Korean Unpacked

#81: How to Read a TOPIK II Question and Know Exactly What to Write

Korean Unpacked

Show Notes

Many TOPIK II learners lose marks before writing a single word. In this episode of TOPIK & Beyond - the Korean language learning podcast for TOPIK exam prep - host Eliza addresses one of the most overlooked skills in TOPIK II preparation: reading the question properly before you start writing. This episode introduces a four-step question analysis method - 주제 파악, 조건 분리, 핵심어 확인, 구조 계획 - and applies it to past TOPIK II practice questions - Question 52 and Question 54. It also names the three most penalised writing errors in TOPIK II grading: 주제 이탈, 조건 미충족, and 분량 미달. This episode is part of the TOPIK II writing strategy series (following Episodes 74 and 79) and is directly applicable to learners preparing for TOPIK Level 4, 5, or 6. What You’ll Learn in This Episode What goes wrong주제 이탈 - going off topic - one of the most penalised TOPIK II errors 조건 미충족 - failing to meet the required conditions 분량 미달 - falling short of the required character count

The four-step question analysis method주제 파악 - identifying the topic 조건 분리 - isolating each condition 핵심어 확인 - identifying the key words 구조 계획 - planning the structure before writing

Supporting terms빈칸 - blank / gap - Question 51-52 task type 조건 - condition / requirement 핵심어 - key word / core term 요구 사항 - requirements - what the question is asking of you 논리 구조 - logical structure

TOPIK II Writing Strategy Series This episode is part of a three-episode TOPIK II writing strategy series: • Episode 74 - How to Start a TOPIK II Essay Without Sounding Like Everyone Else (opening sentences) • Episode 79 - Why Your TOPIK II Body Paragraph Stops Too Soon (body paragraph structure)

TOPIK II Writing Confidence Lab Grammar and vocabulary are not what’s holding your TOPIK II writing back. What’s holding you back is not knowing what to write - and not having a clear strategy for Questions 51 through 54. The Writing Confidence Lab gives you video lessons, written frameworks for every essay type, and personal essay feedback from Eliza - covering structure, argument, question analysis, and exactly what to write. Spots are limited due to personalised review. Details → https://www.joaacademy.com/topik-ii-writing-confidence-lab-waitlist Connect 🌐 Website: https://www.joaacademy.com/ 📸 Instagram: @korean.joaacademy 🎧 Podcast: TOPIK & Beyond - available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms 📝 Read this episode on Substack: @ Korean Joa Academy

If You Enjoyed This Episode Please consider leaving a review on your podcast app. Share this episode with someone preparing for TOPIK II - especially if they’ve been practising essays without a clear question-reading strategy

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