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| TOPIK IBT Review: Test-Taking Experience |
TOPIK IBT Review: Test-taking Experience
The TOPIK IBT (Internet-Based Test) is the latest version of the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK), designed to replace the traditional TOPIK PBT (Paper-Based Test) in the future. Instead of paper and pen, test-takers now use a tablet PC with a keyboard and headphones to complete the exam.
In this review, we share the real experience of TOPIK IBT II test-takers who participated in the pilot test in June 2022 and in the 7th test in June 2025, along with a comparison of TOPIK IBT vs PBT formats, advantages, and drawbacks.
👉 Related guides:
Detailed guide about the TOPIK IBT: TOPIK IBT Complete Guide
1) Entering the TOPIK IBT Test Room
- When entering the exam room, each table is separated by cardboard partitions for privacy.
- A Galaxy Tab tablet with keyboard and headphones is provided.
- Test-takers log in using their ID number, date of birth, and a digital signature directly on the screen (slightly inconvenient due to handwriting on the tablet).
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| TOPIK IBT Test Room (by korea.net) |
2) Preparation Before the Test
- Headphone check: You listen to a pretty melodious piece of music to test the headphone and
adjust the volume properly. (The music almost put me to sleep).
- Keyboard check: You will also test the operation of the keyboard to check whether it works properly. You need to type in 2 lines given.
- Agreement forms: You must tick “agree”
all until the last screen and wait for the exam.
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| TOPIK IBT Test Desk with Tablet PC |
3) TOPIK IBT Timetable & Format
TOPIK IBT Timetable
TOPIK IBT 1 starts at 9:30 and ends at 10:40 in the following order:
- Listening (30 min): 26 questions
- Reading (40 min): 26 questions
- Listening (30 min): 26 questions
- Reading (40 min): 26 questions
TOPIK IBT 2 starts at 13:00 and ends at 15:05 in the following order:
-
Listening (35 min): 30
-
Reading (50 min): 30
-
Writing (40 min): 3
TOPIK IBT Format
TOPIK IBT has fewer questions and shorter test duration than TOPIK PBT.
*About the listening and reading test:
- TOPIK IBT has the similar format as the TOPIK PBT.
- But, in each question type, 1 to 2 questions will be removed.
*About the writing test:
- No more Question #52.
- Long essay (Question #53) requires 400–500 characters (instead of 600–700 in PBT).
- Typed input instead of handwritten in checkered boxes.
4) Differences Between TOPIK IBT and TOPIK PBT
| Level | TOPIK IBT | TOPIK PBT |
|---|---|---|
| TOPIK I | Listening: 26 Q / 30 min Reading: 26 Q / 40 min Total: 52 Q / 70 min | Listening: 30 Q / 40 min Reading: 40 Q / 60 min Total: 70 Q / 100 min |
| TOPIK II | Listening: 30 Q / 35 min Reading: 30 Q / 50 min Writing: 3 Q / 40 min Total: 63 Q / 125 min | Listening: 50 Q / 60 min Writing: 4 Q / 50 min Reading: 50 Q / 70 min Total: 104 Q / 180 min |
5) TOPIK IBT Test-taking Experience: Pros
- In
the LISTENING test: because of wearing headphones, it will reduce a lot of
noise so you can hear the dialogue clearly. To select the answer, you just need to touch the screen. The listening test also comes with 2 new question types: "True/False" and "Choose two correct answers" questions, which require extra attention.
- In
the READING test: choosing the answer directly on the screen is also quite
fast. You can save some time to not mark the answer by pen like in the paper-based
test. And in the reading test, you can have an overview of all questions to see
which questions you have answered. If you haven’t answered a question, you can
choose that question to continue. In the part about the order of sentences, the good thing is that the first sentence is given, then you can move
the remaining sentences into the empty table available below the first
sentence. In addition, although the reading section felt similar to the paper-based test in terms of question types and difficulty, the time pressure felt even more intense. It is recommended to practice speed reading in Korean before taking the test.
- In
the WRITING test: For question #53 and #54, there is no
longer the checkered boxes but just an empty box, so just type in the content.
This is so good. If the content is wrong, it can be deleted immediately and
re-typed. Or if there is any content that you want to add, you can choose to go
to that place and type it in. Unlike the paper-based test, if you want to add
content, you must delete the whole writing. And moreover, there is a word
counter below so you can monitor and control your word count.
- The
general advantage is that the timer counts to second, so it is also quite convenient
at controlling the time.
Pros Summary:
✅ Listening
- Clearer sound due to individual headphones.
- Faster answering: just tap the screen.
- New question types: True/False and Choose Two Answers.
✅ Reading
- Quicker to select answers on screen.
- Easy navigation: see unanswered questions and return to them.
- Sentence ordering task improved (drag-and-drop system).
- Word counter and timer down to the second help with time management.
✅ Writing
- Easy editing: type, delete, and insert text quickly.
- Word counter shows exact length of essay.
- No messy corrections like in handwritten PBT.
6) TOPIK IBT Test-taking Experience: Cons
- In
general, the exam is conducted using a tablet PC (galaxy tab), which is quite small,
so typing is a bit difficult. And you have to look at the screen continuously
for 2 hours, so it can be eye-strained and pressured.
- In
the LISTENING test: when you finish a question, it is considered as complete
without the part for review or wondering like the paper-based test. The answer
also cannot be read in advance like the paper-based test, so it is quite
passive. Everyone should practice speed reading skills to catch up with the
answers. And you can't edit the answer once selecting it.
- In
the READING test: the image of the chart or the content of the reading passage
is quite small, it looks quite confusing, and it is easy to miss information. You
can’t mark or underline like in the paper-based test. The question with 2
answers will not appear on the same page. After completing the first, you move
on to the next one, which looks like a new question.
- In
the WRITING test: because there are no checkered boxes and the screen is small,
it looks quite tiring. The graph is also quite small, so I have to strain my
eyes to see. And be careful if you type it wrong, it's hard to look back. Not
to mention the keyboard is also not responsive. When I did the writing test, I
typed too fast that it took a while to appear on the screen. The left and right
navigation keys can't be used, so when I want to go back, I have to touch the
screen where I need to fix it, but the screen is small, the text is also small,
so when I click it, it jumps to the upper or lower line. And if you are not
familiar with typing Korean, this can take a lot of time. So, better to practice typing Korean at some extent before taking the test.
Cons Summary:
❌ Device Issues
- Tablet screen is small → eye strain after 2+ hours.
- Typing is uncomfortable if you are not used to Korean keyboard input.
- Keyboard may lag when typing fast.
❌ Listening
- No chance to recheck answers after moving forward.
- Can’t preview answer choices like in PBT.
❌ Reading
- Small fonts and charts make passages harder to read.
- No option to underline or mark text.
- Two-answer questions appear on separate screens, making them confusing.
❌ Writing
- Small screen makes editing cumbersome.
- Graphs/charts appear small and hard to read.
- No arrow key navigation; you must tap directly on the text.
7) Final Thoughts on TOPIK IBT
The TOPIK IBT is definitely a faster and more modern test, with fewer questions and easier editing in writing. However, test-takers need to prepare for eye strain, typing challenges, and stricter time pressure compared to the paper-based test.
Recommendation: If you plan to take TOPIK IBT, practice:
- Typing in Korean (speed + accuracy)
- Speed reading Korean passages
- Listening and answering without review
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