Hello, this is GANADA KOREAN Hongdae.
When you practise TOPIK writing, there are times when the words come to mind but it takes a while to get the first sentence down. Even with plenty you want to say, it can be hard to sort out what to write first.
At times like that, check these in order: what the question is asking for, how your sentences connect, and rewriting after correction. Today we introduce three practice methods that learners who have been studying Korean grammar and vocabulary can use to complete an actual answer.
First, sort out what you need to write
Before writing your answer, break down what the question is asking for. It is the process of checking whether you need to explain a cause, compare advantages and disadvantages, or present your own opinion with reasons.
For instance, with a practice question about the cause and effect of some change, you could write “cause” and “effect” on one side of a sheet and jot down briefly what belongs under each. Deciding what to write first makes it much easier to concentrate on building sentences.
At this point, check too whether the story you know well is the same as the one the question asks for. Using plenty of familiar expressions matters, but so does covering everything the question asks for.
Once you have finished, compare your answer with the notes you made at the start. Checking whether your planned content made it into the text also lets you notice if the story drifted in another direction as you wrote.
Second, look at how your sentences relate to each other
Each sentence may read naturally and yet, reading the whole text, the content can feel as though it suddenly shifts. When that happens, think about the relationship between the preceding and following sentence before choosing a connecting expression.
What you need differs depending on whether you are explaining a reason, giving an example, or stating something contrasting. Even when you insert 또한, 그러나 or 따라서, it is worth checking that the word matches the actual relationship in the content.
When practising, take one claim and attach a reason and an example to build a short paragraph. If you wrote the idea “public transport is convenient,” for example, you then go on to explain in what way it is convenient and describe a situation that shows it.
After that, tidy up sentences that repeat the same content and add information where the explanation is thin. Rather than making sentences longer, focus on practising so that the reader can follow the flow.
Third, use what you learned from corrections in new sentences
After you receive corrections, go one step beyond simply reading the corrected answer. We recommend comparing the sentence you wrote with the corrected sentence and briefly noting what changed.
Dividing it into categories — particle use, tense, word choice, sentence connection — makes it easier to spot mistakes that recur. When writing your next answer, keep just one or two of them in mind first. Rather than trying to fix everything at once, you decide what to watch for.
If a sentence explaining a reason was corrected, for example, try using the same structure in a different topic. Only by changing the content and writing it yourself can you put that expression to use in a new answer.
It is also good to keep the version from before the corrections. Comparing which parts you came to explain more clearly lets you see your own learning process in concrete terms.
When practising alone, break one round into small steps
At first, concentrate on reading the question and noting what to write; next, complete one paragraph. Finally, read the whole text and check that you answered the question and that the sentences connect naturally.
Once that feels familiar, you can practise against the clock, following the guidance for the exam you will sit. Consider both the time to complete the answer and the time for a final review. Checking the format and question conditions of the exam you are preparing for is also a starting point for your study plan.
Do you have to know a lot of difficult words to write well?
When practising, start by conveying your own thoughts with expressions whose meaning and usage you know precisely. Build a sentence you can use with confidence, and then look for a more fitting way to express the same meaning.
If you use a new word, check as well that it sits well with the sentences around it. Knowing a meaning and using it naturally inside a sentence can take different kinds of practice. During correction, ask about the usage of words you are unsure of, and after hearing the explanation, try applying them in other sentences too.
What do you learn in the GANADA KOREAN TOPIK class?
The GANADA KOREAN TOPIK class is for intermediate and advanced learners and covers analysis of past papers, a review of key grammar and vocabulary, practice questions, and writing correction. It is a course you can use to check your own answers and find the areas to strengthen.
When you come in for a consultation, tell us your target level, how long you have to prepare, a recent answer you wrote yourself, and the parts you find especially difficult. Saying “I find it hard to structure a paragraph that explains a reason” rather than “I want to study writing” conveys your learning goal far more concretely.
Writing in Korean is also practice in organising your thoughts and conveying them to someone else. In the answer you wrote today, look for one piece of content that fits the question, one natural connection, and one expression you would like to use again. At GANADA KOREAN Hongdae, we will help guide the Korean study that matches your goals.
#GANADAKOREAN #HongdaeKoreanLanguageSchool #TOPIKWriting #TOPIKPrep #TOPIKClass #KoreanWriting #WritingCorrection #KoreanForForeigners #KoreanExamPrep #LearnKorean