Week 1-6: Final Review, Advanced Writing Skills, and Listening/Reading Preparation for TOPIK

Welcome to Week 1-6 of your TOPIK preparation! By this point, you’ve already built a strong foundation in grammar, vocabulary, listening, and writing. This week, we will consolidate all the skills you’ve developed, focus on advanced writing, and dive deeper into listening and reading comprehension for the TOPIK II exam.

In addition to honing your writing and grammar, this week will also focus on reviewing what you’ve learned so far and preparing for the final stages of the TOPIK exam. By the end of this week, you’ll be more confident in expressing complex ideas, listening to real-life Korean conversations, and reading longer texts.

1. Final Review of Grammar and Vocabulary

Goal:

Review all grammar structures and vocabulary you’ve learned so far.
Strengthen areas of weakness and ensure you can use advanced grammar and vocabulary accurately.

Why Review is Essential:

In preparation for TOPIK II, reviewing your grammar and vocabulary is crucial. You’ll need to apply the grammar rules you’ve learned in more complex contexts, and you’ll need to be able to recognize and use advanced vocabulary naturally in both writing and speaking.

How to Review Grammar and Vocabulary:

Go Over Key Grammar Points:
- Revisit complex grammar structures such as conditional forms, quote reporting, and sentence connectors.
- Focus on understanding how to use grammar flexibly in real-life scenarios.
Some key grammar points to focus on:
- -아서/어서 (because)
- -(으)니까 (since/because)
- -고 싶다 (want to)
- -(으)면 (if/when)
- -(으)려고 하다 (to try to do something)
Vocabulary Review:
- Review advanced vocabulary related to social issues, technology, and education.
- Use flashcards to quickly memorize and test your knowledge of intermediate-to-advanced vocabulary.
Example topics to focus on:
- 사회 (sahoe) – society
- 경제 (gyeongje) – economy
- 정치 (jeongchi) – politics
- 기술 (gisul) – technology
Practice with Grammar Exercises:
- Use practice tests and grammar workbooks that focus on the TOPIK II level to check for accuracy in applying grammar structures.
- Review mistakes and make sure you understand why the correct answers work.

2. Advanced Writing Skills for TOPIK II

Goal:

Refine your writing and sentence organization to handle complex essay questions in the TOPIK II exam.
Learn how to express opinions and provide solutions using advanced grammar and vocabulary.

Why Writing is Crucial for TOPIK II:

In the TOPIK II writing section, you’ll be required to write structured essays on social issues, personal experiences, or opinions. This requires you to use advanced grammar and express your thoughts in clear, logical, and sophisticated ways.

How to Master Advanced Writing:

Write Detailed Essays:
- Practice writing 250-300 word essays on topics such as:
  - What is the most important issue facing your country today?
  - How can we improve the education system?
  - The impact of technology on human relationships.
Ensure that you:
- Start with a clear introduction that introduces your main idea.
- Use specific examples to support your arguments.
- Conclude with a summary or solution to the problem.
Essay Structure:
Focus on organizing your essay into clear sections:
- Introduction: Introduce the topic and your opinion or stance.
- Body: Provide reasoning, explanations, and examples.
- Conclusion: Summarize your key points and restate your position or provide a solution.

Example Essay:

Topic: What are the pros and cons of online education?

Introduction:
온라인 교육은 최근 매우 인기가 많습니다. 하지만 장점과 단점이 모두 존재합니다. (Onlain gyoyuk eun choegun maeu ingiga manseubnida. Hajiman jangjeom gwa danjeom i modu jonjaehamnida.)

Online education has recently become very popular. However, it has both advantages and disadvantages.

Body:
장점으로는 집에서 편리하게 수업을 들을 수 있다는 점이 있습니다. (Jangjeomeuro neun jibeseo pyeonrihage sueobeul deureul su ittaneun jeomi isseumnida.)

One advantage is the convenience of taking classes from home.
하지만 단점으로는 학생들이 집중하기 어려운 점이 있습니다. (Hajiman danjeomeuro neun haksaengdeuri jipjunghagi eoryeoun jeomi isseumnida.)
However, a disadvantage is that students often find it difficult to focus.

Conclusion:
따라서 온라인 교육을 보완할 수 있는 방법을 찾아야 합니다. (Ttaraseo onlain gyoyukeul bowanhal su inneun bangbeob-eul chajaya hamnida.)

Therefore, we need to find ways to complement online education.

3. Listening and Reading Comprehension for TOPIK II

Goal:

Improve your listening comprehension and reading skills for TOPIK II.
Learn to tackle longer listening passages and complex reading materials effectively.

Why Listening and Reading Skills Matter for TOPIK II:

The Listening and Reading sections of TOPIK II are significantly more challenging than TOPIK I. The passages are longer, and the content covers a wider range of topics, requiring you to have a strong grasp of academic vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, and complex sentence structures.

Listening Practice:

Listen to Advanced Korean Audio:
- Use podcasts, news channels like KBS, or watch documentaries in Korean. Focus on understanding the main points rather than trying to catch every single word.
- Take listening practice tests from TOPIK II preparation books and online resources.
Watch Korean TV Programs:
- Watch shows that discuss current events or social issues in Korea. Shows like “PD수첩” or “뉴스룸” (Newsroom) offer rich content for advanced listening practice.
Test Yourself:
- Listen to short audio passages, then answer comprehension questions. Focus on identifying key details and understanding the general meaning.

Reading Practice:

Read Academic and News Articles:
- Start reading longer articles or essays on topics related to technology, culture, and society. These types of materials will help you prepare for the TOPIK II reading section.
Practice Skimming and Scanning:
- Practice skimming for general meaning and scanning for specific information (e.g., numbers, dates, names) in longer reading passages.
Review Reading Comprehension Questions:
- After reading a passage, answer comprehension questions. Focus on deducing meaning from context and identifying the main argument of the text.

4. Practice with Full-Length Mock Tests

Goal:

Simulate real test conditions and practice completing the TOPIK exam in a timed setting.

Why Mock Tests Are Important:

Taking mock tests will give you a good sense of how well you’re prepared for the real exam. They also help you practice managing your time across the listening, reading, and writing sections.

How to Simulate Real Test Conditions:

Set a Timer:
- Set a timer for each section to simulate exam conditions.
Review Mistakes:
- After completing the mock test, review your mistakes carefully. Focus on areas where you lost the most points and identify strategies to improve.
Analyze Your Weaknesses:
- If you consistently make mistakes in certain areas (e.g., listening or reading), dedicate more time to practicing those sections.

5. Review and Set Goals for Week 1-7

Goal Review:

By the end of Week 1-6, you should be able to:

Write coherent, well-structured essays on complex topics.
Use advanced grammar structures such as -아서/어서, -니까, and -고 싶다 effectively.
Improve your listening and reading comprehension for TOPIK II.

Set Your Goals for Week 1-7:

Continue improving your writing and grammar while focusing on final exam preparation.
Take full-length mock tests to simulate the actual exam and boost your confidence.

Helpful Resources for Week 1-6

1. Listening Resources:

KBS World Radio: Listen to news broadcasts and talk shows in Korean.
Talk To Me In Korean: Offers audio materials tailored to learners at various levels.

2. Writing Resources:

Lang-8: Share your writing for native feedback.
italki: Find tutors to help with writing exercises and get feedback.

3. Reading Resources:

Naver News: Read current events and articles in Korean.
How to Study Korean: Offers advanced grammar and reading comprehension exercises.

What’s Next?

In Week 1-7, we’ll focus on final test preparations, review weak areas, and take full-length mock exams. Stay focused and keep practicing consistently to reach your goal!