The highest-value, most intimidating writing task. The intro–body–conclusion structure, connective expressions, time management, and how essays are graded.
What Is Question 54?
Question 54 in the TOPIK II writing section asks you to write a logical essay of 600–700 characters expressing your view on a social topic. It carries the highest point value in the writing section and is the question that separates advanced-level scores. The prompt usually includes two or three sub-questions, and answering all of them is the baseline requirement.
Write in Three Parts
Introduction — present the topic (about 100–150 characters)
- Explain why the topic matters and the context in which it is discussed.
- e.g. 현대 사회에서 ~은/는 ~에 큰 영향을 미치고 있다. 이에 따라 ~에 대한 관심이 높아지고 있다. (In modern society, … has a major impact on …, and interest in … is growing accordingly.)
Body — two supporting points with examples (about 350–450 characters)
- Organize the body around roughly two supporting points, following the prompt's sub-questions.
- For each point, write one paragraph in the order: claim → reason → example.
- e.g. 첫째, ~기 때문이다. 예를 들어 ~. 둘째, ~. 이처럼 ~. (First, it is because …. For example, …. Second, …. In this way, ….)
Conclusion — summary and opinion (about 100–150 characters)
- Summarize your points and close with your own view.
- e.g. 지금까지 살펴본 바와 같이 ~. 따라서 ~아/어야 할 것이다. (As discussed above, …. Therefore, … should ….)
TIP
As with question 53, you must use the written '-ㄴ다/-는다' style. Spoken style, emoticons, and personal chit-chat all cost points.
Connective Expressions That Hold Your Essay Together
| Function | Expression |
|---|---|
| Contrast / concession | 그러나 (however) / 하지만 / 반면(에) / 물론 ~지만 (of course …, but) |
| Cause / conclusion | 따라서 (therefore) / 그러므로 / 이러한 이유로 / 그 결과 |
| Summarizing | 이처럼 (in this way) / 지금까지 살펴본 바와 같이 / 결론적으로 |
| Adding | 또한 (also) / 뿐만 아니라 (not only that) / 게다가 |
| Giving examples | 예를 들어 (for example) / 실제로 / 대표적인 예로 |
Connectives signal the logical relationships between your sentences and paragraphs to the grader. Rather than repeating one expression, internalize two or three from each row of the table above.
Time Management Tips
The TOPIK II writing section gives you 50 minutes for questions 51 through 54. The core strategy is leaving enough of that time for question 54, where the most points are at stake.
- Finish questions 51 and 52 (sentence completion) quickly and concentrate your time on 53 and 54
- Before writing 54, spend 3–5 minutes outlining: introduction, point 1, point 2, conclusion
- Keep 2–3 minutes at the end to check particles, spelling, and written style
- Stay within 600–700 characters — allocating length at the outline stage makes this much easier
Know the Grading Criteria, See the Strategy
Writing answers are generally understood to be evaluated along four axes: content (task fulfillment), organization (structure and flow), vocabulary, and grammar. Check the official guidance for detailed scoring criteria.
- Content: did you answer every sub-question without drifting off topic?
- Organization: is the intro–body–conclusion structure clear, with natural transitions?
- Vocabulary: did you use varied, accurate intermediate-to-advanced vocabulary?
- Grammar: did you use varied sentence patterns without errors, in written style?
In other words, a complete structure that answers every question beats a brilliant idea. Simply following the template earns a large share of the available points.
Don't Struggle with Question 54 Alone
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For the latest official information, check topik.go.kr. Visit topik.go.kr
