TOPIK Test-day Attention & Answer Sheet Guide for Test-Takers
TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) is a written test designed to measure the ability of non-native speakers to express comprehension of the Korean language. TOPIK test measures proficiency in reading, writing, and listening comprehension in the Korean language.
For details about the TOPIK test, please refer to this page: TOPIK Complete Guideline.
I. TOPIK Test-day Attention
The TOPIK Center of the National Institute for International Education
(NIIED) provides the matters to be observed by those taking the TOPIK exam on
the official website and the test identification slip. Test-takers who fail to
comply with these rules will be restricted from taking the exam for two or four
years and have their exam scores nullified or canceled, as prescribed in
Article 13 (Handling of Violations and Test-Taking Restrictions) of the Basic
Operating Regulations for the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK). So please
check the rules and regulations posted on the website and other notices in
advance.
1. What to bring on the day of the exam?
> Those wishing to
take the TOPIK exam must arrive in the exam room by the designated time with an
ID card. The invigilator must request any test-takers without an appropriate ID
card to leave the exam room.
> Acceptable ID
cards (Korea)
ID card |
General |
Undergraduate or graduate student |
Elementary, middle, or high school
student |
A valid passport, foreigner registration card,
residence registration card (a person of foreign nationality who is of Korean
descent), permanent residency card, or welfare card (disability registration
card) |
○ |
○ |
○ |
Resident registration card (or issuance application
certificate) or driver’s license |
○ |
○ |
High school students only |
Student card or youth card (or issuance application certificate) |
X |
X |
○ |
Proof of identity for TOPIK |
X |
○ |
○ |
* * However, a person
who has handed in his/her ID card to the Immigration Office for a change of
status of sojourn (visa) can take the exam by presenting a sojourn approval
application certificate
** The student card
must show the name of the school, name and photograph of the student
(test-taker), and seal of the school principal
> ID cards, except
for passports, must have been issued by an institution based in Korea.
> A photocopy,
photograph, etc. of an ID card is not acceptable.
> The proof of
identity for TOPIK must be provided in the prescribed form and the photograph
must be stamped with a seal and covered with a clear tape.
> Those taking the
TOPIK exam outside Korea must follow the ID card policy of their local
administering agency, provided that the ID card must include a photograph,
name, and date of birth.
2. Rules of conduct for test takers in response to the COVID-19
- To ensure a safe test, we ask that you actively cooperate with safety measures taken on the day of the test, such as wearing a proper mask, hand sanitizing and temperature testing, and ventilation of the test room.
- By unifying the main entrance and exit of the test center, hand sanitization and temperature testing (non-contact thermometer) are performed for all test takers, test supervisors, etc.
- Candidates with symptoms (fever above 37.5℃, exhalation symptoms, etc.) after the fever test and the second interview will take the test in the special test room.
3. Entry Time and Exam Room
Those taking the TOPIK
I exam must be in the test room by 9:20 a.m. (will not be allowed in after 9:20
a.m.)
Those taking the TOPIK
II exam must be in the test room by 12:20 p.m. (will not be allowed in after
12:20 a.m.)
TOPIK I (Morning)
Time |
Description |
Note |
~ 09:20 |
Entry into the exam room |
No one will be allowed in after 9:20
a.m. |
09:20 ~ 09:50 (30 min) |
Information on how to fill out the
answer sheet and ID check |
Hand in your mobile phone and other
electronic devices |
09:50 ~ 10:00 (10 min) |
Distribution of the exam paper and
commencement of the listening portion of the exam |
|
10:00 ~ 10:40 (40 min) |
Listening section |
|
10:40 ~ 11:40 (60 min) |
Reading compression section |
|
TOPIK II (Afternoon)
Time |
Description |
Note |
~ 12:20 |
Entry into the exam room |
No one will be allowed in after 12:20 a.m. |
12:20 ~ 12:50 (30 min) |
Information on how to fill out the answer sheet
and ID check |
Information on how to fill out the answer
sheet and ID check |
12:50 ~ 13:00 (10 min) |
Distribution of the exam paper and
commencement of the listening portion of the exam |
|
13:00 ~ 14:00 (60 min) |
Listening section |
(If the listening section ends on time)
Collection of answer sheets for the listening section |
14:00 ~ 14:50 (50 min) |
Writing section |
|
14:50 ~ 15:10 (20 min) |
Break |
|
15:10 ~ 15:20 (10 min) |
Information on how to fill out the answer
sheet and ID check |
|
15:20 ~ 16:30 (70 min) |
Reading comprehension section |
|
*Make sure you enter
the exam room before the designated start time. Otherwise, you will not be
allowed in.
*You will be held
accountable if you fail to write the exam because you were late.
4. Information on the Exam (Rules)
> You are not
allowed to use any electronic devices (incl. wearable devices such as a smartwatch) during the exam (incl. the break). If you get caught using an electronic
device, it will be considered a violation.
> On the day of the
exam, make sure to arrive in the exam room 40 minutes before the start of the
exam and sit at the desk assigned to you. Be sure to follow the invigilator’s
instructions. (You cannot take the exam at any other test centers aside from
the one you selected at the time of registering for the exam.)
> Keep your ID card
on top of your desk during the exam.
> Do not place any
other objects, aside from your ID card and exam paper, on top of your desk
during the exam. Otherwise, it will be considered as a violation. (Do not place
your test identification slip on the desk either.)
> If you have
requested a refund, you will not be able to take the exam, regardless of
whether you have received a refund or not. (If you take the exam anyway, the
score you receive will be nullified.)
> It is your
responsibility to manage your time during the exam, and you must stop writing
when the time ends. (In the case of the listening section, you must mark the
answer sheet while listening to the audio. No additional time will be provided
at the end of the listening section. In the case of the TOPIK II exam, you must
work on the listening section during the first period and the writing section
during the second period. If you get caught working on another section, it will
be considered as a violation.)
> Normally,
test-takers are not allowed to leave the exam room until the end of the exam.
However, if it is unavoidable, you may ask for permission from the invigilator
and leave the room quickly. (If you leave in the middle of the exam, an
official score will not be given.)
> If you need to
leave the exam room to urgently use the bathroom, etc. during the exam, you
must cooperate with the invigilator who may monitor you to prevent violations.
> If you are absent
during one of the two periods of the TOPIK Ⅱ exam, you will be
treated as an absentee. (A person who is absent in the first period will not be
allowed to take the exam during the second period.)
> Do not engage in
any behavior (making noise, eating food, etc.) that would distract other test-takers,
etc.
> Smoking is not
permitted in the test center. Practice care so as to not damage the facilities.
> Anyone who does
not follow the invigilator’s instructions or cheats on the exam may be asked to
leave or have his/her score nullified or canceled. He/she may also be
restricted from taking the exam for two or four years.
5. Information on ID Check
> You must bring
your test identification slip and an ID card that meets the requirements (e.g.
passport, foreigner registration card) on the day of the exam. Otherwise, you
will not be able to take the exam. A student card or a photograph of an ID card
is not acknowledged as an ID card.
> Make sure to
cooperate with the invigilator during the ID check. Otherwise, you will be
deemed to have violated the rules.
> If your identity
cannot be clearly verified, you will be classified as an “unidentified person”
and may be asked to provide additional proof of identity.
6. Information on Prohibited Items
If you bring any of the
prohibited items listed below into the exam room, you must hand it to the
invigilator before the start of the first period. Otherwise, it will be
considered as a violation.
Prohibited Items |
Electronic devices incl. earphones, mobile
phone, digital camera, MP3 player, digital dictionary, camera pen, electronic
calculator, radio, mobile media player, smart watch, wearable device, and
watch with features other than telling time |
II. TOPIK Answer Sheet Guide
1. Information Related to the Answer Sheet
Test-takers are
responsible for failing to use the designated pen or fill out the circle
completely, which will result in loss of marks.
1. Practice care so that the answer sheet does not get damaged or contaminated. You may be penalized for doodling or leaving unnecessary marks on the answer sheet. Do not damage the timing mark (■■■■) at the top and bottom of the answer sheet.
2. No marks will be
given for answers written on the exam paper but not transferred onto the answer
sheet.
3. Do not forget to
write your name, registration number, etc. on the answer sheet(s). (In the case
of TOPIK Ⅱ, there are two answer sheets provided for the
first period. You must write your information on both sheets.)
4. Make sure to fill
out the answer sheet with the double-sided felt-tip pen provided by the invigilator.
5. For multiple-choice
questions, use the thick side of the double-sided felt-tip pen to fill in the
circle "●“ corresponding to the answer you have chosen. 0 points will be
given if the circle is not filled completely or two circles are marked. If you
want to change your answer to a multiple-choice question, use a correction tape
to cover the incorrect answer completely.
6. For subjective
questions, use the thin side of the double-sided felt-tip pen and write within
the given space. If you write outside the given space or in a wrong space, you
will not be able to receive the points you would have. If you want to make a
correction, you can either cross it out with two lines or use a correction
tape. If you need to use a correction tape, you can either use your own, if you
have brought one, or quietly raise your hand to ask for one from the
invigilator.
7. If you made a
mistake on the OMR answer sheet, you can ask for a new one. However, it is your
responsibility to fill out the new OMR answer sheet by the end of the exam.
8. You cannot fill out
the answer sheet after the end of the exam. If you continue writing or do not
comply with the invigilator’s request to hand in the answer sheet, it may be considered
as a violation. (In the case of the listening section, you must mark the answer
sheet while listening to the audio, as no additional time will be provided at
the end of the listening section. In the case of the TOPIK II exam, you must
work on the listening section during the first period and the writing section
during the second period. If you get caught working on another section, it will
be considered as a violation.)
9. You may be penalized
for doodling or leaving unnecessary marks on the answer sheet, so make sure to
keep the answer sheet as clean as possible.
10. You may be
penalized for failing to use the designated pen or violating any of the rules
described above.
2. How to Fill out Your Information on the
Answer Sheet
1. Write your name in Korean as shown on the test identification slip.
2. Write your name in
English as shown on the test identification slip.
3. Write your registration number in Arabic numerals and fill out the corresponding circles.
4. Check your test type (odd/even number) and mark it.
3. Damaging the PBT answer sheet (example)
1. There may be cases where correction tape is used over a color mark where there should not be any marking or coating.
2. Running out of space
and writing on the timing mark area in the written test section
3. In the event of these problems, the answer sheet will stop being scanned and any marks or writing in inappropriate spaces will be covered with correction tape or colored with a computer marking pen.
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