KIIP Level 5 Test

The KIIP Level 5 Test in Daegu was administered at Yeungjin College on April 28, 2018, Saturday (2^nd test for the year). Applicants for both the permanent residency test and nationality test took it at the same time. However, the two groups were placed in separate classrooms. I only applied for the permanent residency test and so did not attend the additional 20 hours of class. A Korean friend told me that I can also attend the additional hours and take the nationality test if I wanted to.

For the KIIP tests, applicants have to be at the test venue (room) before 12:30 PM. By 12:30 PM, the test administrators instructed us to put everything inside our bag (just leave the ARC card or passport on the table), turn-off our mobile phones and place our bags at the front (they laid a mat on the floor). They then distributed the OMR cards, pens (ballpen and markers), writing test answer sheet and the questionnaire. The test started at 1PM.

The test was divided into 3 sections. The written test (objective questions) had 36 multiple questions with a 50-minute time limit (1:00-1:50PM). There were questions about vocabulary, reading comprehension, history and government. I find the Level 5 written test questions easier than the Level 4. It seems there were less reading texts and it was shorter too compared to Level 4. There was not a lot of questions from the Level 5 lessons. After the written test, the test administrators distributed the writing test question and we started the test at 1:55PM. We were only given 10 minutes to finish it. I felt that 10 minutes was not enough to write a 200-character essay. I usually write in pencil but a test administrator saw me and said I should write using a pen. I really prefer writing in pencil because I can easily erase it. The question for this test was about our experience of a Korean Traditional Culture. I wrote about the time I wore a Korean hanbok. There were two additional questions: about how it was different from our hometown and how we felt when we experienced it.

Once the writing test was over, we were given time to go to the bathroom and the speaking test started at 2:15PM. This time I did not have to wait too long compared to the Level 3 and Level 4 speaking test. In both those previous tests, I was always among the last people called. However, unlike Level 4, we were not allowed to get our bags while waiting. We can only grab our bags when it was our turn to go to the waiting area for the speaking test. As usual, there were two applicants at a time and we were given two pieces of paper to hand over to the speaking test administrators. The papers were the score rubric for the speaking test. We were asked to read a passage (silently) and questions related to it were asked. The topic of the passage we read was about the Korean education fever and Suneung. We were also asked questions related to Jeju and a place in our hometown that is similar to Jeju as well as some of the Korean national holidays. Speaking is my weakest Korean skill and I felt that I did not do so well in this part of the exam. I was able to say something when they ask a question however I am not really sure if my answers were correct.

Since I know my Korean speaking ability is not that great, I usually study hard for the written and writing portion of the exam. I usually do not aim for high scores; I just hope to get enough score to pass so I do not have to take the exam again. During my Level 5 class, one of our classmates mentioned that he took the exam before and was asked to sing the Korean National Anthem (he did not pass). I was not able to ask which type of exam he took, but just to be sure I memorized it as well. It was not included during the permanent residency test but I heard from another student who took the nationality test that they were asked to sing the first part of the anthem.