Starting TOPIK I: A Beginner's Roadmap

So you want to make it official — a real Korean certificate you can put on a résumé or a university application. That's TOPIK, and TOPIK I (levels 1–2) is the beginner gate. Here's the roadmap I wish someone had handed me on day one.

What TOPIK actually is

TOPIK = Test of Proficiency in Korean, run by the Korean government. It comes in two exams:

• TOPIK I → certifies Level 1 or 2 (beginner). This is your target.
• TOPIK II → Levels 3–6 (intermediate to advanced).

TOPIK I has just two sections: Listening (듣기) and Reading (읽기). No speaking, no writing yet — which makes it very beginner-friendly.

What each level means

• Level 1 (~80+ points): You can handle basic survival Korean — introductions, ordering food, simple daily topics, ~800 words.
• Level 2 (~140+ points): You can manage everyday conversation, post offices, phone calls, and connect ideas with basic grammar, ~1,500–2,000 words.

A realistic 8-week plan

Weeks 1–2 — Foundation. Lock in Hangeul reading speed and the top 100 particles/verbs. If you can already read (see my Hangeul post!), you're ahead.

Weeks 3–4 — Grammar core. Master the beginner backbone: -이에요/예요, -았/었어요 (past), -고 싶어요 (want to), -아/어야 해요 (have to), and the counting systems.

TOPIK Listening is slow and clear. Do past papers (they're free on the official TOPIK site) and shadow the audio out loud. Your reading speed decides your listening comfort.