Quick answer
TOPIK II (levels 3–6) is where Korean moves from daily conversation to academic and professional use. The plan that works is 16 weeks at 75–90 minutes a day, split about 40% vocabulary and grammar, 25% reading, 20% writing, and 15% listening. The writing section — two essays plus two short answers — is the part most candidates under-prepare, so start it by week 6. Take at least three full mock tests in the final five weeks.
What TOPIK II Tests
TOPIK II has three sections across two sessions. Your total out of 300 decides whether you get level 3, 4, 5, or 6. [VERIFY] — confirm on topik.go.kr.
The Writing Section (the differentiator)
Writing is what separates TOPIK II from TOPIK I and what separates level 3 from level 4+. The four questions are: two short-answer fill-in items, then two essays — one everyday-life essay of about 200–300 characters (often with provided hints) and one logical/opinion essay of about 600–700 characters. [VERIFY] — character counts vary slightly.
Build writing practice into your plan from week 6, not the final month. Write one short essay a week at first, then two. Get every essay reviewed — by a tutor, a language-exchange partner, or by checking against model answers. Self-study without feedback is the main reason writing scores stay low.
The 16-Week Study Plan
This plan assumes you have passed TOPIK I (level 2) or have equivalent Korean. It runs 16 weeks at 75–90 minutes a day, five days a week. Weeks 1–4 build intermediate vocabulary and grammar; weeks 5–8 add reading and start writing; weeks 9–12 deepen reading and listening; weeks 13–16 are mock tests and weak-spot review.
Section-by-Section Strategy
Vocabulary and Grammar
At TOPIK II, vocabulary is about nuance and formal register, not just recognition. Learn words in topic clusters (society, culture, economy, environment) and pair each new word with a collocation. For grammar, focus on connectors, conditionals, reported speech, and formal written endings — these appear in both reading and writing.
Reading
Reading is 50 questions in 70 minutes — tight on time. Read the question first, then scan the passage for the relevant chunk; TOPIK II passages are too long to fully parse under time pressure. Build timed reading sets into your routine from week 5.
Listening
Listening is 50 questions in 60 minutes at near-natural speed. Shadowing (repeating after the speaker) and daily exposure to real Korean — news, podcasts, interviews — matter more than drills alone. Learn to catch the question type quickly so you know what to listen for.
Writing
For the long essay, learn a fixed structure: introduction (restate the issue), two body paragraphs (one perspective, then a contrasting or supporting one), and a short conclusion. Memorise formal connectors (또한, 그러나, 따라서, 반면) so fluency does not break under time pressure.
Vocabulary by Theme
Learn TOPIK II vocabulary thematically — the exam leans on social, cultural, and current-affairs topics. Four core themes with examples:
Society & daily life
Work & economy
Culture & media
Opinion & argument
Common Mistakes
Avoid these
- Leaving writing until the last month. Start essays by week 6 and get feedback.
- Reading passages fully under time pressure. Scan for the relevant section; train timed sets.
- Studying vocabulary as one-line glosses. TOPIK II tests nuance and formal register.
- Writing in spoken style. Use formal written endings (-다/-(으)ㄴ) in essays.
- Not taking full mock tests. Three timed mocks in the final five weeks are essential.
- Ignoring listening stamina. 50 questions in 60 minutes is tiring; build it with shadowing.
If You Only Have 8 Weeks
A compressed plan needs 2–3 hours a day and solid TOPIK I-level Korean. Cut vocabulary scope but never cut writing.
Key Takeaways
Remember these
- TOPIK II total is 300; level 4 starts at 150, level 5 at 190. [VERIFY]
- Writing (two essays) is the differentiator — start it by week 6 with feedback.
- Reading is time-tight; train timed scanning, not full parsing.
- Learn vocabulary by social/cultural topic clusters, with collocations.
- Take at least three full timed mocks in the final five weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take TOPIK II without TOPIK I?
Yes — you register for whichever test you want. TOPIK II assumes the beginner content, but there is no prerequisite. If your Korean is already intermediate, go straight to TOPIK II.
How many hours do I need for level 4?
Cumulative study to level 4 is commonly estimated at about 700–900 hours from zero, or a few hundred more on top of TOPIK I level 2. At 2 hours a day, reaching level 4 from level 2 typically takes a year or so. [VERIFY]
How long are the writing essays?
The everyday-life essay is roughly 200–300 characters and the logical/opinion essay roughly 600–700 characters, plus two short-answer items. Confirm the current format on topik.go.kr. [VERIFY]
Does TOPIK II test speaking?
No. The standard TOPIK II tests listening, writing, and reading. Speaking is a separate TOPIK Speaking assessment. [VERIFY]
What score fails the whole exam?
TOPIK awards a level by total score; scoring below 120/300 means no level is awarded (you do not pass). Unlike some exams there is no separate sectional pass/fail floor, but a very weak section usually drags the total below the next level threshold. [VERIFY]