Here are my top 10 tips for succeeding in TOPIK:
- Go through at least a few past papers - available at www.topik.or.kr
- Learn the vocabulary that comes up year after year
- Practise writing essays of the required length before the exam and ask a Korean to check them
- Circle the answers on the question sheet first before filling in the answer grid
- Make sure you answer every multiple-choice question (25% chance of getting it right even if you have no idea of the answer!)
- If you don't know the answer exactly, try to rule out some of the options in order increase your chances
- You have 1.5 mins per question, so don't spend too long on difficult questions - come back to them later if you have time
- Read the essay question at the start of paper 1 and prepare a draft of the essay before you start filling in the official answer sheet
- Allow at least 15 mins to write the essay and remember to use the polite formal ending ~ㅂ니다/습니다
- Remember that towards the end of the listening section you have to answer two questions per transcript
