TOPIK II Writing Expressions
Learn the essential connective expressions and essay structure patterns used in TOPIK II writing tasks.
The TOPIK II writing section is where most candidates lose points, and improvement requires structured practice rather than just more reading. The exam has four writing tasks: two short-answer items (about 50 words each), a 200–300 word descriptive piece, and a 600–700 word essay on a given prompt. The essay is the highest-stakes single task on the entire exam.
Key connective expressions for essays: 우선 (first), 또한 (additionally), 한편 (on the other hand), 그러나 (however, formal), 따라서 (therefore), 결과적으로 (as a result), 결론적으로 (in conclusion). The essay rewards clear three-part structure (introduction, body with three points, conclusion) more than sophisticated vocabulary or grammar. Practice template paragraphs for each structural section until you can produce them quickly under time pressure. Native-quality grammar matters less than clear logic — graders pass essays with minor errors but penalise vague or disorganised arguments.
서론 표현 (Introduction expressions)
TOPIK II essays follow 서론(intro) → 본론(body) → 결론(conclusion). Key intro phrases: '최근 ~에 대한 관심이 높아지고 있다' (Recently, interest in ~ is increasing) / '~은/는 현대 사회에서 중요한 문제로 떠오르고 있다' (~is emerging as an important issue in modern society)
결론 표현 (Conclusion expressions)
Key conclusion phrases: '따라서 우리는 ~해야 한다' (Therefore, we must ~) / '이러한 문제를 해결하기 위해서는 ~ 것이 필요하다' (To solve such problems, it is necessary to ~) / '앞으로 ~는 것이 중요하다' (Going forward, it is important to ~)
How It Works
TOPIK II writing is scored on structure as heavily as on content, and the expected structure is explicit: 서론 (introduction), 본론 (body), 결론 (conclusion). Graders look for that skeleton to be visible, which means signposting is not optional decoration.
The register is 한다체 or 습니다체, consistently applied. Writing the essay in 해요체 loses marks regardless of content quality, and mixing registers within one essay is penalised. This is the single most avoidable error in the section.
Introduction formulas establish the topic and its relevance: 최근 ~에 대한 관심이 높아지고 있다, ~은/는 현대 사회에서 중요한 문제로 떠오르고 있다. These are conventional rather than creative, and using them signals familiarity with the form.
Conclusion formulas restate and prescribe: 따라서 우리는 ~해야 한다, 이러한 문제를 해결하기 위해서는 ~것이 필요하다.
Body paragraphs need explicit connectors, and variety is scored. Learners who use 그리고 for every transition lose marks that 또한, 반면, 따라서, 그러나 and 한편 would have secured. Each has a specific logical function — addition, contrast, consequence — and using them accurately also makes the argument easier to follow.
The task also specifies a word count, and falling short is penalised directly.
Where You'll Hear It
The writing section carries substantial weight in the TOPIK II total, and it is where candidates most often lose the marks that separate level 4 from level 5.
The essay topics are drawn from the same social domains as the reading passages — education, environment, technology, work-life balance, ageing — so vocabulary preparation for reading transfers directly.
Because the structure is conventional and the topics are predictable, the section rewards preparation more than the reading section does. A candidate who has internalised the skeleton and a bank of connectors can produce a competent essay on an unfamiliar topic.
Handwriting matters in practical terms, since the test is written by hand and illegible answers cannot be credited. For learners who normally type Korean, writing by hand at speed is a distinct skill worth practising.
The shorter tasks that precede the essay — completing sentences and writing a short descriptive passage — are often underprepared because candidates focus on the essay. They are comparatively easy marks and deserve their own practice.
One honest note: a well-structured essay with modest vocabulary generally scores better than a vocabulary-rich essay with no visible structure.
Cultural & Language Note
TOPIK II writing is scored on structure as much as content, and graders expect a visible 서론-본론-결론 skeleton with explicit connectives marking each transition. Korean academic writing values signposting more than English does, so phrases like 따라서 and 이에 따라 are not filler — they are the structural markers the rubric looks for.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Writing in 해요체 costs points — the task requires the plain written style (한다체) or 습니다체 consistently. Learners also overuse 그리고 as their only connector; the rubric rewards variety, so rotate through 또한, 반면, 따라서 rather than repeating one link word throughout.
How to Practice This Lesson
Memorise the skeleton before you write anything. Introduction formula, three body paragraphs with connectors, conclusion formula. Having the frame means you spend your thinking on content rather than on structure under time pressure.
Build a connector bank and use it deliberately. Write out 또한, 반면, 따라서, 그러나, 한편 with the logical function of each, and force yourself to use at least three different ones in every practice essay.
Write by hand, timed, on paper. Practising on a keyboard does not prepare you for the physical constraint, and candidates regularly run out of time because handwriting Korean at speed is slower than they expected.
Fix your register first. Choose 한다체 or 습니다체 and check every practice essay for consistency before looking at anything else. This is free marks.
Practise on past topics rather than invented ones, since the phrasing and scope of real prompts is distinctive.
Finally, get at least a few essays marked by someone competent. Self-assessment catches register and structure errors but rarely catches unnatural phrasing, which is exactly what separates the higher bands.