Learning Korean is only the first hurdle if you want to take Topik

[SHUTTERSTOCK]

"Signing up for the Test of Korean Proficiency (Topik) feels like trying to get BTS concert tickets," said Marie-Josephine Hatje, a German student from Seoul National University. "If you do not apply on time, you are not going to get a spot."

Hatje's experience registering for Topik is not unusual. Signing up for Topik is one of the more frustrating experiences for international students: From website crashes to reschedules, the process can take days, only to end up with a testing site that takes hours to get to.

Why international students need Topik

For international students, Topik is at the center of their studies in Korea. Universities with a Korean curriculum often require international students to have, maintain, or even improve Topik scores to attend classes or as a graduation pre-requisite. With the score's expiration date of two years, students need to retake the exam at least once during their studies.

For students like Thu Tra Nguyen, a Vietnamese student at Ewha Women's University who last took Topik in August, 2021, being unable to take the exam on time means delaying graduation.

"Taking the test in October was my only chance," said Nguyen. "Taking it later meant that the score would not be out on time, ultimately delaying my graduation."

For students whose universities do not require Topik, a Topik score can still help them when applying for part-time jobs, as they can see their work hour limit raised with their score. Without a Topik level 4 score, sophomores and above are restricted to work only 10 hours per week; with the score, they can see their limit raised, depending on the time of year and their academic year.

After graduation, a Topik score can help students apply for different visas, whether it be work-related or residency.

Despite Topik’s importance, when registering for the exam, applicants experience long virtual waits, crashes and fierce competition against thousands for a spot — making it difficult for international students to take the test.

Website crashes and reschedules

The latest registration period, the Topik 84th edition registration, was from Aug. 2 to Aug. 8. For applicants to secure a spot, they have to register the moment applications open. Otherwise, they risk losing their place to tens of thousands of applicants ahead of them in the site's virtual queue.

Calista Ng, a Singaporean student at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, logged in 15 minutes after the registration opened and saw 20,000 applicants virtually queueing ahead of her.

Thirty minutes after registration opened, the site crashed, notifying applicants of emergency server maintenance and rescheduling registration to 1 p.m. the same day. Despite server maintenance, when applicants logged back in, they experienced the same difficulties with the site.

"After my queue number reached zero, instead of being allowed to progress to the next stage of registration, I got thrown back into the waiting room, with 20,000 people in front again,” said Ng. “This process repeated itself twice before I was finally allowed into the next step at about 3 p.m."

By the time Ng reached the testing site selection page, testing centers in Seoul were filled, and she had to sign up for a center in Daejeon.

Hanh Do, a recent Vietnamese Yonsei University graduate, tried registering for the Topik 84th edition to aid in her search for a job. But, much like Ng, she encountered issues when registering.

"I was kicked off the site so many times trying to sign up," said Do. “When I finally managed to start registering, the site was not working properly as the list of registration centers did not load. I waited more than an hour for nothing."

When registering, applicants have to click on the test date, choose a test site, enter some basic information, upload a photo and finally pay a fee. Each step requires a new page to load. In between the unstable website and the long waits between loads, applicants can lose their place while entering their information.

"It is ridiculous how people can take your spot while inputting your information. It just feels like you never really had a chance," said Hatje. "It has happened to me multiple times for spots to complete while I was inputting the information."

Ultimately, both Ng and Do plan to commute to Daejeon on the day of their exam, a two-hour roundtrip via KTX from Seoul, and almost 40,000 won in fees.

"It is like I am paying for the test twice," said Ng.

Echoes from the past

The Topik website's almost systematic crashes and reschedules are nothing new — for the past few years, applicants have had the same experience when registering for the exam.

Nguyen, who registered for the 78th edition of the exam last August, also experienced difficulties with the website.

"It took me almost a week to finally get a spot," said Nguyen. "On the first day, the waiting queue said it could take up to five hours until eventually, the site crashed. After, they sent a notice that the system was down and they rescheduled the registration process a few days later."

To ease the registration site's traffic, the registration period is divided by region. As such, registration is extended over multiple days and students can choose to sign in less coveted regions, but it also extends the registration process.

Eventually, Nguyen secured a spot in a testing center in Incheon, more than an hour away from her home in Seoul.

Hatje registered in 2020, when participation was lower, and still encountered similar issues.

"The whole registration process is very stressful," Hatje said. "I tried to sign up multiple times but could only register to sites that were hours away from where I live. I ended up canceling because it was too far."

Need for more dates

The consensus is the six-times-per-year Topik schedule is insufficient.

Last year, there were over 138,000 applicants for Topik I and Topik II, averaging over 23,000 applicants each round.

Despite students' need to take the test, the exam is only offered six times a year in Korea with 13 testing centers scattered throughout Seoul.

"Topik should be offered by universities for students, at least twice a semester," said Hatje. "If they allow international students to take the exam in their universities, then it would make it easier for both students and non-students to sign up."

"With other language tests, it is almost impossible not to get a seat, which is not the case with Topik," said Nguyen.

Currently, iTopik, an electronic version of the paper-based exam, is being developed and tested. Students with previous Topik scores can sign up for the beta test for training; however, they will not receive official scores. The test is scheduled to be released in the latter part of 2023.

The next registration dates for Topik are scheduled from Sept. 6 to Sept. 13.

"No one is taking this test for fun, we all need it for one thing or another," said Hatje, "but you have to battle people even to take the test in the first place."

BY LAURA SENIOR PRIMO [lauraseniorp@gmail.com]