Introduction
If you're preparing for EPS-TOPIK, you've probably had this experience: "I know how to solve the questions, but I just don't have enough time." On the reading section, the longer the passages get, the more time you spend on each item — and as the clock runs down, you start rushing and missing questions you would normally get right. With passing scores typically sitting between 110 and 140 points for the manufacturing and service sectors, even one or two reading questions can be the difference between passing and failing (Source: HRD Korea EPS-TOPIK official announcement).
This article covers how to budget your time, the order in which you should tackle the 25 questions, and when to mark your answers, so that you finish the reading section within the 40-minute limit. The framework applies to both 지필시험 (Jipil Siheom / "Paper-Based Test, PBT") and 컴퓨터 시험 (Keompyuteo Siheom / "Computer-Based Test, CBT"), and is based on HRD Korea's published exam information and the structure of publicly released past papers.
1. Why You Run Out of Time: What 96 Seconds Really Means
40 minutes ÷ 25 questions = 96 seconds per question. That's the simple math. But in a real exam, you also have to subtract:
- Time spent moving between the question booklet and the OMR sheet (or clicking on screen)
- Time spent checking question numbers and turning pages
- Time spent hesitating on harder questions
Once you subtract these, your real working time per question shrinks to about 80 seconds. In other words, if you go in with a vague sense of "I'll spend about a minute and a half on each one," you'll run out of clock before you even see the last 5 or 6 questions.
Accepting this reality is the starting point for every time-management strategy that follows. Treat 96 seconds not as an average, but as a ceiling — and budget different amounts of time for different question types.
2. Time Budget by Question Type: The 3·1·5 Rule
The EPS-TOPIK reading section breaks down into three rough groups of questions (Source: HRD Korea, structure of publicly released past papers).
| Question Group | Approximate Share | Target Time per Question |
|---|---|---|
| A. Short vocabulary & grammar items | ~40% | 30–45 seconds |
| B. Short notices, signs, announcements | ~20% | 45–60 seconds |
| C. Medium and long reading passages | ~40% | 90–120 seconds |
The key is to bank time on Group A so you can spend it on Group C.
Group A questions usually ask about a single word's meaning or one particle/ending. If the answer doesn't jump out at you after looking at all four choices, mark it and move on. For vocabulary items, spending another 20 seconds rarely changes whether you get them right.
Group C questions often require reading the passage twice to find the answer. A faster method is to skim the passage the first time noting key information (who, when, what), then look at the question and re-read only the relevant part.
3. Order of Attack: Don't Just Go Front to Back
Many test-takers solve questions in order from 1 to 25. The problem is that on EPS-TOPIK reading, the harder items are mostly concentrated at the back (the medium and long passages). If you go strictly in order, you'll burn all your time on the difficult passages before you've even finished the easy questions at the front.
Here's a recommended sequence.
Stage 1 (0–12 min): Knock out Group A (vocabulary & grammar) first If the answer doesn't appear right away, mark the question with a △ and move on. Don't get stuck.
Stage 2 (12–22 min): Handle Group B (short notices) Short passages where the answer is anchored in a single sentence. This is your highest-accuracy zone, so work through it calmly.
Stage 3 (22–35 min): Tackle Group C (medium and long passages) Skim the passage once quickly, look at the question, then re-read only the part you need. Don't spend more than 3 minutes on any single passage.
Stage 4 (35–38 min): Return to the △-marked questions from Stage 1 Answers that didn't come to you the first time often become visible after you've worked through other questions.
Stage 5 (38–40 min): Check your marking and fill in any blanks Fill in every blank, no matter what. Blank answers score zero; a guess gives you a 25% chance.
4. When to Mark Your Answers: All at Once, or As You Go?
One of the most common questions from PBT test-takers is, "When should I mark the OMR sheet?" Both approaches have trade-offs.
Method A — Batch marking (mark after every 5 questions)
- Pro: You don't break your reading flow by constantly switching between pencil grips and pages
- Con: If you run out of time on the last 5 questions, you risk not marking them at all
Method B — Mark immediately (one question, mark, next question)
- Pro: Even if time runs short, every question you've solved still counts
- Con: Your eyes move between the booklet and the answer sheet every single time, adding 5–10% to your total time
The recommended hybrid is batch marking for Group A, immediate marking for Group C. The loss from solving Group C questions but failing to mark them is the biggest possible damage, so don't let it happen.
CBT test-takers don't face this problem since they select answers directly on screen — but you should make active use of the bookmark (다시 보기 / Dasi Bogi) feature. Flag any question you hesitated on, move on, and come back to all of them at the end.
5. The Week Before the Exam: The Rule of 3 Mock Runs
In the final week before the test, doing at least three timed mock runs at exactly 40 minutes is more effective than working through new questions.
Record the following after each run:
- Did you stick to the 3·1·5 time budget? (Note your finish time for each stage)
- How many questions did you mark with △, and what percentage did you get right on the second pass?
- Did you fill in every blank within the last 2 minutes?
Time-management skill grows independently of knowledge. After about three rounds, your own pace starts to show up as data you can read.
Wrapping Up
40 minutes and 25 questions on the reading section isn't "a minute and a half per question" — it's "a game of banking time on easy questions and spending it on hard ones." The 3·1·5 time budget, the order-of-attack by question type, and the hybrid marking method — internalizing these three through mock runs is the fastest path to a higher reading score.
For your next practice run, set markers on your watch at the 12-, 22-, and 35-minute points before you start. You'll notice you have more breathing room on the last 5 questions than you usually do.
Practice with SEDA
Reading-section time management is a skill you build by repeatedly solving the same question types until pacing becomes muscle memory. SEDA lets you work through reading-type sets in 5-question units (2–3 minutes each), which is a good format for checking your pace on a specific question type in a short window. When you miss a question because of time, save it to Review Notes — you'll see it again at D+3, D+7, and D+30 intervals, which helps you stop losing time to the same question type repeatedly.
The strategy is perfect. Now, it's time for your instincts to memorize this speed. Shall we give it a try with SEDA?
References
- HRD Korea, "EPS-TOPIK Official Announcement", https://www.hrdkorea.or.kr
- Ministry of Employment and Labor (고용노동부 / Goyong Nodongbu), "Guide to the Employment Permit System for Foreign Workers", https://www.moel.go.kr
- HRD Korea, "EPS-TOPIK Publicly Released Past Papers"