Running mock exams at your language institute: a practical checklist

Mock exams are the closest thing students get to the real test, but only if they are run well. This checklist is for Korean (EPS-TOPIK) and Japanese (JFT-Basic) institutes that want their mock tests to raise pass rates, not just fill a timetable.

Before the exam

• Match the real format. Same sections, same number of questions, same time limit. A mock that is easier or shorter than the real test gives students false confidence.
• Set a regular schedule. A full mock every week or two, with shorter section tests in between, works better than one big test before the exam.
• Prepare listening properly. Every student should hear the audio clearly. On a computer or phone with headphones is closer to the real thing than a speaker at the front of the room.

During the exam

• Use real conditions. One clock, no notes, no talking. For JFT-Basic, keep listening in order, as the real test does.
• Use fresh papers. If students keep seeing the same questions, scores rise without real progress. Rotate papers or generate new sets from a question bank.

After the exam

• Give results the same day. Feedback is most useful while students still remember the questions.
• Review wrong answers together. Go through the questions most of the batch got wrong; they show what to teach next.
• Track sections, not just totals. A student with a good total but weak listening needs different help from one with weak reading.
• Keep a record over time. A score history for each student shows who is ready to apply and who needs another month.

Doing it without the paperwork

Running this by hand means printing papers, marking answer sheets and keeping results in notebooks or spreadsheets. UBTApp handles that for you: students take Korean and Japanese mock exams on your own branded site or the app, scores are calculated instantly, and every result is kept in one dashboard. Book a demo to see it with your institute's branding.