IELTS Writing Task 2
IELTS linking words and cohesion for writing
Cohesion is the quarter of your Task 2 mark that rewards logical flow. It comes from three things, not one: clear paragraphing, accurate linking words, and referencing devices such as this and such. Used well, they make your ideas easy to follow. Used mechanically, they drag your Coherence & Cohesion score down.
In short
- Cohesion is paragraphing plus linking words plus referencing, not a long list of connectors.
- Overusing Firstly, Moreover, and In conclusion mechanically is penalised under Coherence & Cohesion.
- Reference back with this, these, and such to link ideas without forcing in a connector.
What cohesion actually means under the criteria
Coherence & Cohesion is one of the four IELTS Writing criteria, alongside Task Response, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range & Accuracy. Many candidates assume the criterion is only about linking words, so they bolt a connector onto every sentence and expect a higher band. The descriptors say the opposite. The band 7 and above wording rewards a flow that the reader can follow with no effort and cohesion that does not draw attention to itself.
Cohesion is built from three layers. First, paragraphing: one central idea per paragraph, opened by a topic sentence. Second, linking words that mark the logical relationship between sentences, such as contrast, result, or addition. Third, referencing, where words like this, these, such, it, and the latter point back to something already mentioned so you do not repeat yourself. A band 7 script leans on all three; a band 5 script relies almost entirely on a memorised list of connectors.
A simple test: read your essay aloud. If you can hear a connector being announced at the start of nearly every sentence, the cohesion is mechanical. If the ideas move forward and the joins feel invisible, you are closer to the top of the band.
The overuse trap, with worked phrases
The single most common cohesion fault is mechanical overuse. A paragraph that opens Firstly, then Secondly, then Moreover, then In conclusion reads like a template, and markers recognise it immediately. The fix is range and natural placement: vary your connectors, move some of them inside the sentence rather than at the front, and replace others with referencing.
Compare these. Weak and mechanical: Firstly, cars cause pollution. Moreover, cars cause traffic. In conclusion, cars are bad. Stronger: Private cars are a major source of urban pollution. This problem is made worse by the congestion they create, which slows entire cities to a crawl. The second version uses one referencing word, this, and one mid-sentence connector, which, and reads far more naturally.
Useful natural connectors by function: for contrast, however, whereas, while, by contrast; for result, as a result, consequently, which means that; for addition, in addition, furthermore, what is more; for examples, for instance, such as, a clear case of this. Choose the one that fits the logic, place it where it sounds natural, and never force every sentence to carry one.
Band 6 versus band 7 cohesion at a glance
| Cohesion feature | Band 6 habit | Band 7 habit |
|---|---|---|
| Sentence linkers | Firstly, Secondly on almost every sentence | Varied connectors, some placed mid-sentence |
| Referencing | Repeats the noun each time | Uses this, these, such, it to point back |
| Paragraphing | Ideas mixed, no clear topic sentence | One idea per paragraph, clear topic sentence |
| Conclusion signal | In conclusion repeated mechanically | Overall, or To sum up, used once and naturally |
| Overall effect | Joins are visible and templated | Flow feels natural to the reader |
A trained marker reads thousands of scripts and spots a memorised connector list at once. When our teachers correct your essays, they flag every forced linker, show you where referencing would read better, and rebuild weak paragraphing so your Coherence & Cohesion mark reflects genuine flow rather than decoration.
IELTS linking words and cohesion: common questions
What does cohesion mean in IELTS Writing?+
Cohesion is how smoothly your ideas connect. It comes from logical paragraphing, linking words, and referencing devices such as 'this', 'such', and pronouns. It is assessed under Coherence & Cohesion, one of the four IELTS Writing criteria.
Do more linking words give a higher band?+
No. Examiners penalise mechanical overuse. Starting every sentence with 'Firstly', 'Moreover', or 'In conclusion' signals memorised phrases and can lower your Coherence & Cohesion score. Range, accuracy, and natural placement matter far more than quantity.
What is referencing and why does it help cohesion?+
Referencing means pointing back to earlier ideas with words like 'this', 'these', 'such', 'it', or 'the latter'. It avoids repetition and links sentences without adding a connector, which is exactly what band 7 and above rewards.
How many linking words should one paragraph have?+
There is no fixed number. A natural body paragraph often uses one or two sentence connectors plus referencing. If a marker can see a linker forced into every sentence, you are using too many. Let the logic, not the labels, carry the flow.
Does good paragraphing count as cohesion?+
Yes. Coherence & Cohesion rewards clear paragraphing: one central idea per paragraph, a topic sentence, then support. Strong paragraph logic does more for your band than any list of connectors, because it shows the reader can follow you easily.