TOPIK I listening has 30 questions in 40 minutes; TOPIK II listening has 50 questions in 60 minutes. Both are worth 100 points and are four-option multiple choice. Unlike reading, you cannot slow the audio down or go back — so the score depends on two skills: understanding natural-speed Korean, and reading the options before each recording starts. The second skill can be trained in a week. The first takes daily practice, and this guide shows a routine that works.
The basics
| TOPIK I (paper) | TOPIK II (paper) | |
|---|---|---|
| Questions | 30 (numbers 1–30) | 50 (numbers 1–50) |
| Time | 40 minutes | 60 minutes |
| Points | 100 (3 or 4 points each) | 100 (2 points each) |
| Session | Session 1, then reading | Session 1, then writing |
The computer test (IBT) has fewer listening questions: 26 in 30 minutes for TOPIK I and 30 in 35 minutes for TOPIK II. The types are similar to the paper test.
The audio runs on its own clock. You can't pause it, so your real job is to stay one question ahead: while one recording ends, your eyes are already on the next set of options.
TOPIK I listening, question by question
The order below comes from the official past papers (we checked it against the 91st test). It has been stable for years, but it is a pattern, not a published rule.
| Numbers | What it asks | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 1–4 | Choose the right answer to a question (네/아니요 or a short answer) | Listen for the question word: 뭐, 어디, 언제, 누구 |
| 5–6 | Choose the next line (greetings, thanks, apologies) | Learn set phrases: 고맙습니다 → 아니에요 |
| 7–10 | Where is this? (bank, hospital, bakery…) | Listen for place nouns and verbs like 찾다, 사다 |
| 11–14 | What are they talking about? (topic word) | One shared idea, e.g. weather, job, family |
| 15–16 | Choose the right picture | Look at what differs in the four pictures before the audio |
| 17–21 | Which matches the conversation? | Read the options first; mark who does what |
| 22–24 | What is the woman's main idea? | Her last line usually holds it |
| 25–30 | Longer talks with two questions each: why she says this, what they are talking about, details | Read both questions before the audio |
In TOPIK I, questions are worth 3 or 4 points, so one missed question costs more than in TOPIK II.
TOPIK II listening, question by question
| Numbers | What it asks | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Choose the right picture or graph | Graphs: listen for 증가 (increase), 감소 (decrease), 순위 (ranking) |
| 4–8 | Choose the next line in a conversation | Think about how a polite Korean would react |
| 9–12 | What will the woman do next? | Listen for requests: ~아/어 주세요, ~(으)ㄹ게요 |
| 13–16 | Which matches what you heard? | Options often reverse one detail |
| 17–20 | The man's main idea | His opinion often comes after 그런데 or 제 생각에는 |
| 21–30 | Two questions per recording: main idea, what the man is doing, his intention, who he is, + content | Read both questions; one asks about detail, one about the big picture |
| 31–40 | Debates, interviews, speeches: attitude, what came before this conversation, content | Words for attitude: 비판하다 (criticize), 동의하다 (agree), 우려하다 (be concerned) |
| 41–50 | Lectures, documentaries: central idea, the speaker's way of talking or attitude, content | Topics are academic (history, science, economy); note keywords quickly |
All 50 questions are worth 2 points each. The last 20 are hard for most learners at level 3–4, so the first 30 are where you secure your score.
On test day: read ahead, then listen
- Use the gaps. While the instructions are read and between recordings, read the next options. Underline the words that differ between them.
- Predict. If the options are four places, listen for a place. If they are four actions, listen for verbs.
- Decide fast. When a recording ends, choose within a few seconds and move your eyes to the next question. If you didn't catch it, guess and go — a wrong answer has no penalty, but staying on it costs you the next question too.
- Mark the answer sheet as you go, block by block. Don't plan to copy everything at the end.
How to train your ear: a daily routine
Doing many test papers is not the same as training listening. Tests show your level; the routine below raises it. About 30–40 minutes a day is enough.
| Step | Time | How |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Listen once, test-style | 5 min | One recording, no script. Answer the question |
| 2. Listen again with the script | 5 min | Find every part you missed. Was it a new word, fast speech, or a sound change? |
| 3. Dictation | 10 min | Pick 3–4 sentences. Play, pause, write exactly what you hear, then compare with the script |
| 4. Shadowing | 10 min | Play the sentence and repeat it right after, copying speed and intonation. Repeat until you can keep up |
| 5. Word list | 5 min | Write down new words and phrases from this recording only |
Why dictation and shadowing? Most listening mistakes are not about grammar. They come from sound changes in fast speech that look different on paper — for example 같이 sounds like [가치], 먹는 sounds like [멍는], and 할 거예요 sounds like [할 꺼예요]. Writing what you hear shows you exactly which changes you can't hear yet; shadowing trains your mouth and ear to expect them.
Where to get listening material
- Official past papers. The released TOPIK tests come with audio files and scripts — ideal for the routine above because you have the script for step 2. The list is in TOPIK past papers.
- Your textbook's audio. Most Korean textbooks (Sejong Korean, Seoul National University Korean, Yonsei Korean and others) include dialogue audio. These are slower and clearer than TOPIK II — good for levels 1–3.
- Korean news and talks for TOPIK II 31–50. These questions use the style of news reports, interviews and lectures. Short news clips with Korean subtitles are good shadowing material.
A 4-week plan
| Week | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1 | Learn the question blocks. One past test, then the daily routine on your weakest block |
| 2 | Daily routine every day. Dictation on numbers, dates and prices (they are in many early questions) |
| 3 | Two timed listening sections a week; daily routine on the recordings you got wrong |
| 4 | Full tests in the real order (for TOPIK II: listening, then writing). Practise reading the options ahead |
If you are taking TOPIK II, listening and writing are in the same session — after 60 minutes of listening you go straight into 50 minutes of writing. See our guides to writing 51–52, 53 and 54. Your level comes from the total score of all sections: see the TOPIK levels and score table.
Practise listening on TOPIKly
TOPIKly has 67,000 practice questions, including listening questions with audio in the TOPIK format. Solve a set and see your estimated level right away: TOPIK I or TOPIK II. If you study with a textbook, the textbook section has unit-by-unit practice for Sejong, Seoul National University, Yonsei, KIIP and the EPS standard textbook, with listening questions for each lesson. AI explanations are part of the Pro plan.
Sources: question order from the official TOPIK past papers on topik.go.kr (checked against the 91st test) · section times and points from NIIED's TOPIK implementation plan and the TOPIK operating rules (IBT). Study routines and tips are our suggestions.