How to prepare for EPS-TOPIK without an academy

EPS-TOPIK is one of the most learnable language tests there is. It has no speaking and no writing, every question is multiple choice, and the vocabulary comes from everyday life and the workplace. With a clear plan and daily practice, you can prepare without paying for an academy.

First, know exactly what the test asks

According to HRD Korea, which runs the test:

• 40 questions: 20 reading and 20 listening.
• 50 minutes: 25 for reading and 25 for listening.
• 100 points: 50 for reading and 50 for listening.
• Relative evaluation: there is no single pass mark. You must score above the lowest score set for your industry, and candidates are then selected in order of merit until that industry’s quota is filled.

That last point matters. Because selection is ranked, every extra question you get right moves you up the list. “Just passing” is not the goal. A higher score is.

Step 1: Learn Hangul properly (week 1–2)

Hangul, the Korean alphabet, has a small set of letters that combine into syllable blocks. Learn the vowels, then the consonants, then how they join. Practise reading short words aloud until you can sound out any syllable without stopping.

Don’t skip this or rely on romanised Korean. Every reading question is in Hangul, and the listening section is easier when you can picture how a word is written.

Step 2: Build basic words and grammar (weeks 3–6)

Start with greetings, people, numbers, time and common verbs. Then learn the grammar endings that appear everywhere:

• 은/는 and 이/가: who or what the sentence is about.
• 을/를: the object of the verb.
• 에 / 에서: places.
• -아요/어요: polite verb endings.
• 안 / 못: saying “don’t” and “can’t”.

You don’t need advanced grammar. EPS-TOPIK mostly tests whether you can recognise these patterns quickly.

Step 3: Learn the vocabulary of your industry

The test is full of workplace words: tools, machines, safety signs, working hours and instructions. Learn the general workplace vocabulary first, then the words for your sector, whether that is manufacturing, construction, agriculture and livestock, or fishery.

Signs, notices and simple charts come up often in the reading section, so practise reading them, not just single words.

Step 4: Listen every single day

Listening is where most self-learners fall behind, because you can learn to read from a book but you can only learn to hear Korean by hearing it. Spend at least 20 minutes a day on Korean audio. Use short dialogues first, then numbers, prices, dates and times. These come up often, and they are easy to miss at speed.

Step 5: Practise every question type

Once you can read Hangul comfortably, practise each type of question the test uses: picture-to-word, grammar, signs and notices, fill in the blank, passage topic, choosing what you heard, choosing the right reply and short dialogues. Learn the pattern of each one, so nothing surprises you on the day.

Step 6: Keep a mistake list

Write down every question you get wrong and why: a word you didn’t know, a grammar ending you misread, or a number you missed. Review the list every few days. Your mistakes show you exactly what to study next, and they are worth more than any new material.

Use the free official materials

HRD Korea publishes the EPS-TOPIK standard textbook and practice materials on its official EPS-TOPIK website, free to download. They are the closest thing to the real test’s vocabulary and style, so make them part of your plan.

Stay safe when you register

Register only through the official notices from the Government of Nepal’s EPS Korea Section. Be careful of agents who promise guaranteed selection or ask for extra money. The EPS process is government-to-government, and no agent can guarantee you a place.

Where Prepyo fits in

Prepyo’s free Learn Korean course takes you from Hangul to workplace vocabulary in short daily lessons, with listening in every unit. EPS-TOPIK practice covers every reading and listening question type with Korean audio, and paid plans add help in English on any question you get stuck on.