TOPIK Results - How did you do?

[Iamhappy]

I got my results yesterday in the post. (I believe they will be on the website Monday.)

How did everyone do? Happy with your results?

I got a level 3. I wasn't too disappointed with it - with a bit more work this time I should push it up to a 4 hopefully. I actually averaged a 4 if it wasn't for the writing which I got a 47 on. Guess I know where I need to improve! Writing does always seem the most difficult element.

[bb]

Congrats.

 I took the TOPIK last year and was happy with my score but I hate the system they have: Levels 1+ 2, 3+4, and 5+6 are grouped together; a score of 50%-69% is a 1,3, or 5;  a score of 70-100 is a 2,4, or 6.

 I passed level  5 and was totally stoked_ but when you write on your resume 'I scored 207 out of 400!' it just doesn't look terribly impressive. Sort of like_ I failed 25% less than  the guy who guessed every question.

 This system bug anyone else?

[steveperry]

Congrats.

 I took the TOPIK last year and was happy with my score but I hate the system they have: Levels 1+ 2, 3+4, and 5+6 are grouped together; a score of 50%-69% is a 1,3, or 5;  a score of 70-100 is a 2,4, or 6.

 I passed level  5 and was totally stoked_ but when you write on your resume 'I scored 207 out of 400!' it just doesn't look terribly impressive. Sort of like_ I failed 25% less than  the guy who guessed every question.

 This system bug anyone else?

It's certainly a unique format. In my experience, I passed level 3 the first time I took the test. I then took the intermediate test again another 3 or 4 times after that and could never pass level 4. I always came up a few points short, getting level 3 results each time. The next time I decided to do both the intermediate and advanced tests on the same day. I passed level 5 the first time I took it with exactly 200 points (one more question missed in any section would have been a fail). So I don't know exactly what this all means. Perhaps I just got lucky/unlucky with certain questions. Or maybe there is a case to be made that level 5 is actually easier than level 4 due to the format of the test. I don't know.

As for 207 out of 400 looking bad on a resume, I just write "TOPIK level 5". Why include the score? I would give it if someone asked for it, but so far no one has. There does seem to be a general lack of knowledge about the test though. One person who I interviewed with seemed to be under the impression that level 1 was the highest level, thus making my level 5 not so impressive. Since then I've started writing "TOPIK level 5 (advanced)" or "TOPIK 고급". It's hard to blame them too much though. I can't imagine the average American or Canadian has any idea what a TOEIC or TOEFL score means.

[kimjoohui]

I only took the 초급 test. To prepare, I only took one practice test and easily scored a level 2, so aside from attending my Korean language classes, I didn't do anything else to prepare. On the actual test day though, I started worrying a bit as the test seemed much harder than the practice test. At the end, I was convinced I was only going to get a level 1, especially since I panicked on the essay portion trying to come up with a concluding sentence in the last 30 seconds and ended up writing: 여러분이 미국에서 살아 봐요. However, luckily I managed to get a level 2! Wah-hoo! :) Now I'm just contemplating if I should take the 중급 test this July.

[Jumpman Jr.]

I didn't write the last test... but I've been studying really hard for the next one.
I've also thought that the scoring system seems a little bit weird. I haven't even glanced at the 고급 tests, but I have the feeling that it would be easier to pull off a level 5 than it would be to get a level 4.

I do an old test on my own once a week, and my scores are improving week by week. Last one I did on my own I got a 78% or something like that (minus the essay, but my girlfriend always corrects that for me).