How to Prepare for TOPIK I | Study Plan & Resources

TOPIK I is the entry point to Korea’s official Korean-language testing system. It has no writing section, no speaking section and no essay. It has 70 multiple-choice questions in two parts, and everything it asks comes from a limited pool of vocabulary, grammar and question types that repeat from one exam to the next. That makes it a very preparable exam, and also one that people routinely under-prepare for. The usual reasons are leaning on romanized Korean, studying vocabulary without grammar, and never sitting a timed practice paper until exam day.

This guide is a complete preparation plan. It covers the exam’s format and scoring, how to find your starting point, how to master Hangul, vocabulary and grammar, how to train listening and reading, how to use past papers, and two week-by-week study plans. It also covers registration and test day in Nepal. Where a figure comes from an official source or the Embassy’s notices, the text says so. Estimates, such as study hours, are labeled as planning guidance.

Quick Answer: The Seven Steps

1. Know the exam: 70 multiple-choice questions, 100 minutes, 200 points.
2. Test yourself first with one timed past paper to see where you stand.
3. Master Hangul so you can read without romanization.
4. Build vocabulary of about 800 words for Level 1, and about 1,500–2,000 for Level 2.
5. Learn the core grammar patterns and particles in full sentences.
6. Train listening and reading separately, then under timed conditions.
7. Finish with several full past papers and fix your recurring errors.

Toddle’s TOPIK I class is built around this exam and follows the same logic: foundations first, then pattern practice, then timed mock tests.

Know the Exam First: TOPIK I at a Glance

TOPIK stands for Test of Proficiency in Korean. It is run by the National Institute for International Education (NIIED), and TOPIK I is the beginner category covering Levels 1 and 2.

Three practical points follow from this table.

• Level 2 needs 70% of the total. Level 1 needs 40%. The jump between the two is bigger than it looks, so decide which level you are really aiming for.
• The level is based on your total score. Listening and Reading are each worth 100 points, so a stronger section can offset a weaker one. A weak Listening score does not automatically mean failure, but neglecting it makes the target much harder.
• There is no writing component. You do not need to write Korean to pass TOPIK I, though writing practice still helps you remember spelling.

What Levels 1 and 2 Expect

Vocabulary figures are commonly cited guidance rather than a fixed word list, so treat them as targets, not exact boundaries.

Step 1: Diagnose Your Starting Point

Before you plan anything, find out where you actually are.

1. Download an official past TOPIK I paper from the official site, topik.go.kr, where past papers and audio are made available for practice.
2. Sit it under real conditions: a quiet room, 40 minutes for Listening, then 60 minutes for Reading, with no dictionary and no pausing the audio.
3. Score it against the cut-offs: 80 for Level 1 and 140 for Level 2.
4. Sort your mistakes into four groups: letters and reading, vocabulary, grammar, and listening speed.

Repeat the diagnostic at the midpoint and again two weeks before the exam to measure real progress.

Step 2: Master Hangul

Hangul, the Korean alphabet, is the foundation, and TOPIK I questions assume you can read it fluently. Aim to read and write all of it within the first one to two weeks.

What You Need to Learn

Letters combine into syllable blocks: an initial consonant, a vowel, and optionally a final consonant (받침, batchim). Practice reading blocks, not isolated letters.

How to Learn It Quickly

• Learn in groups: basic vowels first, then basic consonants, then double consonants and compound vowels.
• Read real words early such as place names, menu items and common signs, so letters connect to meaning.
• Practice batchim, the final consonant, because it changes how words sound and appears in almost every sentence.
• Learn sound changes gradually. Korean is often pronounced differently from how it is spelled, for example when a final consonant moves into a following vowel. Listening practice reinforces this.
• Stop using romanization as early as you can. Romanization is a crutch that slows down reading speed, and TOPIK questions are in Hangul.

A beginner-friendly start is a structured foundation course such as Toddle’s basic Korean language class, which covers Hangul and early grammar with corrected reading practice.

Step 3: Build Vocabulary Systematically

Vocabulary is the single biggest driver of your TOPIK I score. Both Listening and Reading depend on recognizing words quickly.

Targets

• Level 1: about 800 core words.
• Level 2: about 1,500–2,000 words, including broader everyday topics.

Study by Topic, Not at Random

The Two Number Systems

Korean uses two sets of numbers, and TOPIK I tests both.

A clock time uses both: the hour is native Korean and the minutes are Sino-Korean, as in 세 시 십 분. Drill this until it is automatic, because time, price and date questions appear regularly.

How to Memorize Effectively

• Learn words in sentences. A word with an example sentence stays in memory longer than an isolated translation.
• Use spaced repetition. Review new words after a day, a few days, and a week. A flashcard app or a paper box system both work.
• Set a daily quota. Ten to fifteen new words a day, plus review, is a manageable pace for most learners.
• Group related words, for example verbs with their usual nouns: 밥을 먹다, 커피를 마시다.
• Say words aloud. Listening and speaking help recall and train your ear for the Listening section.
• Keep an error list of words you miss in practice papers, and review it every few days.

Step 4: Learn the Core Grammar

Grammar appears directly in Reading questions, where you choose the correct ending or particle to complete a sentence, and indirectly everywhere else, because you cannot understand a sentence without it. Korean grammar is pattern-based, so learn each pattern with its meaning, its conjugation and two or three example sentences.

Particles

Verb and Adjective Endings Commonly Needed for Levels 1–2

Connectors and Level 2 Patterns

Textbooks differ in the order they teach these, so expect some variation. The principle is the same: learn each pattern in context, then practice producing it yourself.

How to Study Grammar

1. Learn one pattern at a time with its meaning and form.
2. Write three original sentences about your own life using it.
3. Say the sentences aloud.
4. Do a few fill-in-the-blank exercises, since the exam tests grammar this way.
5. Review old patterns every week so they do not fade.

Step 5: Train Your Listening

Listening is 100 of the 200 points, and it is where beginners often lose marks. The audio is clear and fairly slow at this level, so the problem is rarely speed. It is usually unfamiliar sounds, missing vocabulary, and losing track of numbers or times.

What the Questions Involve

Listening items cover short exchanges and announcements about everyday situations. Typical formats include choosing the appropriate reply to a question, identifying a place, topic or object, matching what you hear to a picture or to the correct content, and understanding the main point or a specific detail such as a time, price or reason. The same formats repeat across official papers, so working through past papers shows you the pattern.

Daily Listening Routine

Exam-Day Listening Tactics

• Read the answer choices before the audio starts, if the format gives you time, so you know what to listen for.
• Listen carefully the first time. The paper-based test has commonly played each item twice, but follow the invigilator’s instructions rather than relying on a repeat.
• Write down numbers, times and prices as you hear them if note space is available.
• Do not stall on a missed word. Move to the next question so you stay in step with the audio.

Step 6: Train Your Reading

Reading is also 100 points, with 40 questions in 60 minutes. That is about 1.5 minutes per question, which is generous if your vocabulary and grammar are solid.

What to Expect

Reading items use the kinds of texts a visitor or resident meets in daily life: signs, notices, menus, schedules, advertisements, short messages and brief passages. Question formats include identifying what a short text is about, choosing the right vocabulary or grammar to fill a blank, matching information to a text, and finding a specific detail or the main point.

Reading Strategy

1. Read the question and the answer choices first, so you know what you are looking for.
2. Find the key words in the text such as times, places, prices and names.
3. Check the answer against the text, not against what sounds plausible.
4. Watch for grammar clues such as past or future endings and negation, which change the meaning completely.
5. Do not spend more than about two minutes on one question. Mark it, move on and return if time allows.

Building Reading Speed

• Read a short Korean text every day, such as a sign, a menu or a simple dialogue.
• Read aloud, which strengthens letter recognition and pronunciation.
• Time yourself on past-paper reading sections.
• Re-read finished practice texts to notice patterns you missed.

Step 7: Use Past Papers and Mock Tests

Official past papers are the best practice material, because they show the real question styles, difficulty and pacing. The TOPIK website, topik.go.kr, makes past papers and audio available.

How to Use Them

1. Do your first paper early as a diagnostic, as described above.
2. Work through topic sections first so you meet each question type.
3. Move to full timed papers in the last third of your plan, with the audio played straight through.
4. Aim for at least five or six papers under timed conditions, and more if you have time.
5. After each paper, keep an error log with the question, why you missed it and the correct pattern.
6. Review the log weekly, since repeated errors point to the gaps worth fixing first.

Study Plans

Planning Estimates

These are rough planning estimates, not official figures. Real progress depends on your starting level, the quality of your practice and how consistently you study.

Beginners often reach exam readiness in roughly three to six months of steady study, with the longer end typical for people studying alongside work or school.

A 12-Week Plan for Beginners

An 8-Week Plan to Move From Level 1 to Level 2

A Sample Daily Routine (About 90 Minutes)

Consistency matters more than long weekend sessions. Thirty to forty-five minutes every day usually beats three hours once a week.

Resources: What to Use

Widely used beginner course books are produced by Korean university language institutes, so ask your teacher which series suits your level. Do not confuse them with the Standard Textbook for EPS-TOPIK, which is the source for a different exam covered below.

Choosing a class matters as much as choosing a book. Toddle’s guide to Korean language classes in Nepal explains what to look for in a course, a class size and an instructor.

TOPIK I vs EPS-TOPIK: Do Not Confuse Them

If your goal is factory, farm or service work through EPS, you need EPS-TOPIK, and Toddle’s EPS-TOPIK Korean language class is designed for that exam.

Registration and Test Day in Nepal

The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Nepal announces each regular TOPIK session on its notice board, including dates, registration windows, fees and venue instructions. Always rely on the Embassy’s own notice, such as the one for the 106th TOPIK, rather than social media posts.

Registration for the 2026 sessions has closed, so watch the Embassy’s notice board for the next announcement and plan your study timeline around it. Work backward from the likely test window, leaving at least a month for final timed practice.

Test-Day Checklist

• Read the notice for required ID, admission documents and permitted items.
• Visit or confirm the venue in advance if you can.
• Sleep properly the night before, and eat a normal meal.
• Arrive early, and settle before the Listening section starts.
• Follow the invigilator’s instructions about the answer sheet and writing tools.

Exam-Day Strategy

• Listening comes first (40 minutes). Stay calm and keep pace with the audio.
• Reading has a time budget of about 1.5 minutes per question. Skip and return rather than stalling.
• Answer every question. TOPIK I is multiple choice scored by correct answers, so there is no reason to leave a question blank.
• Check that your marks match the question numbers. An answer sheet that slips by one line is a common, avoidable disaster.

Common Mistakes

Where TOPIK I Fits in Your Larger Plan

TOPIK I is a first milestone, and it is worth knowing what it does and does not unlock.

• A language-training visa (D-4-1) does not require any prior Korean at application, so TOPIK I is not mandatory, though it can document your progress. Toddle’s D-4-1 code student visa counselling services explain how that route works.
• Degree admission (D-2) at Korean-taught programs commonly asks for TOPIK Level 3 or above, which is a TOPIK II result, so TOPIK I usually marks a stage on the way. Toddle’s D-2 student visa counselling services help match language requirements to your target program.
• Part-time work permits for degree students commonly refer to TOPIK Level 3 or 4, depending on year of study.
• Announced policy direction: on October 7, 2026, Korea’s Ministry of Justice announced plans linking visa screening to Korean ability, including a proposed exemption from financial proof for students with TOPIK Level 4 or an equivalent KIIP level. These are plans, not final rules, so confirm the final details before relying on them.

After TOPIK I, a natural next step is intermediate study, such as Toddle’s advance Korean language class, as you prepare for TOPIK II.

How Toddle Supports Your TOPIK I Preparation

Structured classes are not essential, but they solve the problems self-study struggles with most: pronunciation that nobody corrects, grammar patterns that never get tested, and no realistic timed practice. Toddle, based on School Road, Hetauda-4, Makawanpur, teaches Korean from beginner level through TOPIK preparation, with sequenced lessons, listening practice and timed mock tests. Instruction is led by founder Madhab Sapkota, a TOPIK Level 6 holder and certified Korean-language instructor who completed the Korean Language Teachers’ Training Program at Tribhuvan University’s Campus of International Languages, supported by Korea’s Ministry of Education. You can read more about what sets the approach apart in why choose Toddle.

No class can guarantee an exam result, because results depend on your own preparation and performance. What a good class can do is shorten the learning curve, correct habits early and make sure you meet the real exam format before test day. Toddle’s test preparation overview shows how its exam courses fit together.

For official, government-maintained information on studying in Korea after your language preparation, the Study in Korea portal is a useful companion.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How many questions are on TOPIK I?
70 multiple-choice questions: 30 in Listening and 40 in Reading.

2. How long is TOPIK I?
About 100 minutes in total: 40 minutes for Listening and 60 minutes for Reading.

3. What score do I need for Level 1 and Level 2?
80 out of 200 for Level 1, and 140 out of 200 for Level 2. A score below 80 earns no level.

4. Is there a writing or speaking section?
No. TOPIK I has only Listening and Reading. TOPIK Speaking is a separate test.

5. How long are TOPIK I scores valid?
Two years from the date the results are announced.

6. How many words do I need to know?
About 800 basic words for Level 1, and about 1,500–2,000 for Level 2, as commonly cited guidance.

7. How long does it take to prepare from zero?
Beginners commonly need roughly three to six months of steady study, depending on how many hours they can give each week.

8. Do I need to learn Hangul before anything else?
Yes. Spend the first one to two weeks on the 40 letters and syllable blocks, because every question is written in Hangul.

9. Should I use romanization?
Use it as little as possible, and drop it early. It slows reading and does not appear on the exam.

10. What is the best practice material?
Official past papers and audio from the TOPIK website, supported by a structured beginner textbook series and a teacher’s corrections.

11. How many past papers should I do?
At least five or six under timed conditions, and more if time allows, with an error log after each one.

12. Can a strong Reading score make up for weak Listening?
Yes, in principle, because the level is based on your total score. Neglecting Listening still removes half the available points, so practice both.

13. Is the Listening audio played twice?
The paper-based test has commonly played each item twice, but listen carefully the first time and follow the invigilator’s instructions.

14. How do I register for TOPIK I in Nepal?
Through the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Nepal, following the announced online registration window. Registration windows are short, so watch the notice board.

15. How much does TOPIK I cost in Nepal?
The 2026 Embassy notices listed NPR 3,000 for TOPIK I.

16. When should I pay?
After you receive the registration confirmation email from TOPIK Nepal, according to the notices.

17. Is TOPIK I the same as EPS-TOPIK?
No. EPS-TOPIK is a separate exam used to select workers under the Employment Permit System.

18. Is TOPIK I enough for a Korean-taught degree?
Usually not. Korean-taught programs commonly ask for Level 3 or above, which is a TOPIK II result. Check your target program’s requirement.

19. Do I need TOPIK I for a D-4-1 language visa?
No prior Korean is required for a D-4-1, though a TOPIK I result can help show your level.

20. How should I handle the two number systems?
Learn both, and drill the combinations used for time, dates and prices until you can recognize them quickly in listening.

21. What is the most common mistake beginners make?
Memorizing vocabulary without grammar or sentences, and not sitting timed practice papers until too late.

22. When should I move on to TOPIK II?
When you can score comfortably above 140 on TOPIK I papers and want to work toward Level 3 or higher for admission, work or residency purposes.

Conclusion: Preparation That Matches the Exam

TOPIK I rewards a straightforward, disciplined plan. Learn Hangul properly, build vocabulary in topic groups with sentences, master the core particles and patterns, train listening every day, read short texts for speed, and practice with official past papers under time. The exam’s format never changes, so every hour spent on realistic practice pays off directly.

Choose your target level honestly, using a diagnostic paper and the 40% and 70% cut-offs. Track your mistakes, fix the recurring ones first, rest before the exam, and rely on the Embassy’s own notices for dates and payment. Do that consistently, and TOPIK I stops being an intimidating first test and becomes a solid foundation for TOPIK II and for everything you want to do in Korean.

Ready to Start Preparing for TOPIK I?

If you want a study plan built around your own starting level, with a teacher to correct your pronunciation and grammar and mock tests that match the real exam, Toddle can help.

Contact Toddle through the contact page, or visit us at School Road, Hetauda-4, Makawanpur, to begin TOPIK I preparation with structured lessons and a realistic timeline.