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100+ Free TOPIK I Practice Questions

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[듣기] 대화를 듣고 여자가 왜 늦었는지 고르세요. 남자: 왜 이렇게 늦었어요? 여자: 죄송해요. 버스를 못 탔어요. 다음 버스를 기다렸어요. Why was the woman late?

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: TOPIK I Exam

TOPIK I is the beginner level of South Korea's official Korean proficiency test, with 70 all-multiple-choice questions across Listening (30 Qs) and Reading (40 Qs) scored out of 200; 80+ earns Level 1, 140+ earns Level 2.

Sample TOPIK I Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your TOPIK I exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1[듣기] 다음 대화를 듣고 남자가 무엇을 사는지 고르세요. 여자: 어서 오세요. 무엇을 드릴까요? 남자: 사과 두 개하고 바나나 한 개 주세요. What is the man buying?
A.사과만
B.바나나만
C.사과와 바나나
D.오렌지와 사과
Explanation: The man says '사과 두 개하고 바나나 한 개 주세요' — two apples AND one banana. '하고' connects two items in a list, so he is buying both. The answer is 사과와 바나나 (apples and bananas).
2[듣기] 다음 대화를 듣고 두 사람이 어디에 있는지 고르세요. 여자: 이 책 얼마예요? 남자: 만 오천 원이에요. 여자: 그럼 이것도 주세요. Where are the two people?
A.병원
B.서점
C.식당
D.학교
Explanation: They are discussing the price of a 책 (book) and making a purchase. This conversation takes place at a 서점 (bookstore). '얼마예요?' means 'how much is it?'
3[듣기] 다음을 듣고 이어질 말로 알맞은 것을 고르세요. 남자: 내일 같이 영화 볼래요? 여자: ______ Choose the most natural response for the woman.
A.네, 좋아요.
B.저는 학생이에요.
C.영화관이 멀어요.
D.어제 봤어요.
Explanation: The man invites the woman to watch a movie together tomorrow. '네, 좋아요' (Yes, sounds good!) is the natural acceptance of an invitation. This is a standard TOPIK I question type asking for the appropriate follow-up response.
4[듣기] 다음 대화를 듣고 여자의 직업을 고르세요. 남자: 어디서 일하세요? 여자: 저는 병원에서 일해요. 아픈 사람들을 도와요. What is the woman's job?
A.선생님
B.의사
C.요리사
D.운전기사
Explanation: The woman works at a 병원 (hospital) and helps 아픈 사람들 (sick people). This describes a doctor (의사) or similar medical professional. 의사 is the best match for working at a hospital treating patients.
5[듣기] 다음을 듣고 남자가 좋아하는 음식을 고르세요. 여자: 무슨 음식을 좋아해요? 남자: 저는 매운 음식을 좋아해요. 특히 김치찌개를 자주 먹어요. What food does the man like?
A.단 음식
B.매운 음식
C.싱거운 음식
D.차가운 음식
Explanation: The man says '저는 매운 음식을 좋아해요' (I like spicy food) and mentions 김치찌개 (kimchi stew) as a specific example. 매운 means spicy.
6[듣기] 대화를 듣고 두 사람이 몇 시에 만나는지 고르세요. 여자: 오늘 몇 시에 만날까요? 남자: 저는 두 시까지 수업이 있어요. 세 시는 어때요? 여자: 좋아요. What time will they meet?
A.두 시
B.세 시
C.네 시
D.한 시
Explanation: The man has class until 2 o'clock (두 시) and suggests 3 o'clock (세 시). The woman agrees (좋아요), so they will meet at 세 시 (3 o'clock).
7[듣기] 다음을 듣고 날씨로 알맞은 것을 고르세요. 라디오: 오늘 서울 날씨입니다. 오전에는 맑겠지만 오후에는 비가 올 예정입니다. 우산을 준비하세요. What is the afternoon weather in Seoul?
A.맑음
B.
C.
D.바람
Explanation: The announcement says '오후에는 비가 올 예정입니다' — it is expected to rain (비) in the afternoon. 우산 (umbrella) confirms rain.
8[듣기] 대화를 듣고 여자가 왜 늦었는지 고르세요. 남자: 왜 이렇게 늦었어요? 여자: 죄송해요. 버스를 못 탔어요. 다음 버스를 기다렸어요. Why was the woman late?
A.지하철이 없어서
B.버스를 못 타서
C.길을 몰라서
D.일이 많아서
Explanation: The woman says '버스를 못 탔어요' — she missed the bus (could not catch it) and had to wait for the next one. 못 + verb = could not do something.
9[듣기] 대화를 듣고 남자가 주말에 할 일을 고르세요. 여자: 이번 주말에 뭐 해요? 남자: 친구 생일 파티가 있어요. 선물도 사야 해요. What will the man do this weekend?
A.여행을 가요
B.친구 생일 파티에 가요
C.영화를 봐요
D.집에서 쉬어요
Explanation: The man says '친구 생일 파티가 있어요' — there is a friend's birthday party. He also needs to buy a gift (선물). The main event is attending the birthday party.
10[듣기] 다음을 듣고 대화의 주제를 고르세요. 남자: 요즘 운동해요? 여자: 네, 매일 아침 30분씩 달려요. 건강에 좋더라고요. 남자: 저도 시작해야겠어요. What is the topic of the conversation?
A.음식
B.운동
C.공부
D.날씨
Explanation: The conversation is about 운동 (exercise). The woman jogs every morning for 30 minutes (달려요) and finds it good for 건강 (health). The man wants to start too.

About the TOPIK I Exam

The Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) is a standardized examination for non-native Korean speakers, administered globally by the National Institute for International Education (NIIED) under South Korea's Ministry of Education. TOPIK I is the beginner-level division covering Levels 1 and 2, equivalent to CEFR A1 and A2 respectively. The exam consists of exactly 70 multiple-choice questions across two sections: 30 questions in the Listening section (40 minutes) and 40 questions in the Reading section (60 minutes), with no writing component. Each section is scored out of 100 points for a maximum total of 200. Test takers scoring 80–139 receive Level 1 and those scoring 140 or above receive Level 2. TOPIK scores are valid for two years and are accepted for Korean university admission, employment at Korean companies, and certain visa and immigration purposes. In 2026, the paper-based TOPIK (PBT) is offered six times annually in Korea (January, April, May, July, October, November) and several times overseas, while the internet-based TOPIK (IBT) is offered separately in Korea.

Questions

70 scored questions

Time Limit

100 minutes total: 40 minutes Listening + 60 minutes Reading, in one session.

Passing Score

Level 1: 80 points or above (out of 200). Level 2: 140 points or above (out of 200).

Exam Fee

40,000 KRW paper-based (PBT) or 70,000 KRW computer-based (IBT) within South Korea (2026). Overseas fees set by local institutions; approximately $40 USD at US centers. (National Institute for International Education (NIIED), Ministry of Education, South Korea)

TOPIK I Exam Content Outline

43%

Listening Comprehension

30 questions testing comprehension of short dialogues, monologues, phone calls, announcements, and everyday conversations. Question types include: choose the correct response, identify the topic, select the matching picture, confirm content, and predict the next utterance.

57%

Reading Comprehension

40 questions testing comprehension of signs, notices, advertisements, short passages, fill-in-the-blank grammar, sentence ordering, identifying main ideas, and inferring meaning. Beginner vocabulary (800–2,000 words) and core grammar patterns are tested.

How to Pass the TOPIK I Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Level 1: 80 points or above (out of 200). Level 2: 140 points or above (out of 200).
  • Exam length: 70 questions
  • Time limit: 100 minutes total: 40 minutes Listening + 60 minutes Reading, in one session.
  • Exam fee: 40,000 KRW paper-based (PBT) or 70,000 KRW computer-based (IBT) within South Korea (2026). Overseas fees set by local institutions; approximately $40 USD at US centers.

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

TOPIK I Study Tips from Top Performers

1Master Hangul reading fluency first — fast, accurate letter recognition is essential for both timed sections of TOPIK I.
2Build your core vocabulary to at least 800 words using frequency lists; TOPIK I Level 1 questions stay within this range.
3Practice with official TOPIK I past papers downloadable from topik.go.kr — the question types are consistent across exams.
4For Listening, train your ear by watching Korean dramas or listening to Korean podcasts at slow speed, focusing on common daily phrases.
5For Reading grammar questions, drill the most-tested patterns: -(으)면, -아/어서, -고 싶다, -(으)ㄹ 거예요, -고 있다, -아/어도 되다, -으면 안 되다.
6In the Listening section, read each question and the answer options before the audio plays; TOPIK I gives you 10–15 seconds per question.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is TOPIK I and who should take it?

TOPIK I is the beginner level of the Test of Proficiency in Korean, administered by NIIED. It is designed for non-native Korean speakers at CEFR A1 or A2 level. It is recommended for those who have studied Korean for 3–12 months or need a beginner-level certificate for university language programs, basic visa requirements, or personal achievement.

How many questions are on TOPIK I and what types?

TOPIK I has 70 multiple-choice questions total: 30 in the Listening section (40 minutes) and 40 in the Reading section (60 minutes). All questions are 4-option multiple choice. There is no writing section in TOPIK I.

What score do I need to pass TOPIK I and what levels can I achieve?

TOPIK I awards Level 1 (80–139 points out of 200) or Level 2 (140–200 points). Both sections are scored out of 100 each. There is no 'fail' designation — any score below 80 simply means no level is awarded.

How often is TOPIK I offered in 2026?

The paper-based TOPIK (PBT) is offered six times in 2026 in Korea: January 11, April 11–12, May 17, July 4–5, October 17–18, and November 15. Overseas sessions are fewer — typically two to four times per year depending on country. The internet-based TOPIK (IBT) is also offered six times in 2026 in Korea.

How long is a TOPIK I certificate valid?

TOPIK certificates are valid for two years from the date results are officially released. Most universities, employers, and immigration offices do not accept certificates older than two years.

What is the difference between TOPIK I and TOPIK II?

TOPIK I is for beginners (Levels 1–2) and tests only Listening and Reading (70 questions, 100 minutes, 200 points). TOPIK II is for intermediate and advanced learners (Levels 3–6) and adds a Writing section (50 questions + 4 writing tasks, 180 minutes, 300 points). For university admission or work permits, TOPIK II Level 3 or higher is usually required.