TOPIK Writing Question 54: A Step-by-Step Guide to 50 Points

Overview of Question 54

Question 54 is the final and most important task on the TOPIK II Writing section. It is worth 50 points out of 100 for the entire writing section. You must write an essay of 600–700 characters (including spaces) on a given social or abstract topic.

The prompt always contains three sub-questions that guide your essay. Understanding how to use these sub-questions is the key to a well-organized, high-scoring response.

Step 1: Read the Three Sub-Questions Carefully

The prompt typically provides a short introductory sentence and then three guiding questions. They usually follow this pattern:

Sub-question	Typical focus	Where it goes
1st question	Definition or current situation	서론 (Introduction)
2nd question	Reasons, causes, or advantages	본론 1 (Body 1)
3rd question	Solutions, effects, or your opinion	본론 2 (Body 2)

All three questions must be addressed in your essay. If you skip one, you will lose significant points. Read each question twice and underline the key nouns and verbs before you start writing.

Step 2: Plan Your 4-Paragraph Structure

A clean four-paragraph structure is the safest and most effective approach.

서론 (Introduction) — about 100–120 characters

Introduce the topic and respond to the first sub-question. Keep it concise. State why the topic is relevant or define the key concept.

Useful expressions:

• 현대 사회에서 ~은/는 중요한 문제로 대두되고 있다.
• ~에 대한 관심이 높아지고 있다.
• ~이란 무엇이며 왜 중요한지 살펴볼 필요가 있다.

본론 1 (Body Paragraph 1) — about 180–220 characters

Answer the second sub-question. Provide reasons, causes, or advantages with one or two supporting details.

Useful expressions:

• ~의 원인은 크게 두 가지로 나눌 수 있다.
• 첫째, ~기 때문이다. 둘째, ~기 때문이다.
• 이는 ~와/과 밀접한 관련이 있다.
• ~에는 여러 가지 장점이 있다.

본론 2 (Body Paragraph 2) — about 180–220 characters

Answer the third sub-question. Discuss solutions, effects, or present your balanced opinion.

Useful expressions:

• 이러한 문제를 해결하기 위해서는 ~이/가 필요하다.
• ~을/를 위해 개인과 사회가 함께 노력해야 한다.
• 또한 ~하는 것이 중요하다.
• ~다는 점에서 긍정적(부정적)으로 평가할 수 있다.

결론 (Conclusion) — about 80–100 characters

Summarize your main points and end with a forward-looking statement. Do not introduce new information.

Useful expressions:

• 따라서 ~은/는 매우 중요하다고 할 수 있다.
• 앞으로 ~을/를 위한 노력이 계속되어야 할 것이다.
• 이를 통해 더 나은 사회를 만들 수 있을 것이다.

Character Count Summary

Paragraph	Target characters	Purpose
서론	100–120	Define topic, answer sub-Q 1
본론 1	180–220	Answer sub-Q 2
본론 2	180–220	Answer sub-Q 3
결론	80–100	Summarize and close
Total	600–700

Step 3: Time Management (30–35 Minutes)

You have 50 minutes total for all four writing questions. Questions 51–53 should take about 15–20 minutes combined, leaving you 30–35 minutes for Question 54.

Phase	Time	Task
Planning	5 min	Read prompt, identify sub-questions, jot down key words for each paragraph
Writing	20–25 min	Write all four paragraphs on the answer sheet
Reviewing	3–5 min	Check character count, grammar, spelling, and paragraph flow

Tip: Practice counting characters by hand. On the actual answer sheet, each row has 20 squares, so 30–35 rows equals 600–700 characters. Aim to fill at least 30 rows.

Step 4: Annotated Example

Below is an original example on the topic of 환경 보호 (environmental protection). Imagine the sub-questions are: (1) Why is environmental protection important today? (2) What are the main causes of environmental problems? (3) What efforts are needed to solve these problems?

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[서론] 최근 환경 오염이 심각해지면서 환경 보호의 중요성이 더욱 강조되고 있다. 환경은 인간의 생존과 직접적으로 연결되어 있기 때문에 이를 지키는 것은 매우 중요한 과제이다. → Sets up the topic and answers sub-question 1. About 110 characters.

[본론 1] 환경 문제가 발생하는 원인은 크게 두 가지로 나눌 수 있다. 첫째, 산업화로 인해 공장에서 많은 오염 물질이 배출되고 있다. 둘째, 사람들이 편리함을 추구하면서 일회용품 사용이 급격히 증가하였다. 이러한 요인들이 대기 오염과 수질 오염을 심화시키고 있다. → Answers sub-question 2 with two clear reasons. About 190 characters.

[본론 2] 이러한 문제를 해결하기 위해서는 개인과 사회 모두의 노력이 필요하다. 먼저 개인은 대중교통을 이용하고 일회용품 사용을 줄이는 등 일상에서 작은 실천을 해야 한다. 또한 정부는 환경 관련 법률을 강화하고 친환경 산업을 지원하는 정책을 마련해야 한다. → Answers sub-question 3 with individual and societal solutions. About 200 characters.

[결론] 따라서 환경 보호는 선택이 아니라 필수적인 과제이다. 개인과 사회가 함께 노력한다면 더 깨끗하고 건강한 미래를 만들 수 있을 것이다. → Summarizes and closes with a forward-looking sentence. About 90 characters.

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Notice how each paragraph directly answers one sub-question and the essay stays within the character limit.

Step 5: Final Checklist Before Submitting

Use this checklist during your review phase:

• All three sub-questions answered — no sub-question left out
• 4 clear paragraphs — 서론, 본론 1, 본론 2, 결론
• 600–700 characters — not too short, not over the limit
• Formal written style — use ~ㅂ니다/습니다 or ~다 체 (formal declarative); avoid spoken forms like ~거든요, ~잖아요
• No 1st person (나, 저) — TOPIK essays should sound objective and impersonal
• Connectors used — 첫째/둘째, 또한, 따라서, 그러므로, 이를 통해
• Spelling and spacing — double-check particles (은/는, 이/가, 을/를) and spacing between words
• No empty rows — start each paragraph on a new line but do not leave blank rows on the answer sheet

Key Reminders

• The graders evaluate content, organization, language use, and sociolinguistic appropriateness. A well-structured essay with intermediate grammar often scores higher than a disorganized essay with advanced vocabulary.
• Practice writing by hand with a timer. Most test-takers lose points not because of ability but because of poor time management.
• Always write a short outline before you begin. Five minutes of planning saves you from running out of characters or drifting off topic.

With consistent practice using this method, Question 54 becomes predictable and manageable. Good luck on your TOPIK!