  • Practice 4 sections: sentence order, short answer, graph description, and opinion essay

  • Don’t skip the first two parts—they’re heavily graded

  • Write 500–700 characters for the essay (Q.54)

Template Example:

  • Intro: "Recently, there has been growing interest in ~."

  • Body: "First, ~ / Second, ~"

  • Conclusion: "Therefore, I believe ~."

✅ Start Full-Length Mock Exams

  • Simulate full tests with exact timing

  • Review mistakes and revise your strategy

Week 4 – Final Practice + Performance Tuning

✅ Daily Full Mock Exams

  • Use official mock tests or past questions

  • Practice under real test conditions

✅ Writing Corrections

  • Join Korean language exchange groups or use online writing correction services

  • Improve sentence structure and coherence based on feedback

✅ Review Error Notes

  • Focus on recurring mistakes, not just new topics

  • Last 3 days = revise, don’t cram!

What I think is the best tip for the Topik (from a native Korean speaker)

Reading

 For Topic 2 Reading, a great tip is to practice reading and summarizing sentences and paragraphs from past exam questions.

 First, underline what you consider to be the keywords in each sentence. Then, summarize each paragraph.  After that, try to solve the actual problem. It's okay to get the answers wrong at this stage. Compare your underlined parts with the correct answers or explanations. For summarization practice, start with past exam questions. Afterward, you can use Korean news articles or other texts. Practicing sentence or paragraph summarization will prepare you for all reading types.  I'm confident it will even be very helpful for writing. By practicing summarization, you'll learn the structure of texts, and developing that skill will also improve your writing. Finally, memorize the correct answer passages from past exams and go into the test.

Writing

 Memorizing the correct answer passages from past exams definitely makes writing easier.  Take the correct answers to the previous questions of the topik type of writing in the past and practice following them again and again. And memorize the sentences you think are necessary. All you have to do is do this and you're ready.

 

Listening

 For listening, it's easy if you firmly memorize representative phrase patterns. If you memorize all the limited patterns of questions from past exams and become familiar with them, the answers are limited, so from there, it's a battle of vocabulary. 


If you know all the words that appear, you can choose the correct answer 100% of the time. Even if an unfamiliar word appears, if you're familiar with the question patterns, you have a higher chance of choosing the correct answer.



#best tip for the Topik


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