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TOPIK Writing 53: A Simple Graph Description Formula for Beginners

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TOPIK Prep

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Yanghwa

작성시각

May 6, 2026 9:39 AM

TOPIK Writing question 53 can feel scary because it looks more formal than normal Korean study. You see a graph, a chart, or a table. Then you need to write a short explanation in Korean. For many learners, the hard part is not only grammar. It is knowing what to say first.

The good news: question 53 is not asking you to become a poet. It is asking you to describe information clearly. If you have a simple formula, the task becomes much less messy.

This guide gives you a beginner-friendly structure for TOPIK Writing 53. You can use it to practice describing graphs, survey results, changes, rankings, and comparisons.

The goal is not to memorize one perfect essay. The goal is to build a small writing machine you can use again and again.

Useful TOPIK Writing 53 Words

Korean	Pronunciation	Meaning
그래프	geuraepeu	graph
표	pyo	table / chart
조사	josa	survey
결과	gyeolgwa	result
비율	biyul	percentage / ratio
증가하다	jeung-gahada	to increase
감소하다	gamsohada	to decrease
가장	gajang	the most
반면에	banmyeone	on the other hand

For question 53, you do not need fancy Korean. You need clear Korean. Words like 조사 결과, 가장, 반면에, 증가하다, and 감소하다 can do a lot of work.

The Simple 4-Part Formula

Use this structure:

Topic sentence: what the graph shows

Biggest point: the highest number, biggest group, or main trend

Comparison: second point or contrast

Simple closing: overall meaning

Here is the formula in plain English:

This graph shows X. The biggest result is A. Compared with A, B is lower/higher/different. Overall, we can see Y.

In Korean, that can become:

이 그래프는 X에 대한 조사 결과를 보여 준다. 가장 높은 비율은 A이다. 반면에 B는 A보다 낮다. 이를 통해 Y라는 것을 알 수 있다.

This is not the only possible structure, but it is a safe starting point.

Real moment: You know the numbers, but your Korean freezes

You are practicing at your desk. The chart says 45%, 30%, and 25%. You understand the data immediately. The highest number is obvious. The lowest number is obvious.

But when you try to write in Korean, your hand stops.

You think, "Should I use -고 있다? Should I write 나타났다? Is 비율 correct here? What if my sentence sounds too simple?"

This is exactly why a formula helps. In the test, you do not have time to build every sentence from zero. You need a few strong sentence frames that you can fill with new information.

Simple Korean that is accurate is better than ambitious Korean that collapses halfway.

Step 1: Name the Graph

Your first sentence should tell the reader what the graph is about. This sentence is like opening the door.

Useful frames:

Korean	Pronunciation	Meaning
이 그래프는 ~에 대한 조사 결과를 보여 준다	i geuraepeuneun ~e daehan josa gyeolgwaleul boyeo junda	This graph shows survey results about ~
이 표는 ~을/를 나타낸 것이다	i pyoneun ~eul/reul natanaen geosida	This table shows ~
다음은 ~에 대한 자료이다	daeumeun ~e daehan jaryoda	The following is data about ~

Example:

이 그래프는 대학생들의 여가 활동에 대한 조사 결과를 보여 준다.
This graph shows survey results about university students' leisure activities.

Do not overthink the first sentence. You are not trying to impress anyone here. You are setting the topic clearly.

Step 2: Find the Biggest Point

After the topic sentence, choose the most obvious important number. Usually this is the highest percentage, the biggest increase, or the most popular choice.

Useful frames:

Korean	Pronunciation	Meaning
가장 높은 비율을 차지한 것은 ~이다	gajang nopeun biyureul chajihan geoseun ~ida	The item with the highest percentage is ~
~이/가 가장 많았다	~i/ga gajang manatda	~ was the most common
~은/는 전체의 __%를 차지했다	~eun/neun jeonche-ui __ peosenteureul chajihaetda	~ accounted for __% of the total

Example:

가장 높은 비율을 차지한 것은 운동으로, 전체의 45%였다.
The item with the highest percentage was exercise, at 45% of the total.

This sentence already gives your answer strength. TOPIK Writing 53 rewards clear data description. If you write the main number accurately, you are doing the job.

Step 3: Add a Comparison

A graph description should not be only one number. Add a comparison so the reader can understand the relationship between data points.

Useful comparison words:

Korean	Pronunciation	Meaning
반면에	banmyeone	on the other hand
이에 비해	ie bihae	compared with this
보다	boda	than
약	yak	about / approximately
차이가 나다	chaiga nada	to differ / have a gap

Example:

반면에 독서는 25%로 운동보다 20%포인트 낮았다.
On the other hand, reading was 25%, which was 20 percentage points lower than exercise.

If "percentage points" feels too hard, you can write a simpler version:

반면에 독서는 25%로 운동보다 낮았다.

That is still useful and clear.

Step 4: Close with a Safe Overall Sentence

The closing sentence should summarize what the graph means. Do not invent a deep opinion unless the task asks for it. Keep it close to the data.

Useful frames:

Korean	Pronunciation	Meaning
이를 통해 ~을/를 알 수 있다	ireul tonghae ~eul/reul al su itda	Through this, we can see that ~
전체적으로 보면 ~	jeonchejeogeuro bomyeon ~	Overall, ~
이러한 결과는 ~을/를 보여 준다	ireohan gyeolgwaneun ~eul/reul boyeo junda	These results show ~

Example:

이를 통해 대학생들은 조용한 활동보다 활동적인 여가를 더 선호한다는 것을 알 수 있다.
Through this, we can see that university students prefer active leisure activities more than quiet activities.

This sentence is a little more advanced, but the pattern is reusable.

If you need an easier closing:

전체적으로 보면 운동을 선택한 학생이 가장 많았다.
Overall, the number of students who chose exercise was the highest.

Full Beginner Sample

Imagine the graph topic is "University students' favorite leisure activities."

•

Exercise: 45%

•

Watching videos: 30%

•

Reading: 25%

A simple Korean answer could be:

이 그래프는 대학생들의 여가 활동에 대한 조사 결과를 보여 준다. 가장 높은 비율을 차지한 것은 운동으로, 전체의 45%였다. 그다음은 영상 시청으로 30%를 차지했다. 반면에 독서는 25%로 가장 낮았다. 이를 통해 대학생들은 독서보다 운동이나 영상 시청을 더 많이 선택한다는 것을 알 수 있다.

This is not too fancy, and that is the point. It has a topic sentence, numbers, order, contrast, and a final meaning.

Formula for Change Over Time

Some question 53 graphs show change: increase, decrease, or stable numbers.

Use this structure:

The graph shows change in X.

A increased/decreased from year 1 to year 2.

B changed differently.

Overall, the trend is Y.

Useful words:

Korean	Pronunciation	Meaning
증가했다	jeung-gahaetda	increased
감소했다	gamsohaetda	decreased
유지되었다	yuji-doeeotda	was maintained
꾸준히	kkujunhi	steadily
급격히	geupgyeokhi	sharply / rapidly
변화	byeonhwa	change

Example:

스마트폰 사용 시간은 2020년 2시간에서 2024년 4시간으로 증가했다. 반면에 텔레비전 시청 시간은 같은 기간 동안 감소했다.

Smartphone use time increased from 2 hours in 2020 to 4 hours in 2024. On the other hand, television viewing time decreased during the same period.

For beginners, from A to B can be written as:

A에서 B로 증가했다
It increased from A to B.

A에서 B로 감소했다
It decreased from A to B.

Formula for Ranking Graphs

If the graph lists preferences or reasons, ranking language helps.

Useful frames:

Korean	Pronunciation	Meaning
1위는 ~이다	irwineun ~ida	First place is ~
2위는 ~이다	iwineun ~ida	Second place is ~
그다음으로	geudaeumeuro	next / after that
가장 낮은 비율은 ~이다	gajang najeun biyureun ~ida	The lowest percentage is ~

Example:

1위는 가격으로 40%를 차지했다. 그다음으로 품질이 35%였고, 디자인은 25%로 가장 낮았다.

Price ranked first at 40%. Next, quality was 35%, and design was the lowest at 25%.

This pattern is very useful because many TOPIK-style charts show survey rankings.

Common Beginner Mistakes

Mistake 1: Writing personal opinion too early

Question 53 is usually data description. If the chart shows "favorite delivery food," do not suddenly write a long personal opinion about why chicken is delicious. Stay with the chart.

Better:

치킨은 40%로 가장 높은 비율을 차지했다.

Not:

저도 치킨을 좋아하고 한국 치킨은 정말 맛있다.

Unless the prompt asks for your opinion, the data comes first.

Mistake 2: Using too many difficult connectors

You do not need five advanced connectors in one answer. If your connectors are wrong, they can make the writing harder to understand.

Safe connectors:

Korean	Pronunciation	Meaning
그리고	geurigo	and
그러나	geureona	however
반면에	banmyeone	on the other hand
또한	ttohan	also
따라서	ttaraseo	therefore

Use fewer connectors, but use them correctly.

Mistake 3: Forgetting units

Numbers need units. Is it percent, people, hours, won, or times per week?

Compare:

운동은 45였다.
This feels incomplete.

운동은 45%였다.
This is clear.

운동을 선택한 사람은 45명이었다.
This is also clear, if the unit is people.

Always check the unit before writing.

A Practice Template You Can Memorize

Here is a clean template:

이 그래프는 [주제]에 대한 조사 결과를 보여 준다. 가장 높은 비율을 차지한 것은 [A]로, [숫자]%였다. 그다음은 [B]로, [숫자]%를 차지했다. 반면에 [C]는 [숫자]%로 가장 낮았다. 이를 통해 [전체 의미]을/를 알 수 있다.

English meaning:

This graph shows survey results about [topic]. The item with the highest percentage was [A], at [number]%. Next was [B], accounting for [number]%. On the other hand, [C] was the lowest at [number]%. Through this, we can see [overall meaning].

You can practice this template with many topics:

•

favorite Korean food

•

reasons for learning Korean

•

weekend activities

•

transportation choices

•

study methods

•

app usage

The topic changes, but the structure stays friendly.

Teacher Practice: Make One Graph Speak

If you study with a teacher, ask them to give you a tiny chart with only three numbers. Do not start with a complex chart. Your first goal is to make the graph speak in four sentences.

Teacher gives:

Activity	Percentage
Watching dramas	50%
Listening to music	30%
Reading books	20%

Student writes:

이 그래프는 한국어 학습 방법에 대한 조사 결과를 보여 준다. 가장 높은 비율을 차지한 것은 드라마 시청으로, 50%였다. 그다음은 음악 듣기로 30%를 차지했다. 반면에 책 읽기는 20%로 가장 낮았다. 이를 통해 많은 학생들이 영상이나 음악을 통해 한국어를 공부한다는 것을 알 수 있다.

Then ask your teacher to check only three things:

Are the numbers accurate?

Are the particles natural?

Does the final sentence match the data?

This keeps feedback focused.

Final Advice: Clear Beats Fancy

TOPIK Writing 53 is not about showing every grammar pattern you know. It is about reading data and explaining it in Korean that makes sense.

When you practice, do not begin by asking, "How can I sound advanced?" Ask, "What does the graph clearly show?"

Use the 4-part formula: name the graph, describe the biggest point, add a comparison, and close with the overall meaning. Practice it with small charts until your hand knows the rhythm.

A calm formula will not write the whole answer for you, but it gives you a safe road. On test day, that matters.

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