The TOPIK II (Intermediate + Advanced) exam tests your ability to understand and use Korean in real-life, academic, and professional contexts. Unlike TOPIK I, this level demands nuanced vocabulary, complex grammar, and the ability to produce structured written arguments. The syllabus is divided into three sections — Listening, Reading, and Writing — each designed to evaluate specific competencies. Below is a detailed breakdown with weightage estimates and practical study tips for each topic.
Listening Section (듣기)
Weightage: 33% (100 marks out of 300)
The Listening section consists of 50 multiple-choice questions, played once only. Audio includes dialogues, monologues, interviews, and news reports at natural speed.
Topics Covered
- Everyday conversations (directions, shopping, appointments)
- Academic discussions (lectures, presentations, debates)
- News and current affairs
- Cultural topics (history, traditions, social issues)
- Professional scenarios (meetings, negotiations)
Study Tips
- Listen to Korean podcasts (e.g., Talk To Me In Korean intermediate series) daily for 15–20 minutes.
- Practice with past TOPIK II audio — focus on identifying speaker intent and implied meaning.
- Transcribe short audio clips (1–2 minutes) to sharpen listening accuracy.
- Note: Audio is played only once — train your brain to catch key details on the first pass.
Reading Section (읽기)
Weightage: 33% (100 marks out of 300)
The Reading section has 50 multiple-choice questions. Passages range from practical notices to academic articles.
Topics Covered
- Short informational texts (signs, ads, instructions)
- Medium-length articles (social issues, science, culture)
- Long academic passages (research summaries, editorials)
- Graphs and charts with written analysis
- Literary excerpts (poems, short stories, essays)
Study Tips
- Build vocabulary by reading Korean news sites (Naver News, YTN) daily — focus on opinion pieces.
- Practice skimming: read the first and last sentence of each paragraph to grasp main ideas quickly.
- For graph-based questions, interpret trends before looking at answer choices.
- Time management: allocate roughly 1.5 minutes per question — skip and return if stuck.
Take a free TOPIK II (Intermediate + Advanced) demo mock to find out where you stand: Try the demo →
Writing Section (쓰기)
Weightage: 34% (100 marks out of 300)
The Writing section is the most challenging — it requires you to produce original content. It has 4–6 questions: short-answer, sentence completion, paragraph writing, and an essay (600–700 characters).
Topics Covered
- Sentence completion using given grammar patterns
- Short paragraph on a familiar topic (e.g., describe your hobby)
- Graph/chart description (provide analysis and opinion)
- Essay: argue for or against a social issue (e.g., remote work, environmental policies)
Study Tips
- Master transition words (그러나, 따라서, 반면에) to make your writing flow.
- Practice writing one essay per week under timed conditions (50 minutes for the entire section).
- For graph descriptions, memorize phrases like "증가 추세를 보이다" (shows an increasing trend) and "급격히 감소하다" (declines sharply).
- Use official TOPIK answer sheets (available online) to practice handwriting legibly within the space.
See TOPIK II (Intermediate + Advanced) mock-test packs and pricing: View plans →
Weightage Summary Table
| Section | Questions | Marks | Weightage | |---------|-----------|-------|-----------| | Listening | 50 | 100 | 33% | | Reading | 50 | 100 | 33% | | Writing | 4–6 | 100 | 34% |
General Study Tips for TOPIK II
- Set a realistic timeline: Most learners need 6–12 months of consistent study to move from TOPIK I to TOPIK II level.
- Use official resources: The National Institute for International Education (NIIED) releases past papers — solve at least 5 full sets.
- Focus on weak areas: If writing is your bottleneck, allocate 40% of study time to it.
- Join study groups: Discussing grammar and vocabulary with peers accelerates retention.
- Track progress: Take a mock test every 4 weeks to measure improvement and adjust strategy.