Ielts writing task 1 linking word

Since IELTS writing section is assessed primarily on coherence and cohesion. To score well in this section, candidates must learn and equip themselves with grammatical resources. IELTS essay linking words or connectors are one such grammatical resource which shows a strong grasp of the language to the IELTS examiner.

IELTS writing comprises two sections where both the tasks use similar marking criteria. However, task 2 carries twice as much weightage as task 1 as it carries a higher word limit of 250 words. Task 1 on the other hand carries a word limit of 150 words. Understanding how to use IELTS connectors & linking words appropriately in your writing will boost your overall score.

IELTS Essay Linking Words: A Comprehensive Guide

This blog discusses linking words & connectors at length. We will understand why connectors are important in your IELTS exam and overall English usage.

More importantly, we will also learn which type should be used in IELTS writing task 1 and 2. We have also added practice questions for both task types, so that you can master the usage of linking and connector words properly. 

Importance of Connectors in IELTS Writing Task

Linking words are a crucial grammatical tool that make an essay more readable to the examiner. They help in sentence construction and connect two related parts of a text. Linkers can also help candidates put forth their opinion comprehensively and display a greater knowledge and variety of vocabulary.Here are a few more reasons to use linkers in IELTS:

• They make the paragraph clear.
• They provide cohesion to the written piece.
• Help in illustrating how the parts or clauses of a text are connected.
• They add more information to a point. 
• They help in expressing opinion or purpose.
• They help in constructing a suitable conclusion.

Using Linking Words in IELTS

Applicants need to know that connecting words cannot be used everywhere. Additionally, linkers for IELTS speaking are used differently from IELTS writing.  For example, one can use ‘like’ while speaking. On the other hand, words like, hereby, therefore, etc., work well in the writing tasks. Also, remember that linkers must come naturally while forming a sentence. Forcing a connector amid a sentence will result in an awkward sentence composition. 

Task1 

In IELTS writing task 1, candidates are generally given visual information. Depending upon the kind of information provided, they are required to write a report of minimum 150 words. IELTS essay linking words in this task can be helpful in:

• Outlining transition between the description of one visual to the other
• Comparing the key features of the graphs
• Pointing out or highlighting important details of the visuals

IELTS Essay Linking Words For Writing

Task 2

In the second task, candidates have to write an essay based on a prompt or a statement. Linking words for task 2 are useful in:

• Transitioning between paragraphs
• Presenting one’s opinion
• Giving examples and reasons
• Explaining consequences and/or conditions of various scenarios

Types of IELTS Connectors

Examiners evaluate the written essays of individuals by assessing the accuracy, range, and flexibility of linkers and connectors. The following list highlights the category of connectors that can help one secure a good grade in IELTS writing section:

• Adding information
• Listing
• Providing examples
• Stressing and highlighting
• Consequences and results
• Causes and reasons
• Contrasts and concessions
• Conclusion
• Providing opinion

Below is a comprehensive list of examples of different categories of connectors that you can use in your sentence construction. 

Adding information

This type of linker is used to support candidates’ major points in the essay. The following IELTS essay linking words inform the examiner that additional information is coming up:

• Furthermore
• Additionally
• In addition
• Not only, but also
• Also
• Moreover
• And
• As well as

Listing

Lists are often used to present pointers in a paragraph. Proper use of listing vocabulary in essays makes it more formal and clear. Here are a few connectors that one can use to list their paragraph:

• Firstly
• Secondly
• Thirdly
• Fourthly
• Finally, lastly, or last but not the least

Providing examples

Examples are often helpful to provide support to ideas. Candidates must make sure to use a range of linking words to illustrate their arguments sung such words:

• For instance
• For example
• To cite an example
• To illustrate
• Namely
• Such as
• In other words

Stressing and highlighting

It is essential to be clear about the intent of the passage. The following IELTS essay linking words help individuals stress major points so they are not missed:

• Specifically
• Especially
• In particular
• Particularly
• Obviously
• Clearly
• Of course

Consequences and results

These connectors are helpful when candidates need to explain the consequence or result of something:

• As a result
• Therefore
• Thus
• Consequently
• For this reason
• So
• Hence

Causes and reasons

While writing an essay, there may be instances where one would have to provide causes or reasons for a particular statement. These linkers can be helpful in doing so:

• Due to
• Because
• Owing to
• As
• Since

Contrasts and concessions

There is often the need to add opposite ideas in an essay. This is important in discussion essays, where one needs to provide in-depth details. The below-mentioned linking words will help candidates show the reader when they are going to introduce an opposing point:

• Nevertheless
• However
• On the other hand
• Admittedly
• Although
• Even though
• Despite
• But
• Although
• Still
• In spite of
• Alternatively
• In comparison
• By contrast

Conclusion

These connectors are the most useful in concluding a sentence and lend a final summary of their response:

• To sum up
• To conclude
• In conclusion

Providing opinion

Using the following linkers candidates can help address their opinion in a more confident and succinct way:

• I believe
• I admit
• In my opinion
• I think
• I agree/concur

IELTS Linking Words: Practice Question for Writing Task 1

Here is a practice task with IELTS writing connectors that will help candidates understand the usage and importance of connectors in IELTS writing task 1:These graphs show several key trends. 1. ____, in general terms, somewhat more than 70% of the population owned computers in 2000. 2. ____, this figure jumped to around 78% over the coming eight years.

3. ____, these figures varied as per group. 4. ____, service members were always ahead of the general population. Roughly three-quarters of service members owned computers in 2000. That figure jumped massively to reach 80% by 2008. 5. ____ non-high school finishers began with only a 12% computer ownership rate, which climbed to around 45% in eight years.

Answers:

1. To start with, firstly, first of all
2. Nevertheless, however, but
3. But, nevertheless, on the other hand
4. Any example connector can be used here except ‘such as’ because this is the starting of a sentence.
5. Any comparison connector

IELTS Linking Words: Practice Question for Writing Task 2

Candidates can practice IELTS essay linking words through this practice task:The prompt:Parents must not pressurise their children to pursue a particular career. Young people should have the freedom to choose their professional path, one that they like.Do you agree or disagree with this sentence?

1. _____ young people must have the freedom to choose, especially in their professional path. Deep down, some parents might want their children to take up a profession that they find interesting. These wishes are completely normal and normally not harmful.
2. 2. ____ it can turn to be harmful if these desires become strong expectations. 3. _____ freedom to a child does not necessarily mean that the parent needs to be absent. Instead, parents should have open communication with their children about their career decisions. 4. _____, if one’s dreams do not line up with their parents, they may, 5_____, fear approaching them in fear of judgment. 

Answers:

1. Any opinion connector will work here except ‘I agree’ or ‘I concur’. This is because it is the introductory line.
2. Admittedly
3. Nevertheless, on the other hand, however, but
4. Any example connector will fit here except ‘such as’ because this is the starting sentence.
5. Accordingly, as a result, consequently, therefore, for that reason, etc.

Frequency of IELTS Essay linking words

Too many IELTS essay linking words in a passage can confuse the examiner. Candidates must always remember to use the connectors wisely throughout the essay, wherever it is necessary. Using too many linkers would throw the reader from one thought to another. As a result, the candidate can lose significant marks.If you read linking words individually, they may not have significant meaning.

However, upon putting them into a relatable context, the candidate can form an essential communication that catches the examiner’s attention. Therefore, candidates must be well-versed in IELTS essay linking words to score well in this section. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

In one of our previous articles, IELTS Game talked about one of the assessment criteria of the Writing part in IELTS – Coherence and Cohesion or your ability to express the ideas in a clear and logical way.

One of the most important skills in this category is connecting your ideas.

To connect the sentences and paragraphs in your essay, you need to know a lot of linking words. So, in this article we will discuss the most useful linkers for Task 1 and Task 2 of the Writing test.

Types of Linking words

1. words connect similar ideas
2. linking words to connect different ideas
3. Comparison & contrast connectors
4. Clarifying an idea
5. Giving Examples vocabulary
6. Giving Reason
7. Sequence / Listing words
8. Giving Opinion
9. Conclusion phrases

1. Connecting similar ideas / adding information

The first group of linking words is used to connect similar ideas and to add extra information.

You may need these words both in Task 1 and Task 2. These words are:

• in addition / additionally
• moreover
• furthermore
• not only … but also
• also
• besides
• as well as

Let’s look at the examples:

2. Linking words to Connect different ideas

Sometimes you will have to connect not only similar ideas, but also the different or opposing ones.

To do so, you will need the following expressions:

• however
• although
• while
• whereas
• in spite of
• despite

For example:

3. Comparison and contrasting vocabulary

Very often essay questions require you to show comparison or contrast of something.

Task 1 questions are also constructed in the way that you should compare some figures or data.

So you need to know the following linking expressions for comparison and contrasting:

Comparison (more common for Task 1):

• likewise
• like
• similarly
• in the same way
• just as
• in comparison

Contrast:

• unlike
• nevertheless
• but
• in contrast to
• on the other hand
• even though

4. Clarifying an idea / proving

When you write an essay, you may sometimes need to repeat the same ideas in other words to make it more clear or to prove it.

This technique will show your good knowledge of vocabulary and will add extra 10 or 15 words to your essay.

When you want to clarify, prove or add more support to one of your ideas, use the following expressions:

• in other words
• that is
• in fact
• obviously
• evidently
• indeed
• in any case

Look at the examples:

These words may also be useful for graph descriptions:

However, while the other three types of school declined in importance, the opposite was true in the case of community schools. In fact, while only a small minority of 12% were educated in these schools in 2000, this figure increased to well over half of all pupils during the following nine years.

5. Giving examples

If you want to have a good score for your essay, you should know how to give examples.

It’s very important to support your ideas from the real life, so you may need the following phrases to introduce an example:

• for example
• for instance
• such as
• to illustrate / to demonstrate
• one clear example is / another example is

Let’s look at the examples:

6. Giving a reason / cause and effect

You may also need to write cause and effect essay for writing task 2. Begin sentences of this type with the following words:

• therefore
• because (of)
• consequently
• as a result
• so
• as
• due to
• thus
• for this reason
• as  a consequence

Since you are not required to express our personal opinion in Task 1 or to make our own conclusion, you’re not likely to use these expression in your diagram description.

But let’s look at the examples of their usage in essays:

7. Sequence / listing

In the first task, you might be asked to describe some processes depicted on a diagram.

Here you will need the words and expressions provided in the list below to describe the sequence or categorization:

• first
• second
• third
• to begin
• then
• next
• following this
• at this time
• at this point
• after
• finally
• before this
• meanwhile

For example:

For  your paragraphing and sequencing the ideas in an essay, you may use the following linking words:

• firstly
• secondly
• thirdly
• lastly
• finally
• on the one hand / on the other hand

For example:

Firstly, the importance of financial security cannot be undermined in the modern materialistic world… Secondly, the educated refrain from being employed in underpaying jobs, as these are less attractive.

Do not push a lot of linking words into the paragraphs and think about the appropriate use of these words.

For example, when you start the paragraph with the word Firstly, your next paragraph should start with Secondly.

Or if you start writing the first body paragraph with on the one hand, the second one must begin with on the other hand. 

However, on the other hand can be used to start a paragraph which opposes the idea stated in the first paragraph:

8. Giving opinion

There are also some expressions that you may need to express your opinion.

Remember, that you mustn’t express your point of view in Task 1, so you may use these expressions only in your essay:

• in my opinion
• I think
• I believe
• I admit
• I agree
• I disagree / I cannot accept

Here’s an example:

I do not quite agree with this view. In my opinion, developed and developing nations should work together to fight this menace that is threatening the very existence of life on the planet.

You have to read the essay question carefully to see if it asks for your opinion or no.

You will use these expressions only if the essay asks for your point of view.

Some essay questions will ask you to discuss some problem or tell about other people’s opinion on the topic.

In this case, you can use the following words:

• Some/Most people argue/think/say/maintain that
• It is understood that
• It is generally accepted that
• There is a tendency to believe that
• It is considered that … / while there are others who think …
• It is often thought
• It is commonly believed that

For example:

9. Conclusion

In Task 2 of the Writing test, you need to write a conclusion to sum up all your ideas.

You have to start writing the conclusion with the following phrases so that the examiner understands at once that you’re summarizing information:

• to sum up
• to conclude
• in conclusion

Some students tend to use expressions like in general and finally for a conclusion.

It’s wrong. “In general” doesn’t sound good in the academic writing, and “finally” is usually used when you write about your final idea in a body paragraph, but not a conclusion.

So the best way to begin your conclusion is the words stated above.

For example:

In conclusion, I strongly agree with the notion that group activities improve intellectual abilities.

Never use the same expressions in a diagram description. Moreover, you don’t need any conclusion in Task 1.

You must include an overview sentence in your answer that will summarize all the information you mentioned from the diagram.

This overview sentence may be placed after the introduction or at the end of your answer.

If you write this sentence at the end it will look like a conclusion, but it’s not really a conclusion.

You may start writing your overview sentence with a word “overall”.

For example:

The pie charts show the amount of revenue and expenditures in 2016 for a children’s charity in the USA. Overall, it can be seen that donated food accounted for the majority of the income, while program services accounted for the most expenditure.

As you see, in this case the overall sentence is at the beginning of your answer, after the introduction.

I personally recommend you to write the overview at the beginning.

However, it will not make a big difference, the most important thing is to have the overview.

Summing Up

So, this is all that concerns linking words and useful expressions for IELTS Writing. Don’t forget that you need a lot of practise to be able to use these linking words in your writing.

Every time when you write an essay at home, think about linking devices and add them into your work according to the meaning.

After a while, you will be able to use these phrases without even thinking that you use them.

Good luck!