IELTS Linking Words and Cohesion Devices for Band 7+

IELTS Linking Words and Cohesion Devices for Band 7+

Coherence and Cohesion is one of the four criteria used to score your IELTS Writing. It accounts for 25% of your total Writing score. "Coherence" means your ideas are logically organized. "Cohesion" means your sentences and paragraphs are connected through linking devices — transitions, conjunctions, reference words, and substitution.

At band 6, test-takers use linking words but sometimes mechanically or inaccurately. At band 7, linking is flexible and appropriate, drawing no attention to itself. At band 8-9, cohesion is skillful with rare lapses. The goal is not to use as many linking words as possible, but to use the right ones in the right places.

Adding and Extending Ideas

These connectors add information to your argument:

• Furthermore: Adds a stronger or more important point. "Furthermore, research indicates that early intervention is more cost-effective than remedial programs."
• Moreover: Similar to furthermore, adds emphasis. "Moreover, the long-term benefits far outweigh the initial costs."
• In addition: Adds a supplementary point. "In addition, students who study abroad develop valuable intercultural skills."
• Additionally: Adds a further point. "Additionally, remote work reduces a company's overhead costs."
• What is more: Adds emphasis (slightly informal). "What is more, the policy has been shown to reduce inequality."

Do not start every sentence with a linking word. Over-linking is just as problematic as under-linking. A cohesive paragraph should flow naturally, with connectors used only where they genuinely help the reader follow your logic.

Contrasting Ideas

• However: The most versatile contrast connector. "However, this view fails to account for economic realities."
• Nevertheless / Nonetheless: Formal, signals that the contrast does not negate the previous point. "The policy has been criticized. Nevertheless, it has achieved measurable results."
• On the other hand: Introduces an alternative perspective. Use once per essay at most.
• Conversely: Introduces the opposite situation. "Urban areas have benefited from investment. Conversely, rural regions continue to decline."
• While / Whereas: Used within a sentence to compare. "While some people support the proposal, others have raised serious objections."

Giving Reasons and Causes

• Because / Since / As: Standard causal connectors. "Since the population is aging, healthcare costs will inevitably rise."
• Due to / Owing to: Followed by a noun phrase, not a clause. "Due to increased demand, prices have risen sharply."
• This is because: Explains a preceding statement. "Many students drop out of university. This is because tuition fees have become unaffordable."
• As a result of: Combines cause and effect. "As a result of poor urban planning, traffic congestion has worsened."

Showing Results and Consequences

• Therefore / Consequently / As a result: Show that something follows logically from the previous point.
• Thus: Slightly more formal than therefore. "The evidence suggests that exercise improves cognitive function; thus, schools should allocate more time for physical activity."
• For this reason: Explains why a conclusion follows. "Renewable energy sources are becoming cheaper. For this reason, fossil fuel investment is declining."
• This means that: Explains the implication. "Automation is replacing manual jobs. This means that workers need to acquire new skills."

Giving Examples

• For example / For instance: The standard way to introduce an example. Use either one consistently — do not alternate randomly within the same essay.
• Such as: Introduces a list of examples within a sentence. "Countries such as Germany, Japan, and South Korea have invested heavily in vocational training."
• To illustrate: More formal. "To illustrate, a recent study found that bilingual children outperform monolingual peers in problem-solving tasks."
• A case in point: Very formal. "A case in point is Singapore's education system, which consistently ranks among the best globally."

Expressing Opinions

• In my view / In my opinion: Direct and clear.
• I would argue that: Strong but reasonable. "I would argue that the benefits of technology in education outweigh the risks."
• From my perspective: Personal but measured.
• It seems to me that: Slightly tentative, good for partial agreement.

Concluding

• In conclusion: The standard and safest option for IELTS.
• To summarize: Appropriate when your conclusion primarily restates key points.
• In summary: Similar to "to summarize."
• Taking everything into consideration: More formal, good for discussion essays.

Avoid "To conclude" (slightly awkward), "All in all" (too informal for academic writing), and "Last but not least" (clichéd and signals memorized language to examiners).

Beyond Linking Words: Other Cohesion Devices

Linking words are just one type of cohesion device. For band 7+, you should also demonstrate:

Reference Words (Pronouns and Determiners)

"Many countries have adopted renewable energy targets. These targets vary significantly in ambition and scope."

Using "these targets" instead of repeating "renewable energy targets" creates cohesion without a linking word.

Substitution

"The first group received traditional instruction. The second group was taught using technology-enhanced methods."

Replacing full noun phrases with shorter references avoids repetition and creates flow.

Lexical Cohesion (Synonyms and Paraphrasing)

"The government invested heavily in public transport. This expenditure proved to be highly effective."

Using "expenditure" instead of repeating "investment" demonstrates vocabulary range while maintaining cohesion.

Common Mistakes with Linking Words

• Overuse: Starting every sentence with a linker makes your writing feel robotic. Aim for connectors in about 30-40% of your sentences — the rest should flow naturally through good paragraph structure.
• Wrong position: "However" at the beginning of a sentence needs a comma after it. "However" in the middle of a sentence needs commas on both sides. Getting the punctuation wrong affects your grammar score.
• Using "Firstly... Secondly... Thirdly... Finally" mechanically: This structure is acceptable but signals a formulaic approach. Mix it up with other connectors for a more natural feel.
• Memorized transition phrases: "It goes without saying that" and "It is a well-known fact that" are fillers that add nothing and signal memorized language.
• "Besides" is not the same as "In addition": "Besides" means "apart from" and has a different nuance. "In addition" is the safer choice for adding points.

Practice Exercise

Take one of your previous essays and highlight every linking word or cohesion device you used. Then ask yourself:

• Did I overuse any single connector? (Common: "However" and "Moreover")
• Are there paragraphs where sentences feel disconnected because I did not use any cohesion devices?
• Could I replace some linking words with reference words or synonyms for more variety?
• Do my linking words accurately reflect the logical relationship between my ideas?

WitPrep's vocabulary tools include collections of linking words organized by function. Browse them to expand your repertoire beyond the most common connectors. A wider range of cohesion devices is a hallmark of band 7+ writing.

For more vocabulary resources, see our guide to the top 100 IELTS vocabulary words and essential IELTS collocations.