TOPIK II Writing Questions 51-52: Fill-in-the-Blank Guide

Overview of Questions 51 and 52

Questions 51 and 52 appear at the beginning of the TOPIK II Writing section (쓰기). Each question is worth 10 points, and both ask you to fill in two blanks within a short text. Although they look similar at first glance, they differ in text type and speech level.

• Question 51: A practical, everyday text — a notice (안내문), invitation, text message, or email.
• Question 52: An explanatory or argumentative paragraph on a general topic — closer to what you might read in a textbook or newspaper column.

Because each question has two blanks, each blank is worth up to 5 points.

How Partial Points Work

You do not need a perfect sentence to earn points. NIIED does not publish a detailed rubric for each blank, but teachers generally describe the scoring of each blank (up to 5 points) like this:

Points	Criteria
5	Content is accurate, grammar is correct, speech level matches the text.
3-4	The meaning is mostly correct but there is a minor grammar or spelling error.
1-2	The general direction is right, but there are significant grammar mistakes or the speech level is wrong.
0	The blank is left empty, the answer is completely unrelated, or it is incomprehensible.

Key takeaway: always write something. Even a partially correct answer can earn 1-2 points, which adds up across the test.

Step-by-Step: How to Read the Context

1. Read the Entire Text First

Do not jump straight to the blank. Read the full text — title, opening, blanks, and closing — to understand the overall situation.

2. Look Before the Blank

The sentence or clause right before the blank often tells you the topic or subject. For example:

이번 주 토요일에 동아리 모임이 있습니다. 장소는 학생회관 3층이고 시간은 ( ).

The words 장소 (place) and 시간 (time) signal that the blank needs a time expression, such as: 오후 2시입니다.

3. Look After the Blank

The sentence after the blank often contains a consequence or follow-up that confirms what should go in the blank.

( ) 참석이 어려운 분은 미리 연락해 주시기 바랍니다.

The phrase 참석이 어려운 분 (those who have difficulty attending) tells us the blank probably states something about attendance being required or encouraged, such as: 많은 분들의 참석을 부탁드리며.

4. Check the Speech Level

This is where many test-takers lose points unnecessarily. Match the level used in the rest of the text.

Speech Levels: 51 vs. 52

Question 51: Formal Polite Style (-습니다/ㅂ니다)

Practical texts like notices and emails almost always use the formal polite ending.

Ending Type	Example
Statement	행사는 오전 10시에 시작됩니다.
Request	신청서를 제출해 주시기 바랍니다.
Negative	음식물 반입은 허용되지 않습니다.

Common polite request patterns for Question 51:

• -아/어 주시기 바랍니다
• -아/어 주십시오
• -(으)시기 바랍니다

Question 52: Written/Neutral Style (-다)

Expository paragraphs use the plain written style, sometimes called 해라체 in academic writing.

Ending Type	Example
Statement	환경 오염은 심각한 문제이다.
Reason	이는 사람들의 관심이 부족하기 때문이다.
Contrast	그러나 모든 변화가 긍정적인 것은 아니다.

If the text around the blank ends with -다, your answer must also end with -다. Writing -습니다 in a Question 52 blank is a common mistake that costs points.

Typical Grammar Patterns for Each Question

Patterns Common in Question 51 (Practical Texts)

Because these are notices, invitations, or messages, certain grammar structures appear again and again.

• -(으)니 참고하시기 바랍니다 — Please note that...
  • 주차 공간이 부족하니 대중교통을 이용하시기 바랍니다.
• -에 관한 / -에 대한 — regarding, about
  • 수업 변경에 관한 안내를 드립니다.
• -(으)려면 / -(으)려고 하다 — if you intend to / planning to
  • 참가를 원하시면 금요일까지 신청하시기 바랍니다.
• -도록 하다 — make sure to
  • 시간에 맞춰 도착하시도록 하십시오.
• Noun + 안내 / 공지 — announcement of
  • 도서관 운영 시간 변경 안내

Patterns Common in Question 52 (Explanatory Paragraphs)

These blanks require you to connect ideas logically, so conjunctive grammar is essential.

• -기 때문이다 — it is because
  • 소비자의 선택이 중요한 것은 이것이 시장에 직접적인 영향을 미치기 때문이다.
• -는 것이다 / -다는 것이다 — the point is that
  • 이는 개인의 노력만으로는 한계가 있다는 것이다.
• -(으)ㄹ 수 있다 / 없다 — can / cannot
  • 작은 변화가 큰 결과를 가져올 수 있다.
• -에 따라 다르다 — it depends on
  • 효과는 사람에 따라 다르다.
• -(으)ㄴ/는 반면에 — while, on the other hand
  • 도시는 편리한 반면에 자연환경이 부족하다.
• -도록 해야 한다 — should make sure to
  • 사회 전체가 관심을 가지도록 해야 한다.

Practical Example: Question 51 Style

동아리 회원 여러분께 알려 드립니다. 다음 주 수요일에 봄맞이 소풍을 갑니다. 장소는 한강 공원이며 ( ㄱ ). 점심은 각자 준비해 주시고 ( ㄴ ). 많은 참여 부탁드립니다.

Sample answers:

• (ㄱ) 오전 10시에 정문 앞에서 출발할 예정입니다
• (ㄴ) 참석 여부를 금요일까지 알려 주시기 바랍니다

Notice both answers use the -습니다 style and connect naturally to the sentences before and after.

Practical Example: Question 52 Style

사람들은 습관의 힘을 과소평가하는 경우가 많다. 그러나 작은 습관이라도 매일 반복하면 ( ㄱ ). 반대로 나쁜 습관은 쉽게 고치기 어려운데 이는 ( ㄴ ).

Sample answers:

• (ㄱ) 큰 변화를 가져올 수 있다
• (ㄴ) 오랜 시간 동안 형성된 행동 패턴을 바꾸는 것이 쉽지 않기 때문이다

Both answers use the plain -다 style and logically complete the argument.

Final Tips

• Match the speech level. This is the easiest way to avoid losing points.
• Keep it simple. You are not scored on creativity. A clear, grammatically correct sentence scores higher than a complex one with errors.
• Watch connectors. Words like 그러나, 따라서, 이는, 또한 right before or after the blank are strong clues about the logical relationship you need to express.
• Practice common collocations. Patterns like 영향을 미치다, 관심을 가지다, 도움이 되다 appear frequently and make your answers sound natural.
• Write neatly. Graders must read your handwriting. Unclear letters can be marked wrong even if the grammar is correct.

With focused practice on context reading, speech level matching, and a handful of reliable grammar patterns, Questions 51 and 52 become two of the most predictable — and scorable — parts of the TOPIK II Writing section.