IELTS Writing Task 2 Connectors and Linking Words – Improve Coherence and Score Band 8+

One of the most important things you can do to get a high band score on IELTS Writing Task 2 is to use the right linking and connector words to make your case make sense. These words are very important for making your writing sound professional and academic and for leading the reader through your thoughts.

What you’ll learn in this piece is:

How linked words help you write better in the IELTS
The different types of words that connect phrases
There are more than 50 research links you can use in Writing Task 2
Here are some examples of how they work
How to keep from making these common connection mistakes

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Why Links Between Words Are Important in IELTS Writing

There are four main factors in the IELTS Writing Band Descriptors. One of them is coherence and cohesion. To get at least a Band 7 grade, you must:

• Put your thoughts in a sensible order
• Use a variety of unifying devices (words that connect ideas) in the right way
• Make sure the paragraphs are clear and the changes are smooth

Links between words improve your writing:

• Better organised and easier to read
• Better at going from one point to the next
• More official and academic, which is important for Task 2

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Different Types of IELTS Linking Words

In IELTS Writing Task 2, these are the main types of connections that are used:

• Adding thoughts
• Different ideas
• Giving some examples
• Showing what happens and why
• Setting up and sequencing
• In conclusion
• Making clear or explaining
• Conditions and chances

Let’s use good examples to go through each group.

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1. Adding Thoughts
Add one of these new points to your case to back it up:

Words That Connect – Examples

• In addition – Investing in public transport can also help cut down on smog
• Even more – It also saves time and money to learn online
• Besides that – Schools are very important for developing character
• Hands-on – Learning is also good for students

Tip: Put these at the beginning of body paragraph 2 or in the middle of paragraphs to make your point stronger.

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2. Ideas That Are Different
These are used to present the opposite view or to add to what was said before:

Words That Connect – Examples

• Still – A lot of people still like regular classes
• On the other hand – It might not be possible to pay for private schooling
• On the other hand – People who live in rural places often can’t get good medical care
• Despite this – The strategy does have some good points
• Even though – Taxes pay for schools, the effects are not always the same

Use this to show balance in conversation or pros and cons essays.

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3. Giving Examples
Giving examples makes your point stronger:

Words That Connect – Examples

• As an example – For instance, Singapore’s public transport system works very well
• As an example – A lot of students use YouTube to find help with their schoolwork
• Renewable sources – Like sun and wind are being used more and more
• In order to show – As an example, the fact that Finland’s school system works so well shows this

Hint: Put before a specific case or fact that backs up your point.

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4. Showing What Happens and Why
These describe what happens or why something happens:

Words That Connect – Examples

• Because – A lot of people move to towns in search of better job opportunities
• So – Traffic has become a big problem because of this
• Because of this – Online learning should be a part of school systems
• Because of this – Student interest may go down
• Because – The idea didn’t work out because it wasn’t planned well

Tip: Use to back up your case or show how two ideas are related.

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5. Ordering and Putting Together
These help organise your essay and show how your thoughts flow from one to the next:

Words That Connect – Examples

• First, second, and finally – To begin, governments need to provide money. Second, schools need to be trained
• To begin with – The first thing is that smog is worse in cities
• First of all – For starters, you need good intellectual skills to get into college
• After / Then / Following – Next, countries should put controls on emissions

Tip: This works great for starting body paragraphs and making well-organised points.

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6. To Sum Up
Use these to sum up or give your last word:

Words That Connect – Examples

• That being said – In the end, parents and teachers are both responsible
• Briefly – To sum up, we need a balanced method
• Overall – Everyone needs to work together to find an answer
• Taken into account – When everything is looked at together, technology has more pros than cons

Tip: To end your writing, you should always use one clear sentence.

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7. Making Things Clearer or Explaining
Sometimes you need to say something again or explain what you mean:

Words That Connect – Examples

• In other words – Getting an education is the key to being successful
• In other words – That is, the growth of young children must come first
• There are two major reasons for this – Bad infrastructure and not enough investment

Tip: Don’t use too many of these to make things clearer or more precise.

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8. Situation and a Possibility
These are used to talk about hypothetical thoughts in long sentences:

Words That Connect – Examples

• Things will go better – If the government gives more money
• Pollution will keep going up – Unless something is done
• As long as – Schools get help, student success will get better
• Just in case – Online platforms can make sure that things keep going in case of a disaster

Tip: Great for developing problem-solution and conditional arguments.

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Example of a Paragraph With Linking Words (Band 8)

A lot of people think that learning online is better than learning in a classroom. Should I agree or not

Sample Paragraph:
Modern students like online education because it is flexible and easy to use. For example, people who are working can watch classes whenever they want. Digital platforms also offer a huge range of tools that aren’t available in regular classrooms. But some critics say that the lack of face-to-face contact makes learning less effective. Still, thanks to improvements in videoconferencing and real-time chats, virtual learning can now be more like being in a classroom. Because of this, I think that online education can be just as useful as in-person teaching if it is set up correctly.

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Mistakes People Often Make With Linking Words

• Using too many connections – Too many transition words can make writing look dull. Use two or three in each paragraph, not each line
• Using casual ways to meet – “Anyway, so, well” is too casual for school work. Use the phrase “Therefore, however, in addition”
• There is a mistake in the punctuation – “However, students still prefer…” should read “However, students still prefer…”
• Saying the same word over and over – “Moreover… Moreover…” Use different words: “In addition, Furthermore, Also”
• Wrong placement – Make sure that linking words are put in a way that makes sense in the structure of the sentence

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How to Become a Master of Linking Words

• Make flashcards based on topics like addition, comparison, etc
• Every day, write one paragraph and use three to four connecting words
• Read some Band 9 essays and mark the parts that link them
• Learn to remember sentence forms that have linking words
• Have a teacher or peer look over how you use changes

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Do Something to Practise

Change the following text by adding at least four new linking words:

Original:
There are a lot of people who drive cars. It slows down traffic. Taking the bus is better. People don’t like it.

Better:
A lot of people drive cars, which makes traffic jams. Public travel, on the other hand, is a better option. But it’s still not very popular because the plans aren’t always reliable and it’s always too crowded.

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Thoughts for Now
For an IELTS Writing Task 2 essay to be well-structured and make sense, you need to use a range of connectors and linking words. That’s exactly what IELTS judges want to see: well-organised thoughts that lead the reader and a formal, academic tone.

Don’t try to remember long writings. Learn the building blocks, like linking words, instead, and your work will get better on its own.

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Call to Action
What kind of connection do you find it hardest to use correctly – “However,” “Therefore,” or something else
Post a comment below, and I’ll help you out with some examples of words
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