Korean Placement Test

This exam is now on line.

For more information on the registration process, please read below.

What is the purpose of the Korean Placement Test?

The purpose of the Korean Placement Test is to assess your preparation for course work in Korean at UCI. Students will be placed into one of the following courses: Korean 1A, 1B, 1C, 2A, 2B, or 2C.

This test is the same test that is used to satisfy the Language Other Than English (Category VI) breadth requirement. Satisfaction of the breadth requirement may be attained with a sufficient score on this placement test and a satisfactory performance in the oral interview. The Korean Placement Test may not be repeated.

Who needs to take courses in Korean?

Successful completion through Korean 2C (or the equivalent) satisfies the foreign language requirement in the School of Humanities. Completion of Korean course work through the 1C level satisfies UCI's Language Other Than English (Category VI) breadth requirement.

How can I enroll in a Korean course?

You must complete the following steps to enroll in a Korean course at UCI:

1. Take the Korean Placement Test.

2. Complete a Student Language Background Survey (SLBS) and meet with a Korean faculty for an oral interview to receive your authorization code for the course. Times and locations are indicated in the Schedule of Classes under Korean in the School of Humanities. Note: You will not be able to enroll in a Korean course without an authorization code. Check below for interview updates.

This test will be available on-line beginning September 14th, 2009.

For Fall quarter, the interview date is November 20th. The interview times are between 10am and 12pm. No appointment is required during this period. Be sure to bring your placement letter and picture ID to HIB 448 for the oral interview.

For more information on the registration process, please click here.

Who is exempt?

You are exempt form this test if you answer "NO" to all the following questions. However, you still must go to the Testing Center, 3040 Anteater Instruction and Research Building, to fill out a form to be exempt from the placement test. Then you can enroll in the 1A class.

Background Questions:

1. Does anyone in your family speak any Korean?

2. Have you taken any Korean classes at schools or been tutored?

3. Have you lived in Korean more than one year?

4. Can you read or write Korean?

What should I study before the examination?

Each course series assumes that students know the content covered in previous levels, so you need to review the textbooks for previous levels. You should have an active vocabulary and some knowledge of grammar that enables you to perform the following tasks: exchange common greetings; tell time; talk about the weather, family and studies; talk about your likes, dislikes, and interests; inquire about a price; make choices; make a suggestion or give advice; make a comparison; inquire about locations and give directions; state your opinion and make comments; and handle reasonably complicated survival situations.

For this test you should know the following fundamentals of Korean grammar:

• Two different speech styles: formal and informal

• Three different forms of speeches: honorific, polite, impolite

• Four sentence types: descriptive, interrogative, imperative, and propositive (positive and negative)

• Tenses: present, past, and future

• Conjuncts: clausal and sentential

How can I prepare for the examination?

The Testing Center has a small reference library to help you with your test preparation. Click here to learn about the check-out and return policies and procedures.

Review Materials:

1. Korean 1, Language Education Institute, Seoul National University, Moonjin Media, 2005.

How long is the test?

You will have one hour to answer 60 multiple-choice questions.

Sample items:

Click here for sample items. ...................................................

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