TOPIK : A Typical Test Day

Dear TOPIK aspirants, Welcome!
If you have appeared for the TOPIK earlier, you might be familiar with it. But if appearing for the first time then by reading this post you will come to know how the events fold on the test day. It will also include some tips which will be helpful during the test.
(To know more details about the TOPIK test format, strategy and question types please read TOPIK : AN INTRODUCTION)

TOPIK Test Day Events

Be at Correct Place & Within Time !

A day before the test please confirm your test center from admit card and decide the mode to reach there, hassle free. Needless to highlight to reach at least 1 hour before the entrance deadline. The earlier, the better. Use this buffer time to have some coffee or meditation or whatever thing which brings you at the peak of your concentration. Enter the examination room before the time mentioned on the admit card as below.

• TOPIK I 9:20AM; Test Starts at 10:00AM
• TOPIK II 12:20PM; Test Starts at 01:00PM

TOPIK I Admit Card

TOPIK II Admit Card

Keunkook University , Seoul. The building was the place where the TOPIK test was held.

On the test day there was some video shoot taking place. Not sure if I saw some celebrity.

Outside the test center there will be boards displaying the roll numbers and rooms. Confirm yours from there.
Before entering the building you will be asked to show admit card and a VALID Identity proof. 
The details of this will be mentioned on the admit card as described below. Below is just for reference and changes from time to time.  SO PLEASE CHECK YOUR ADMIT CARD FOR THAT EXAM.

Things to Prepare  !

One must check the admit card to know what to prepare before leaving home . Because it changes from time to time. If there is some change from admit card information then TOPIK will notify you through registered email. So be attentive to any emails from TOPIK. 
Below is shown for reference which was for TOPIK 66.

In the attached admit card please refer

2.준비 물: Valid Identity Proof (Mandatory), Correction Tape (Optional), Admit Card (Optional)

• Two sides pen will be provided by the test center. ONLY THAT NEEDS TO BE USED.

The thicker side marked as 듣기/읽기, is for marking the answers during listening and reading. The finer side marked as s 쓰기, is to be used during all the writing.

Correction Tape 수정테이프: It is recommended to bring own correction tape as it saves time during the exam. Because the number of correction tapes which the invigilator keeps are limited. This leads to a waiting time for examinee if there are more users than the number of tapes available which is a normal case.

Correction tapes are used few times during the listening and reading test. But it is used very frequently used during the writing test. Again this depends upon the writing skills one has. For me it is frequent, though.

TOPIK Admit Card

In The Exam Hall

After entering the examination hall all the electronic devices will be switched off collected by invigilators. Other non electronic items like books, notes etc can be kept in the bag. But on the top of the desk there should be nothing EXCEPT identity proof. Even admit card should be removed. Please fill the personal details like registration number, name and question paper type correctly. MAKE SURE YOUR QUESTION PAPER TYPE IS SAME AS YOUR ADMIT CARD-ODD/EVEN.                                              Before the listening test commence there will be an audio playing which will ask to check whether the audio volume loud enough to be heard by you and clear enough to be understood. If any issue then then let the invigilator know.The speakers are two types based on the infrastructure of the test center. Type 1-Speakers integrated in the roof. These are distributed evenly across the room and audible well to all the people. 

Type 2. Ad-hoc type speakers-Put on the front area. Not good chance for the people sitting on the last corners of the room. Be careful and double sure before saying yes to the audio volume when the invigilator asks.

 During the listening test, mark the answers simultaneously. 

Because there will be no separate time provided at the end of the test. The answer sheet will be taken immediately after the listening test finishes. There are always few people struggle with this issue, but they have to loose it only as it is the rule.

For TOPIK I, the listening and reading tests are combined and are at one stretch.
For TOPIK II, soon after listening test the writing test will start. After the writing test, there will be 30 minutes break. And then thereading test takes place.

During listening there is no need to keep the time because the audio file is timed to finish within the stipulated time span.

For writing and reading a analog wrist watch is good to have on the desk. Though there will be clock hanging on the wall or at the lecture desk.

A typical Examination Hall. For the sake of curiosity I took data of Test Takers data for my hall: Total 48 , Female Aspirants 44, Male 4, absent 10.

All the best for your preparation and exam.

To know more details about the TOPIK test format, strategy and question types please read TOPIK : AN INTRODUCTION

Thank you.
-Naveen