IELTS Linking Words: Cohesive Devices for Band 7+

What examiners mean by 'cohesion'

Cohesion is how well your ideas link. Examiners score you on whether sentences and paragraphs flow logically — using pronouns, synonyms, repeated keywords and linking words naturally, not forcibly inserting 'furthermore' into every sentence. A well-linked paragraph needs only 2–3 explicit linkers; the rest flow via pronouns and logical flow.

Adding and listing ideas

and, in addition, furthermore, moreover, besides, as well as, including, another, also. Use these to build arguments: 'She was intelligent and, moreover, driven.' But avoid starting every sentence with a linker — vary your sentence structure and use pronouns instead: 'She was intelligent. This trait made her a strong leader.'

Showing contrast and concession

however, in contrast, on the other hand, although, though, despite, while, whereas, yet, but. These show disagreement or unexpected turns. Example: 'While the study is well-designed, the sample is small.' Use 'however' and 'on the other hand' at the start of sentences for clarity; use 'although' and 'despite' in the middle of sentences.

Showing cause and effect

because, since, as, due to, caused by, as a result, consequently, therefore, thus, so. Example: 'Because the storm was severe, schools closed. As a result, many families stayed home.' These are high-value words for explaining reasoning in essays and speaking.

Showing time and sequence

first, then, next, later, after, before, meanwhile, during, subsequently, previously, finally. Example: 'First, I completed my degree. Subsequently, I worked in finance. Finally, I decided to study abroad.' These help you narrate events clearly in writing and speaking.

Showing example and clarification

for example, for instance, such as, including, in other words, that is, to illustrate, specifically. Example: 'I study multiple languages. For instance, I am fluent in English and conversational in French.' These help you support arguments with specifics.

More is not better, and the examiners say so

Coherence and Cohesion explicitly penalises mechanical or overused linking. A paragraph opening every sentence with 'Moreover', 'Furthermore', 'In addition' scores lower than one with no connectors at all, because the devices are signalling relationships that are not there. The band descriptors reward cohesion that is used flexibly and appropriately, which usually means fewer connectors, better chosen. If you remove a linking word and the meaning does not change, it was doing no work and should go.

Cohesion without connectors, which is what Band 8 looks like

The strongest cohesion is often invisible. Referencing — 'this approach', 'such measures', 'the latter' — ties sentences together without announcing it. So does substitution ('some do, others do not') and controlled repetition of a key noun. Higher-band scripts read as continuous because each sentence picks up something from the one before, not because they are stapled together with adverbs. Practise by writing a paragraph with no connectors at all and making it flow through reference alone; then add back only the two or three that genuinely earn their place.

The connectors most often used wrongly

A short list worth checking in your own writing. 'Moreover' and 'furthermore' add a point in the SAME direction — they cannot introduce a contrast. 'On the contrary' contradicts a previous statement; 'on the other hand' introduces a different side, and they are not interchangeable. 'Firstly / secondly' commit you to finishing the sequence. 'In conclusion' belongs once, at the end. And 'besides' is informal in a way that clashes with an academic essay. Each of these is a small error that examiners notice repeatedly, and accuracy of use is exactly what the criterion measures.

How this differs in Speaking

Written connectors sound wrong out loud. 'Furthermore' and 'in conclusion' in a conversation register as rehearsed, and rehearsed language is discounted. Spoken cohesion uses different tools: 'the thing is', 'what I mean is', 'that said', 'anyway', 'actually'. These are informal by design and appropriate for Parts 1 and 3, where natural fluency is what is being assessed. Using essay connectors in Speaking is a common and costly mismatch, and it comes from studying one list for both papers.

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