TOPIK Writing Section: Expressions and Connectives

This lesson organizes the formal expressions and connectives that raise your score on TOPIK II writing tasks 53 (describing data) and 54 (essay). Written style and logical linking are the keys.

1. Written-Style Endings

In writing, use the plain '-(느)ㄴ다/이다' style rather than the polite spoken '-아요/어요', e.g. 증가한다 (increases), 중요하다 (is important), 필요하다 (is necessary).

조사 결과에 따르면 청년 실업률이 꾸준히 증가한 것으로 나타났다.

josa gyeolgwa-e ttareumyeon cheongnyeon sireomnyul-i kkujunhi jeunggahan geos-euro natanatda.

According to the survey, youth unemployment was shown to have risen steadily.

2. Describing Data (Task 53)

It helps to master expressions for increase and decrease: 증가하다 (increase), 감소하다 (decrease), 두 배로 늘다 (double), 절반으로 줄다 (halve), -에서 -(으)로 변하다 (change from ... to ...).

전체 응답자의 절반 이상이 이 의견에 동의한 것으로 조사됐다.

jeonche eungdapja-ui jeolban isang-i i uigyeon-e donguihan geos-euro josadwaetda.

More than half of all respondents were found to agree with this view.

이러한 변화의 원인으로는 크게 두 가지를 들 수 있다.

ireohan byeonhwa-ui wonin-euro-neun keuge du gaji-reul deul su itda.

Two main causes can be cited for this change.

3. Logical Connectives (Task 54)

Placing connectives well to link paragraphs logically raises your cohesion score.

Function	Connective	English
addition	또한, 게다가, 더불어	moreover, in addition
contrast	반면에, 그러나, 이에 반해	on the other hand, however
cause and effect	따라서, 그러므로, 그 결과	therefore, as a result
example	예를 들어, 가령	for example
conclusion	요컨대, 결론적으로	in short, in conclusion
transition	한편, 그런데	meanwhile, by the way
restatement	즉, 다시 말해	that is, in other words

따라서 정부는 청년 일자리 창출을 위한 정책을 적극적으로 추진해야 할 것이다.

ttaraseo jeongbu-neun cheongnyeon iljari changchul-eul wihan jeongchaek-eul jeokgeukjeok-euro chujinhaeya hal geos-ida.

Therefore, the government will need to actively pursue policies to create jobs for young people.

이에 반해 농촌 지역의 인구는 지속적으로 감소하고 있다.

i-e banhae nongchon jiyeok-ui ingu-neun jisokjeok-euro gamsohago itda.

In contrast, the population of rural areas is continuously decreasing.

4. Stating Your Own View (Task 54)

An essay needs formal expressions that clearly assert your claim: -아/어야 한다 (must), -(으)ㄹ 필요가 있다 (there is a need to), -(ㄴ/는)다고 본다 (I take the view that), -(ㄴ/는)다는 점에서 중요하다 (is important in that ...).

이러한 점에서 지속 가능한 발전을 추구할 필요가 있다.

ireohan jeom-eseo jisok ganeunghan baljeon-eul chuguhal piryo-ga itda.

In this respect, there is a need to pursue sustainable development.

💡 Tip: For Task 54, keep the structure of introduction (raising the issue), body (causes and solutions), and conclusion (summary and proposals), and place a connective in the first sentence of each paragraph to make the flow clear. A length of 600 to 700 characters and a consistent written style are the foundations of a high score.

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