I’ve created a simple 30-day plan that works. Follow this, and you’ll be ready for the test.

TOPIK test can feel intimidating. It's the same for beginners and for people who have taken it before. Beginners have a harder time as they are not used to the test structure. But TOPIK 1 is not that hard to pass if you know how to prepare for it. My name is Anna, and I have TOPIK level 6. I am not a native speaker, but I've passed the test several times. Now I help others prepare for the TOPIK test and achieve their dream to study in Korea.

I’ve created a simple 30-day plan that has helped a lot of beginners pass TOPIK 1. This plan comes from years of studying past TOPIK papers, my own test experience, and what we've learned from out students. Let's get into it.

Week 1: Foundation (Days 1-7)

We need to build the basics first. Without this everything else becomes harder and messier.

⏳ Day 1-2: Learn Hangeul

A lot of beginners delay learning hangul. They use romanization instead because they think Hangul is difficult.

Your task:

• Master all 40 letters
• Practice reading simple words
• Write out letters by hand
  Goal: Read basic Korean words without using romanization

⏳ Day 3-4: Basic Vocabulary

You need a minimum word bank before you can understand anything. This will also help you gain some initial confidence.

Your task:

•  Learn 50 essential beginner words
•  Practice with flashcards (you can use our Korean flashcards tool. It's completely free, created specifically for Korean learners)
  Goal: Know 50 useful everyday words

⏳ Day 5-7: Basic Grammar

This is where everything starts coming together. You are moving from knowing words to creating simple sentences on your own.

Your task:

•  Learn simple sentence structure
• Study basic particles (은/는, 이/가)
  Goal: Make simple sentences using the words you've learned so far.

Week 2: Building Skills (Days 8-14)

In week two you start expanding what you already know and start using it.

⏳ Day 8-10: More Vocabulary

The more words you know the better. Focus on words that you use on a daily basis.

Your task:

•  Learn 100 new words
• Focus on daily life words (school, home, food, routines)
  Goal: Know 150 words total

⏳ Day 11-12: Grammar Practice

Start forming real, more practical Korean sentences.

Your task:

• Study verb conjugation (Use our free teacher-curated tool for verb conjugation here)
• Practice using verbs in short sentences.
  Goal: Conjugate basic verbs (Use this free conjugator tool to correct yourself)

⏳ Day 13-14: Reading Practice

TOPIK reading becomes easier if you train your eyes early on. Start reading now. Start small, find easier texts to read. This will boost your confidence and motivate to keep reading.

Your task:

•  Read short beginner Korean texts
•   Practice understanding short sentences
  Goal: Understand basic Korean writing

Week 3: Practice (Days 15-21)

Now you start training for the real test.

⏳ Day 15-17: Listening Practice

TOPIK listening has predictable patterns. You'll start noticing them after listening to the audio a few times. Make sure to incorporate Korean listening in your daily life. Watch Korean dramas, TV shows. Make sure the content you watch is not too advanced. Choose those that cover daily topics (school, daily life, work, etc.)

Your task:

• Listen to slow Korean
• Practice with TOPIK listening samples
  Goal: Understand slow Korean speech

⏳ Day 18-19: More Grammar

TOPIK 1 has easier grammar forms. Some of them are used a lot more than others. Make sure to learn most common ones well.

Your task:

• Study past and future tense
• Learn question forms
  Goal: Use different tenses

⏳ Day 20-21: Vocabulary Review

Don't let your words fade. Repetition is the key to making new words yours.

Your task:

• Review all words you learned
• Practice with flashcards
  Goal: Remember 200+ words

Week 4: Test Preparation (Days 22-30)

This is where you polish everything you learned so far and prepare mentally.

⏳ Day 22-24: Practice Tests

Our brains don't take novelty well. So, you need to get your brain used to the test environment. Start simulating test conditions. This will help you lower your stress and concentrate better during the test. We've created a free tool for studying real sentences from previous TOPIK tests. Use this to see how vocabulary and grammar was used in previous tests.

Your task:

• Take full practice tests
• Time yourself
  Goal: Finish within the real test time (listening: 40 minutes, reading: 60 minutes)

⏳ Day 25-26: Weak Areas

This part is very important. Small improvements will make a big difference. Knowing what you don't know helps you fill in the gaps faster.

Your task:

• Review the mistakes you repeat
• Re-study grammar and vocabulary you forgot (flashcards will help with this)
  Goal: Strengthen weak areas

⏳ Day 27-28: Final Review

Keep it light but effective. No need to overwhelm yourself before the exam.

Your task:

• Review everything
• Practice vocabulary
• Practice basic grammar
  Goal: Feel confident with everything you've studied

⏳ Day 29-30: Rest and Prepare

Your brain needs rest before the test.

Your task:

•  Light review only
• Get good sleep
• Prepare your test-day items beforehand
  Goal: Be ready for test day, show up fresh and calm

 Final Advice

You don’t have to finish this in exactly a month. If you have more time to prepare, take it. What matters most is consistency. Show up every day, even if you only study for 30 minutes. Stick to this plan, and you'll increase your chances of passing TOPIK 1. Good luck!