The TOPIK registration is usually opened two months before the test is held. This is a tricky point, you have to prepare some time to check the announcement on the UGM website (go to this link), like every day, to know when the registration is going to be held. So, to sum up, the timeline is basically like this:
- ~2-3 months before the test: Test availability announcement (announces when the registration is opened, only a month clue)
- ~2 months before the test: Early registration announcement (announces a specific date of the registration)
- ~2 months before the test: Final registration announcement (announces the link for the registration)
- ~The day of the test: Doing the TOPIK test
- ~1 month after the test: Result announcement
Disclaimer: Based on the UGM timeline on 84th TOPIK, it could be different for the other places--like UPI or JIKS could have a different timeline (but the same the day of the test and test result announcement).
Yes, the TOPIK timeline is quite long but it is understandable because it gives time for the participants to learn or review the test again before the day. Anyway, the final registration announcement for the 84th TOPIK on UGM is announced on August 1st, 2022 but the registration is opened on August 2nd. I was preparing my body and soul. I remember that the registration opened at 9am, I was doing my work back then but I kept refreshing the page lmao. After a rough and quick battle, I finally got announced that I got my TOPIK I slot. I was so happy like flying on the 9th cloud. Here's the email I got from TOPIK UGM.
After getting the announcement that I got the slot, I was required to fill out the registration form and made a payment. The form is easy to be filled--I don't know if I could attach the file publicly or not, so I don't upload it just in case. My examinee card is sent nearly the D-Day of the TOPIK test. Just remember to print the card out right away if you don't want to make it yourself confused to find a printing store early in the morning (like I did). TOPIK UGM also sent me some information related to the TOPIK test like the location, rules, and FAQ.
D-Day is coming!!! I finally arrived in Yogyakarta using travel (it cost me 80K from Semarang) after 3 hours of trip). Just to make it clear, the test is held on Sunday, and I went to Yogyakarta on Saturday so I had a lot of spare time before the D-Day test. I used my time to travel around the city, try some recommended foods (some of them let me down btw), and walk around UGM. I spent my night in a regular boarding house (it was terrible).
The D-Day test is so busy. I had breakfast on Indomaret Fresh (it was beef bulgogi and tasted good) and went to FIB UGM right away. I and the other examinee entered our room test at 7am and we had two instructors in our room. They are so kind and funny, I felt like they made my nerves calmed down a little bit. As time passed, we had a test to hear the CD for the listening test, and after that, the question and answer sheets are shared. We also got a pen (we can have this pen) and correction tape (which should be left on the table). Remember to bring your identity card (KTP/SIM) and put it on the table.
The first section of the test was the listening section. For the earlier questions, I could answer without any problems but when it came to higher numbers, I had difficulties listening to the conversation but I tried as hard as I could to answer the question. The second section was the reading test. I also didn't have any difficulties answering the questions, the problem was that I didn't watch my time. I had like 10 questions left when I only had 5 minutes remaining. Thus I read the questions really quickly and didn't have time to recheck my answer. Honestly, I feel like I could do better if I didn't spend too much time answering at the beginning. But it is what it is, I'm still satisfied with the result even though it didn't the best effort that I can do! So, I think it can be a lesson for you guys to also think about time management when doing any tests.
