How to study for TOPIK Level 2 on your own
TOPIK Level 2 is 140 out of 200 on TOPIK I. Tidy up beginner vocabulary and grammar, get used to the question types, and it is a realistic self-study goal.
What to study
- Vocabulary: around 1,500–2,000 basic words for daily life, work and public situations
- Grammar: particles, tenses, connectors (-아서/어서, -지만, -(으)면), honorifics and other beginner patterns
- Question types: reading notices, text messages and short passages; ordering sentences; choosing the matching statement
By section
Listening (100 points)
Many questions ask for the situation or purpose of a short dialogue. Listen to beginner audio for 10–15 minutes daily and check anything you miss against the script.
Reading (100 points)
Practical texts — signs, ads, notices — are the core. Practise finding the answer from overall context even when some words are unknown.
Free resources
- NIIED TOPIK site (topik.go.kr) — some past papers are released
- HRD Korea EPS-TOPIK public question book — useful for beginner vocabulary and expressions
- King Sejong Institute online (Nuri-Sejonghakdang) — free beginner Korean lessons
Realistic timeline
| Where you are now | To Level 2 |
|---|---|
| Can read Hangul but sentences are hard | 3–5 months (5–7 hrs/week) |
| Some everyday conversation | 1–3 months |
This varies a lot by person. Check where you currently stand first, then plan.