TOPIK I Listening Practice with Audio
Five original beginner listening exercises with audio, transcripts, translations, and answer explanations.
How to use these exercises
- Listen once to understand the situation, then listen again for the time, place, number, and final action.
- Choose one answer and check your answer before opening the transcript.
- Review the translation, the reason for each option, and the key expressions, then play the audio once more.
Listening exercises
Exercise 1 of 5
Place and destination
Objective: Identify where the speaker must actually go, not what they are unable to do.
Situation: A speaker explains an afternoon schedule.
Listen to the recording
Play the audio when you are ready. It will not start automatically.
Transcript and translation
Korean transcript
오늘 오후에는 친구를 만나지 못해요. 병원에 예약이 있어서 세 시까지 병원에 가야 해요.
English translation
I cannot meet my friend this afternoon. I have a hospital appointment, so I have to go to the hospital by three o’clock.
Answer explanation
Why this is the answer
The first sentence says the speaker cannot meet a friend. “병원에 예약이 있어서” gives the reason, and “병원에 가야 해요” states the actual destination.
Why each option is right or wrong
- The school (Not correct)School is not mentioned in the recording.
- The bank (Not correct)The speaker does not mention a bank or a banking task.
- The hospital (Correct)The speaker has an appointment and says they must go to the hospital.
- The library (Not correct)The library is not part of the afternoon schedule.
Key expressions
- 예약이 있어요
- to have an appointment or reservation
- -아/어야 해요
- to have to do something
Exercise 2 of 5
Time and schedule change
Objective: Listen for the correct class time after the speaker says the first time is wrong.
Situation: A teacher announces the time for tomorrow’s class.
Listen to the recording
Play the audio when you are ready. It will not start automatically.
Transcript and translation
Korean transcript
내일 한국어 수업은 아홉 시가 아니라 열 시 반에 시작합니다. 늦지 않게 교실로 오세요.
English translation
Tomorrow’s Korean class starts at 10:30, not at 9:00. Please come to the classroom on time.
Answer explanation
Why this is the answer
The phrase “아홉 시가 아니라 열 시 반” corrects the first time mentioned. The class therefore starts at 10:30.
Why each option is right or wrong
- 9:00 (Not correct)The speaker says the class does not start at nine o’clock.
- 9:30 (Not correct)The recording does not say nine thirty.
- 10:00 (Not correct)“열 시 반” means 10:30, not 10:00.
- 10:30 (Correct)“열 시 반” means 10:30, the correct class start time.
Key expressions
- A가 아니라 B
- not A, but B
- 열 시 반
- 10:30
Exercise 3 of 5
Price and quantity
Objective: Combine the price of one item with the quantity the speaker will buy.
Situation: A shopper talks about the price of apples.
Listen to the recording
Play the audio when you are ready. It will not start automatically.
Transcript and translation
Korean transcript
사과는 한 개에 천 원입니다. 저는 사과 세 개를 살 거예요.
English translation
Apples are 1,000 won each. I am going to buy three apples.
Answer explanation
Why this is the answer
“한 개에 천 원” gives the price of one apple. “세 개” means three apples, so the total is 3,000 won.
Why each option is right or wrong
- 3,000 won (Correct)Each apple costs 1,000 won, and the speaker will buy three apples.
- 1,000 won (Not correct)This is the price of one apple, but the speaker will buy three.
- 2,000 won (Not correct)The speaker does not buy two apples.
- 4,000 won (Not correct)The unit price and quantity do not produce a total of 4,000 won.
Key expressions
- 한 개에 천 원
- 1,000 won for each one
- 세 개
- three items using the counter 개
Exercise 4 of 5
Bus directions
Objective: Notice the instruction not to take the current bus, then identify the correct bus number.
Situation: Someone gives directions to city hall.
Listen to the recording
Play the audio when you are ready. It will not start automatically.
Transcript and translation
Korean transcript
시청에 가려면 이 버스를 타지 마세요. 길 건너편 정류장에서 오 번 버스를 타야 합니다.
English translation
If you want to go to city hall, do not take this bus. You have to take bus number 5 at the stop across the street.
Answer explanation
Why this is the answer
The phrase “이 버스를 타지 마세요” means not to take this bus. The correct instruction is to take bus number 5 from the stop across the street.
Why each option is right or wrong
- Bus 2 (Not correct)Bus 2 is not mentioned in the recording.
- Bus 5 (Correct)The speaker clearly says to take bus number 5.
- Bus 3 (Not correct)Bus 3 is not mentioned in the recording.
- Bus 8 (Not correct)“오 번” means number 5, not number 8.
Key expressions
- -(으)려면
- if you want or intend to do something
- 길 건너편
- across the street
Exercise 5 of 5
Weather and plan change
Objective: Connect the weather forecast with the speaker’s changed plan.
Situation: A speaker changes an afternoon plan because of rain.
Listen to the recording
Play the audio when you are ready. It will not start automatically.
Transcript and translation
Korean transcript
오늘 오후부터 비가 많이 올 거예요. 그래서 공원에 가지 않고 집에서 책을 읽으려고 해요.
English translation
It is going to rain heavily starting this afternoon. So I am not going to the park; I plan to read a book at home.
Answer explanation
Why this is the answer
“그래서” connects the rain forecast to the changed plan. The speaker says they will not go to the park and will read at home instead.
Why each option is right or wrong
- Take a walk in the park (Not correct)The speaker specifically says they will not go to the park.
- Exercise outside (Not correct)Outdoor exercise is not mentioned, and heavy rain is expected.
- Read a book at home (Correct)The speaker says they plan to read a book at home.
- Meet a friend (Not correct)No friend or meeting is mentioned in the recording.
Key expressions
- -지 않고
- without doing; instead of doing
- -(으)려고 해요
- to plan or intend to do something
Pair listening with sentence building
After listening, rebuild a Korean sentence from word tiles. This connects the sound you heard with meaning and word order.
Try sample sentence-building questions (English only)