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Useful Words and Phrases to use in IELTS Essay

Useful expressions for writing your essay for a higher band score:.

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Top 100 Phrases for IELTS Writing Test

If you are taking the IELTS Writing Test, it is beneficial to have some key phrases in handy to assist you in getting a high band score. 

Expanding your IELTS Writing vocabulary is a good idea, but it is even more crucial to write naturally and articulately to get the best results. 

Phrases like ‘It can extend a person’s horizon,’ ‘The essence of the debate is, and ‘very debatable’ is now regarded as ‘ scripted phrases,’ and using them in your IELTS Writing Test will only result in you losing marks.

To ace the IELTS Writing Test, you will need to use essential words and phrases to convey the points you want to make in an articulate, intelligent, and compelling manner. 

While we do not encourage you to memorize phrases, having a better comprehension of the terms that should be used in an academic writing test will help you build the vocabulary that will quickly improve your marks in the IELTS Writing Test. 

Continue reading and learn the most effective and common phrases in IELTS Writing to give you the band score that will be your ultimate ticket to achieving your dreams of studying, working, or living abroad. 

What is the IELTS Writing Task?

Linking structures and cohesive devices, connecting words for both ielts tasks, vocabulary to use in writing task 1, general training test: vocabulary to write letters, vocabulary to use in ielts writing task 2 (both academic and general training), ielts writing sample responses, ielts academic writing test : word lists, commonly confused words in the english language, tricks to learn and remember english vocabulary, additional faqs on ielts writing test.

The IELTS Writing Test is one of the four sections in the IELTS Test , the other three being Speaking , Listening , and Reading Tests. 

It is different for the IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training modules, but both tests have two tasks to be completed. It lasts about 60 minutes, and you are advised to spend only 20 minutes on the first task because the second task has more weight. 

The first task in the IELTS Academic Writing Test requires you to describe and explain the information given in either a graph, chart, map, table, or diagram. 

On the other hand, Task 1 of the IELTS General Training Writing Test asks you to compose a letter responding to a situation and requesting information and explanation. You should write at least 150 words in IELTS Writing Task 1 . 

Moreover, the second task in the IELTS Academic Writing and IELTS General Training Writing is the same. You need to respond to a point of view, problem, or argument by writing an essay. You need at least 250 words in IELTS Writing Task 2 . 

The IELTS Writing Task will be marked on the following criteria: grammar and sentence structure, vocabulary utilization, task response, and coherence and cohesion. 

Each contributes 25% to the overall score. Over the years, examiners have been impressed by candidates’ vocabulary and mastery of syntax but frustrated by how incoherently one sentence flows into the next.

Learn how to use linking structures and cohesive devices below:

How to Use Linking Words for IELTS Writing Task 1?

Academic test:.

You can use the different linking words in the IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 for:

• transitioning from a description of one visual to the next
• comparing and contrasting the key features of the visuals
• pointing out and emphasizing details of the visuals 

General Training Test:

You can use the different linking words in the IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 for:

• describing the problem or situation 
• transitioning from one viewpoint to the next
• explaining your requests

How to Use Linking Words for IELTS Writing Task 2?

Academic and general training:.

You can use the different linking words in the IELTS Writing Task 2 for:

• presenting your opinion
• transitioning from one paragraph to the next
• providing reasons
• giving examples
• explaining conditions and consequences of different scenarios 

To get higher marks in the IELTS Writing Test, more linking words are required. To achieve coherence and cohesion, you must employ a variety of phrases to connect one thought to the next, allowing the reader to follow your reasoning. 

Here are the most effective and common phrases in the IELTS Writing Test:

Transitional Words

• In addition…
• Furthermore…
• Additionally…
• On top of that…

Cause and effect

• As a result…
• Accordingly…
• Consequently…
• On that account…
• For that reason…

Comparison/Contrast

• In contrast…
• Alternatively…
• Nevertheless…
• On the other hand…
• In the end…
• To sum up… 
• To conclude…
• To summarize…
• In conclusion…
• As long as…
• Provided that…
• Supposing that…
• On the condition that…
• Especially…
• In particular…
• Particularly…
• Importantly…
• Without a doubt…
• To illustrate…
• For instance…
• For example…
• The best example is…
• A very good example is…
• I concur that…
• I agree that….
• I think/feel/believe that…
• Personally, I feel that…
• As far as I am concerned…
• From my point of view…
• In spite of…
• Admittedly…
• Even though…
• First of all…
• To start with…
• Thirdly/fourthly/etc…

Academic Test:  Vocabulary to Describe Graphs

Introducing the graph

The graph/table/pie chart/bar chart/diagram…

• illustrates …
• explains why …
• describes …
• gives information about/on …
• provides information about/on …

Changes in the graph

• a growth of…
• a surge of…
• a decrease in…
• a decline in…
• a fluctuation in…
• a variation in…
• dramatically
• significantly
• considerably
• significant
• considerable
• substantial

1. Introduction of the Letter

• I am writing to inform you that …
• I am writing to ask/inquire …
• I am writing with regard to …
• I am writing in connection with …
• I am writing with reference to …
• It’s been a long time. I am writing to…
• I’m simply writing to inform you that…
• I haven’t seen you in a long time.
• Please accept my apologies for not writing in such a long time. I’ve been quite busy…

2. Body of the Letter

Asking for information.

• I’d like for you to…
• Could let me know if…
• I’d appreciate it if you could…
• I’m hoping you could inform me…
• I’d like to seek your opinion on…

Complaining

• This letter is to express my dissatisfaction…
• I’m writing to express my displeasure with…
• I’m writing to voice my disappointment with…
• I’m writing to tell you that I am disappointed… 

Expressing Gratitude

• I am thankful for…
• I’m very grateful for…
• I very much appreciated…
• I’d like to thank you very much for…

Apologizing

• I really regret that/about…
• Please accept my apologies for…
• I’d like to express my regret for…
• Please accept my sincere apologies for…

Giving Advice

• You should…
• You ought to…
• Why don’t you…
• If I were you, I’d…

Giving Suggestion

• If you like, I can…
• Do you want me to…
• What do you think about…
• I believe it would be fantastic if you…

3. Closing of the Letter

• I eagerly await your response.
• Thank you so much for your assistance.
• Thank you so much for taking the time to read this.
• I’m hoping for a quick resolution to the matter.
• Please do not hesitate to call me if you need any additional information.
• Please stay in contact!
• I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible.
• Thanks a lot for your assistance, send me a message soon.
• Anyway, I have to leave now. If you need additional details, please write again.

Vocabulary to Write Essays

Expressing Opinions

• I’d argue that… 
• In my opinion…
• Personally, I believe…
• It appears to me that… 
• I have to admit that…
• As far as I can tell…
• As for me, I believe…
• That is something I cannot deny…
• I’d like to emphasize that…
• In my personal experience…

Proving Arguments

• This is testified by…
• This is evidenced by…
• This establishes that…
• This is attested/proven by…

Expressing General Point of View

• It is commonly stated that…
• According to popular belief…
• It is commonly assumed that…
• It is generally assumed that…
• It is largely agreed upon that…
• It’s a widely held assumption that…

Outlining Facts

• It is evident that …
• The truth is that …
• It is obvious that …
• This shows that …
• There is no doubt that …

Giving Examples

• As an example…
• Take for instance…
• We can see this in…
• A good illustration of this is…
• Evidence for this is manifested in…
• To summarize… 
• In conclusion… 
• In general…
• On balance… 
• Taking everything into account…

Additional Reading: IELTS Grammar

• Top 100 IELTS Phrasal Verbs
• Grammar for IELTS Exam: Complete Guide
• 50 Useful Phrases for the IELTS Speaking Test

The IELTS Writing Test is by no means easy. Most candidates would agree that this part of the test made them anxious. 

To impress the examiners and get a high band score , it is advised that you read and study different sample and model responses and learn the different writing techniques to help you achieve your desired band score. 

Here are some of them. Take note of the transition words and vocabulary used. 

You were supposed to start a new job next week, but you won’t be able to because of certain issues. Send a letter to your new boss. In your letter, 

• give an explanation of your circumstances
• state your issues
• inform him/her when you think you’ll be able to begin.

How much do you agree or disagree with the claim that e-books and modern technology will completely replace conventional newspapers and magazines?

Example 4: 

Some argue that children should be educated to compete, while others argue that they should be taught to cooperate. What are your thoughts on the matter?

The IELTS Writing Test requires an extensive vocabulary. Having a diverse vocabulary is one of the secrets to writing an effective essay. However, it is not enough to memorize the words; you also need to know how to use them in your writing.

We have listed a set of word lists to help you with your IELTS Writing Test.

Do not be worried if you will not memorize all the word lists: quality trumps quantity! It is far preferable to learn 1 word-lists well rather than 5 word-lists poorly.

Word List 1

Word list 2, word list 3, word list 4.

English is a complicated language. Some words look the same, and some sound the same.

Recognizing the difference between these similar words could be tricky. 

We want to help you succeed on your IELTS journey, so we are providing you with some of the most commonly confused words in the English language. Pay close attention to these words and avoid the past mistakes most candidates have committed. 

Affect vs. Effect

Meaning: To have an influence or effect on something/someone

Example Sentence:

Meaning: To cause something to happen

Loose vs. Lose

Meaning : Not fitting tightly or closely

Meaning : (1) To fail to win or

(2) to misplace something

Lay vs. Lie

Meaning : To put down gently or carefully

Meaning : To assume a horizontal position on a resting surface

Accept vs. Except

Meaning : To consent to receive

Meaning : Not included

Complement vs. Compliment

Meaning : Something that fills up, completes, or makes better

Meaning : A polite expression of praise

Farther vs. Further

Meaning : Over a large expanse of physical distance

Meaning : Over a large expanse figurative distance

Passed vs. Past

Meaning : Simple past tense of ‘pass’

Meaning : Gone by in time and no longer existing

Elicit vs. Illicit

Meaning : Draw out a response from someone

Meaning : Forbidden by law

Any way vs. Anyway

Meaning: A phrase that means in any manner or method

Meaning : Used to confirm an idea just mentioned 

Than vs. Then

Meaning : Used before the second element in a comparison 

Meaning : An adverb indicating time or sequence.

Its vs. It’s

Meaning : Belonging to or associated with a thing previously mentioned

Meaning : Contraction of ‘it is’

Their vs. There vs. They’re

Meaning : Belonging to or associated with people or things previously mentioned 

Meaning : An adverb of place (in, at, to)

Meaning : Contraction of ‘they are’

Your vs. You’re

Meaning : Belonging to or associated with the person or people the speaker is talking to

Meaning : Contraction of ‘you are’

Who vs. Whom

Meaning : A pronoun used as a subject refers to a person or people

Meaning :   A pronoun used as an object referring to a person or people

That vs. Which

Meaning : Used when the phrase after it is essential in the sentence

Meaning : Used when the phrase after it is not essential in the sentence

Meaning : A preposition that indicates the direction

Meaning : An adverb that means in addition or also

You will not get very far with your language skills, no matter how brilliant your grammar is if you do not know any words to use it with. Vocabulary brings up new worlds while also making studying enjoyable and rewarding.

However, extending your vocabulary is like going on a diet. You need to exert effort, and there is no magic trick, no secret, and no one-size-fits-all method for doing so. You must identify what works best for you. Nevertheless, being patient, setting reasonable objectives, and rewarding yourself when you achieve them are sound strategies that can be supplemented with the following suggestions.

• Make Use of Memory Tricks : Mnemonics are mental shortcuts that will help you remember more complicated concepts or words. It is a popular approach to memorizing a language. You can make associations between words. For example, when you need to buy Spaghetti, Tomatoes, Olives, Rice , and Eggs from the STORE . Furthermore, the more you think about acronyms or associations, the better you will remember the phrases that go with them.
• Create an Environment Conducive to Learning : When you study abroad, you will hear and read the language everywhere, allowing you to acquire the language far more quickly through immersion. Luckily, you do not need to travel overseas to enhance your vocabulary gradually. You may create an inspirational and study-friendly environment wherever you are. Purchase publications or books in the new language, watch movies and prepare (or simply eat) local cuisine.
• Make Use of a Notebook : Writing new words in a tangible notebook has a romantic quality to it. Just add a new word to a running vocabulary list when you come across a new word that you do not recognize. Then, a few times a week, go over the list, obliterating the English definitions and attempting to recall what each term meant. The more you read through the notebook, the easier it will be to recall the words. You can eventually cross off the words you know, so you do not have to go over them again.
• Put the Words in Their Proper Context : Putting words in context is a fantastic way to learn more vocabulary faster. Consider putting them together in phrases rather than composing lists of random words. That way, you will understand how the word is utilized in everyday situations. It will also be easier to remember if you come up with entertaining sentences. You can also generate drawings or discover visuals that will complement the sentences and place the words in their natural home, depending on how you learn.
• Take it a Step Further : Allow adequate space for mind maps with connected words, synonyms, and antonyms if you want to take your learning a step higher. If you’re going to make the most of your learning, try explaining and describing the word in English rather than translating it into your original tongue.
• Put in The Effort : The most crucial thing you will need to recall English words is the appropriate attitude and the willingness to put in the effort. However, there is no such thing as a magical system. None of the approaches listed above are “correct” or “incorrect.” Find something that works for you and utilize it regularly. Experiment with a few to find which produces the greatest results.

Additional Reading: How to Improve Your English Speaking Skills

• How to Speak English Without an Accent
• How to Learn English By Watching the FRIENDS TV Series
• Best Youtube Channels to Learn English
• Top 40 Instagram Accounts to Help You Learn English
• 30+ Tips to Speak English Without Grammar Mistakes

Is it Okay to Write 400 Words in IELTS Writing?

Candidates should write words that are slightly above the word limit. That is 170 – 190 words in the IELTS Writing Task 1 and 270 – 290 words in the IELTS Writing Task 2.

However, note that there is no word limit, and you will not lose marks for exceeding the word limit.

Keep in mind that the examiners will mark your IELTS Writing not based on the number of words you write but on the quality of your work. 

Is a 7 in IELTS Writing Good?

Yes, a band score of 7 in the IELTS Writing Test is good. It means that you are a ‘good user’ and that you have impressed the examiner enough to give you a 7.

Most candidates have not been able to achieve this as the IELTS Writing Test is arguably the most challenging.

So if you get a 7 (or higher) band score, be proud.

How is the IELTS Writing Marked?

The examiner will focus on four primary areas: 

(1) how you were able to answer the question well;  (2) how well you connect an idea to the text;  (3) your vocabulary range and accuracy; and  (4) your grammatical forms range and accuracy. Each criterion contributes 25 percent of your overall marks in the IELTS Writing Test. 

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Writing High-Scoring IELTS Essays: A Step-by-Step Guide

Writing great IELTS essays is essential for success. This guide will give you the tools to craft high-scoring essays. It’ll focus on structuring thoughts, using appropriate vocabulary and grammar, and expressing ideas with clarity . We’ll also look at essay types and strategies for managing time during the writing exam .

Practice is key . Spend time each day doing mock tests or getting feedback from experienced teachers or professionals. With practice and dedication , you’ll improve your language proficiency and increase your chances of getting a good score. Good luck!

Understanding the IELTS Essay Task

To excel in the IELTS essay task, equip yourself with a solid understanding of its requirements. Dive into the sub-sections that uncover what is expected in this task and the various question types you may encounter. Mastering these topics will pave the way for success in crafting compelling and high-scoring IELTS essays.

What is expected in the IELTS essay task

The IELTS essay task requires applicants to demonstrate their writing abilities in a certain timeframe . It evaluates their capacity to create a coherent and structured piece of composition .

A clear thesis is a must. It should be succinct, conveying the primary thought of the essay . Also, there should be a logical structure including an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. The content should be relevant, utilizing suitable examples, evidence, and arguments to back the main idea. Arguments must be coherent, with smooth transitions between paragraphs . Plus, formal language, correct grammar, and accurate syntax must be used.

Moreover, applicants must demonstrate critical thinking by analyzing the topic and giving a balanced argument . Furthermore, they must effectively manage their time to generate a thorough answer within the word limit.

To illustrate the significance of these requirements in real-life situations, let me tell you about Jennifer . She was an aspiring nurse from Brazil taking the IELTS test . At first, she found it hard to handle the essay task. She asked for help from expert tutors who highlighted the relevance of her thesis statement and the logic in organizing her ideas. With effort and dedication, Jennifer got the hang of these skills and eventually achieved her target band score .

The types of questions asked in the IELTS essay task

The IELTS essay task covers multiple types of questions. To comprehend the variety of these questions, let’s look at some examples.

To do well, you need to prepare and practice for each type. Develop strong analytical skills to effectively answer the prompts during the exam.

Pro Tip: Get used to various question types by writing essays on different topics. This will help you adjust and boost your performance.

Descriptive questions

It’s essential to comprehend the IELTS Essay Task. This section focuses on descriptive questions . To illustrate this info effectively, use a table with suitable columns. Unique details enhance our understanding. To sharpen essay writing abilities, certain tips are useful. For instance, practice time management and create a clear structure . These hints are helpful in keeping the writing coherent and providing a logical flow .

Also Read: 10 Must-Follow IELTS Reading Tips and Tricks to Boost Your Band Score

Argumentative questions

Queries that need a thorough analysis and a display of multiple perspectives on a given topic are called argumentative questions .

They come in different types, such as:

• Cause and Effect (e.g. What are the consequences of using social media?)
• Pros and Cons (e.g. Should zoos be forbidden?)
• Agree or Disagree (e.g. Is homework essential for students?).

These questions push candidates to think logically, consider evidence, and construct a convincing argument using the correct order and reasoning methods.

As per the British Council, the IELTS essay task assesses the capability of the applicant to articulate an argument in a clear, understandable, and structured manner.

Advantages and disadvantages questions

Advantages and disadvantages questions require a balanced overview of both the positive and negative perspectives. Here is a summary of these questions:

It is important to note that advantages and disadvantages questions offer the opportunity to show understanding by talking about diverse points of view. Nevertheless, you should be careful when replying to these questions, as they can lead to prejudice if not tackled objectively.

Pro Tip: When responding to an advantages and disadvantages question, try to remain balanced by considering both sides of the problem. This will help you create an in-depth reply.

Problem and solution questions

Problem and solution questions demand the test-taker to figure out a problem and suggest successful solutions. Here are 6 tips to help you excel in this IELTS essay type:

• Name the problem precisely: Start by accurately stating the dilemma you will discuss in your essay.
• Examine the causes: Examine the underlying causes of the problem and consider various points of view.
• Propose multiple solutions: Offer multiple possible solutions, taking into account their practicality and efficiency.
• Evaluate each solution: Analyze the pros and cons of each proposed solution.
• Offer supporting evidence: Back your ideas with real-life cases, data, or professional opinions.
• Recommend the best solution: Based on your assessment, pick one solution as the most appropriate and explain why it is superior.

Also, remember to follow these hints when responding to problem and solution questions:

• Think about short-term and long-term effects of applying each solution.
• Prioritize realistic and feasible solutions over idealistic ones.
• Anticipate potential challenges or disagreements to your suggested solutions and provide counterarguments.

By following these steps, you can successfully respond to problem and solution questions in an IELTS essay.

Analyzing the Essay Question

To analyze the essay question effectively in “Writing High-Scoring IELTS Essays: A Step-by-Step Guide,” focus on breaking it down, identifying key terms and instructions, and formulating a thesis statement. These sub-sections will provide the solution you need to approach the essay question strategically and produce a well-structured and coherent response.

Breaking down the essay question

Let’s break down an essay question with a table. The table has elements, description, topic, scope, task, and subtasks .

We can use this table to plan and structure our response. It helps us address all aspects of the question while staying clear and coherent.

Here are some tips for breaking down an essay question:

• Read and understand it. Look for keywords that give clues.
• Identify the main topic.
• Find out the scope.
• Analyze the task.
• Break down subtasks.

By following these steps, you can break down the essay question and write your response with clarity. Understanding the elements helps you structure your argument and provide a full analysis.

Identifying key terms and instructions

When analyzing an essay, it’s key to recognize key terms and instructions. This allows us to know what is being asked and how to approach the topic. We can do this by:

• Reading the question thoroughly.
• Looking for important words.
• Finding out the meanings of any unfamiliar terms.
• Understanding the instructions.
• Noting limitations or qualifiers.
• Setting boundaries for what should be included or excluded.

Recognizing these terms and instructions is essential for creating a solid basis for the essay. Also, taking into account language nuances like tone, style, and phrasing can raise the quality of the response.

I recall a time when I missed a keyword while answering a prompt in my high school English class. Despite spending hours on my response, I didn’t explicitly address one aspect mentioned in the instruction. That experience taught me the value of closely examining and understanding each part of an essay question before writing it.

Formulating a thesis statement

Creating a thesis statement requires careful thinking and consideration. The purpose of your essay – whether it is to persuade, inform, or analyze – will determine the type of statement you make. For example, if you aim to persuade, your thesis should plainly state your opinion and provide evidence to back it up.

To create an effective thesis statement, it is important to be specific and precise. Avoid making foggy or wide statements that are unclear. Instead, focus on making an exact statement or argument. This will help guide your essay and give it a clear purpose.

When forming your thesis statement, consider counterarguments. Addressing possible objections strengthens your argument and displays critical thinking abilities. By recognizing differing viewpoints and offering replies, you demonstrate that you have studied and viewed all sides of the situation.

In addition, a great thesis statement should be debatable. It should start a conversation and attract the reader. Avoid mentioning facts that everyone agrees with or making general assertions. Instead, take a stance on an issue that may be questionable or open to interpretation.

In conclusion, creating a firm thesis statement requires careful consideration. Take the time to brainstorm, study different angles, and refine your argument. By doing this, you will create an essay that interests readers and accurately expresses your message.

Planning and Organizing the Essay

To plan and organize your IELTS essay effectively, turn to ‘Planning and Organizing the Essay.’ Create an outline, brain dump ideas, and arrange them logically. These steps will provide a clear structure and help you express your thoughts with coherence and coherence, ensuring high scores on your IELTS essays.

Creating an outline

Thesis Statement: Outlining is a valuable writing technique that has been used since ancient times. It provides a roadmap for essays, helps maintain focus, and allows for coherent and persuasive arguments.

Paragraph 1:

• Introduction to outlining as a writing technique
• Definition of outlining and its purpose
• Explanation of how outlining structures thoughts in an organized way
• Importance of outlining in communicating arguments coherently and persuasively

Paragraph 2:

• Historical perspective on the use of outlining
• Mention of Aristotle and his belief in the effectiveness of outlining
• Reference to Leonardo da Vinci’s use of outlines when writing
• Reinforcement of the timeless importance of outlining

Paragraph 3:

• Consideration of the audience when creating an outline
• Importance of tailoring the structure to the audience’s knowledge level
• Inclusion of explanations or background information as necessary
• Discussion of addressing counterarguments or opposing views in the outline

Conclusion:

• Summary of the benefits and significance of outlining
• Reiteration of its role in structuring thoughts, maintaining focus, and presenting persuasive arguments
• Encouragement for writers to utilize outlining as a valuable tool in their writing process

brain dumping ideas

Brain dumping ideas is jotting down all thoughts about a topic or subject quickly. This way you can express without worrying about structure or organization. To make the most of this technique, consider these four points:

• Dedicate time and space to brainstorming. Find a quiet environment with no distractions.
• Grab pen and paper or open a blank document. Write any ideas that come to mind, even small ones.
• Review what you have written. Look for patterns and connections.
• Organize your thoughts into categories or themes.

Remember, brain dumping is not a final product. It’s a tool for creativity. Allow yourself to explore ideas and uncover details that improve the essay. Here are more suggestions:

• Go beyond the obvious ideas. Think outside the box.
• Use mind mapping and visual aids to represent thoughts.
• Discuss ideas with peers or mentors.
• Take breaks if you feel overwhelmed.

Arranging ideas logically

For illustrating the importance of arranging thoughts logically, let’s use a table. It demonstrates multiple organizational patterns:

Now let’s discuss extra details. A good way to enhance logical organization is using clear topic sentences for each paragraph. These sentences act as signposts. They guide readers through the essay’s main idea without giving away too much info upfront.

In addition, supporting evidence in each paragraph strengthens logical progression. This evidence can be examples, statistics, or quotations from reliable sources. These substantiate your statements.

Lastly, transitioning between paragraphs smoothly creates a coherent flow of thoughts. Using transitional words like “however”, “in contrast”, or “similarly” helps establish connections between ideas. This avoids abrupt changes of topics.

Writing the Introduction

To write a high-scoring IELTS essay, start your introduction with a strong hook that grabs the reader’s attention. This section will guide you on the importance of a strong introduction and share techniques on how to engage the reader from the first sentence. Additionally, you’ll learn how to structure the introduction paragraph effectively.

The importance of a strong introduction

Writing a strong introduction is essential. It sets the tone for an article and draws readers in. It acts like a doorway – grabbing the attention of readers and inviting them to explore the content further.

A strong introduction allows readers to quickly grasp the main ideas of an article. It gives an overview of what will be discussed, forming a basis for the article. Without a good introduction, readers may lose interest or have difficulty understanding the purpose of the article.

Furthermore, a well-composed introduction establishes authority and trustworthiness. By showcasing research-backed facts or intriguing insights, an author can show they are knowledgeable on the subject.

In addition, a strong intro evokes emotion in readers by appealing to their curiosity or feelings. It may pose a problem or highlight a fascinating aspect that piques their interest. By making an emotional connection with readers from the start, writers guarantee audience engagement through their piece.

Now let’s look at some unique details about introductions. One effective technique is to grab attention with a shocking fact or stat related to the topic. This not only attracts reader interest but also proves the writer’s knowledge of the subject.

Another technique is to use storytelling elements in introductions. Introducing a relatable anecdote or personal experience that connects with readers’ lives can make the topic more understandable. By adding these personal narratives, writers create empathy and relate to their audience.

Now let’s look at a real example of a powerful introduction – The opening line of Charles Dickens’ novel “A Tale of Two Cities.” His famous line “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times” immediately encapsulates both optimism and despair, captivating readers right away. This shows how a strong introduction can set the stage for an unforgettable journey.

Remember, a powerful introduction can make or break an article. By grabbing attention, providing a clear overview, establishing credibility, and making an emotional connection with readers, writers can make sure their work is both interesting and informative. So, take time to perfect your introductions – they are the key to engaging your audience and leaving a lasting impression.

How to grab the reader’s attention

• Start with an intriguing fact or a thought-provoking question. This will get the reader’s attention.
• Introduce the topic and show why it’s important. Keep it concise and focused.
• State your main point or argument. Give the reader a roadmap.

To make your introduction even better, add a story or an emotional connection. This will create an instant bond and keep them hooked.

Remember: Grab their attention from the start, but don’t give away too much info.

Pro Tip: Get feedback on your intro before finalizing it. Revise it as needed.

Structuring the introduction paragraph

Engage your reader with an interesting story or statistic. Then, outline your main points concisely and without jargon. Use transition phrases such as “building upon this idea” to move smoothly from hook to background. Finish off with a clear thesis statement. This will give readers a good understanding of what to expect in the article.

Developing Body Paragraphs

To develop strong body paragraphs in your IELTS essays, focus on crafting clear topic sentences and providing supporting details. Additionally, learn how to effectively present arguments and examples to strengthen your arguments. Finally, understand how to utilize cohesive devices to seamlessly connect ideas and enhance the overall coherence of your writing.

Topic sentences and supporting details

Topic Sentences and Supporting Details

Topic sentences provide the main idea of a paragraph. To explain them, it’s important to include relevant details.

To illustrate this concept, let’s look at a table. It shows how topic sentences and supporting details work together.

This shows that each topic sentence is followed by supporting details which strengthen the message.

Now let’s delve into the details about topic sentences and supporting details. They should be presented in a logical order. The details should also be relevant and specific to the main idea. By following these principles, writers can effectively convey their points while maintaining coherence.

To improve writing further, consider transitional phrases between supporting details. Also, acknowledge counterarguments within the paragraphs. This helps make it more persuasive without compromising its informative nature.

Providing arguments and examples

Let’s explore how to give strong arguments and examples. Imagine a neat table with data that supports our view. There should be columns of factual numbers to back up the argument. This visual aid is a great way to convince readers.

We also need to include details that haven’t been discussed before. These details add more to our writing, so it looks professional. By looking into lesser-known aspects, we can make our arguments better.

So why wait? Using evidence in your writing will make readers emotional. It will also make them feel like they have to join your perspective. Don’t be scared to use persuasive body paragraphs. Use evidence to make your writing stand out – make it specific to your audience’s needs and interests.

Using cohesive devices to link ideas

Cohesive devices like transitional phrases and linking words can make ideas seamlessly flow. This gives the reader a better understanding of the writer’s thoughts.

A unique way of using them is to introduce examples and supporting evidence in a paragraph. This helps arguments by giving more information that reinforces the main point. “For example” or “specifically” are great phrases for linking ideas and bringing clarity.

Pro Tip: Pick the right word or phrase for the intended meaning. Think about the context of the sentence and choose a cohesive device to accurately express your message.

Crafting the Conclusion

To craft a compelling conclusion in your IELTS essays, summarize the main points, restate the thesis statement, and leave a lasting impression. Summarizing the main points helps reinforce your arguments, restating the thesis statement recaps your stance, and leaving a lasting impression ensures your essay lingers in the reader’s mind.

Summarizing the main points

Crafting a powerful conclusion is essential to leave an impression on readers. Here’s how:

• Highlight each point’s importance & impact.
• Show their connection to form a cohesive narrative.
• Explain how they contribute to the overall message.
• End with a call to action or thought-provoking final remark.

When summarizing main points in an article’s conclusion, aim for clarity and brevity while making sure your words stay with the reader even after they finish reading. Remember that readers’ perception of the article is heavily influenced by the conclusion.

Restating the thesis statement

Have you ever wanted to live a crazier life ? Let’s give it a try! Dance ’till you drop, sing at the top of your lungs, and laugh like there’s no tomorrow . Let loose and have some fun! It’ll be an adventure you won’t soon forget.

Have you ever dreamed of living a wilder life ? Let’s do it! Dance ’til you can’t move, belt out your favorite songs, and laugh with joy . Go for it and have a blast! This will be an adventure you won’t forget anytime soon.

Leaving a lasting impression

It is key to craft a lasting impression. Get to the point, use strong words and visuals. End with a call-to-action.

Customize your message to cater to the needs of your audience. Speak with the right tone and style for engagement.

Winston Churchill is a prime example of leaving a lasting impression. His speeches during World War II inspired nations. Even after his death, his words still have an impact.

To leave a lasting impression, be concise. Employ impactful words. Use visual aids. And make a call-to-action. Understand your audience. Draw inspiration from those who have come before. You can make your mark in communication.

Proofreading and Editing

To ensure high-scoring IELTS essays in the section on proofreading and editing, focus on checking for grammar and spelling errors, improving sentence structure and clarity, and ensuring coherence and cohesion. This process will help refine your writing and make it more polished and effective.

Checking for grammar and spelling errors

Proofreading and editing are essential. Checking for grammar and spelling errors boosts professionalism and increases reader comprehension.

Pay attention to sentence structure, subject-verb agreement, punctuation, and verb tenses to identify potential grammar mistakes. Check for run-on sentences and fragments.

For spelling errors, read the document through and use spell-check tools. But, they may not detect homophones or typos.

A great technique is to read the text aloud. It can help spot awkward phrasing and spelling mistakes. It’s a good idea to get another set of eyes to review the work too.

By following these tips, and being careful, writers can deliver accurate and high-quality work. Proofreading ensures clear communication and boosts professional credibility.

Improving sentence structure and clarity

To better your sentence structure & clarity, follow these 6 steps!

• Start with a topic sentence – clearly state the main idea.
• Use active voice instead of passive for concise writing.
• Keep sentences short & simple.
• Use transitions to connect ideas.
• Cut out wordiness.
• Revise & proofread.

Plus, vary sentence length, check subject-verb agreement, adjust tone according to context, & read aloud . Practicing these tips will help you improve your sentences.

In 1928, Virginia Woolf wrote “Orlando,” a modernist masterpiece. She disregarded traditional sentence structures & embraced a fluid style. Her success proved breaking free from conventional sentences could lead to creative & captivating writing.

Ensuring coherence and cohesion

Key aspects for ensuring coherence and cohesion:

• Transition words – help make a smooth transition between ideas and paragraphs.
• Pronouns – like ‘it’, ‘he’, ‘she’ refer back to nouns, creating continuity.
• Repetition – of words or phrases reinforces main ideas.
• Synonyms – introduce different words to avoid repetition and stay clear.
• Logical order – so readers can follow thoughts easily.

To further improve your writing:

• Read out loud – awkward sentences and gaps in flow become clear.
• Use sentence variety – simple, compound and complex sentences.
• Take breaks – get fresh perspectives on improvement areas.
• Get feedback – let peers or professionals help with coherence and cohesion.

These suggestions help readers follow ideas without confusion. They create clear connections and a seamless experience.

Practice and Tips for Success

To improve your performance in IELTS essays, utilize the ‘Practice and Tips for Success’ section. Discover effective strategies to ace the exam by engaging in exercises such as practicing with sample essay questions, managing time effectively, and seeking feedback for continuous improvement.

Practicing with sample essay questions

Analyze the prompt. Read it carefully and identify the key words or phrases that define the topic. Grasping the prompt helps form a focused thesis statement.

Research and gather info. Do thorough research to gather pertinent facts from reliable sources. Make notes and organize them based on arguments or counterarguments.

Plan your essay. Put together an outline or structure before you start writing. This ensures coherence and logical progression of ideas.

Write a draft. Use the notes and outline as a guide and begin writing your essay. Focus on presenting arguments, proving them, and demonstrating analytical skills.

Review and revise. After completing your draft, review it for clarity, coherence, grammar, and punctuation errors. Make the needed changes to strengthen your essay’s content and flow.

Time management is essential when attempting practice essays to prepare for real exams. Practice with sample essay questions to sharpen your writing, build confidence, and improve future performance.

Notable figures like authors, scholars, and professionals have honed their writing skills by regularly engaging in practice with sample essay questions. This has not only boosted their ability to effectively express thoughts, but also has helped them comprehend different perspectives on multiple topics.

Managing time effectively

Don’t let missed opportunities haunt you! Take control of your time and reap the rewards. To maximize your potential for success, start implementing these techniques now:

• Prioritize tasks. Identify most important ones first . This ensures time is spent on activities that have the greatest impact.
• Set goals. Establish clear goals for each day or week . This provides you with a sense of direction and purpose.
• Create a schedule. Develop a daily or weekly outline that blocks off time for different activities. This helps you allocate time efficiently and prevents procrastination.
• Avoid multitasking. Studies show this decreases productivity. Focus on one task at a time to ensure quality work.

Productivity tools such as task management apps or timers can help. Also, practice self-discipline, and eliminate distractions such as notifications or find a quiet workspace. This enhances focus and concentration. Commit to these strategies consistently and experience benefits like more tasks accomplished within deadlines, and reduced stress levels.

Seeking feedback and improvement

Actively search for feedback from mentors, colleagues, and supervisors . Accept criticism as a chance for progress, not personally. Ask for feedback on a project or performance, to get helpful feedback. Take the time to think about feedback and pick out what you can do to improve. Even with positive feedback, keep searching for ways to develop.

Remember, requesting feedback needs openness and humility . Showing you want to learn is a sign of growth.

Pro Tip: Listen closely to feedback, rather than defending yourself. This will help you understand the point of view and make improvements.

We have reached the end of our step-by-step guide for writing high-scoring IELTS essays . Reflecting on the key points covered, we explored strategies and techniques to improve your essay writing. Understanding the marking criteria, managing time, building strong arguments, structuring essays – these are all necessary tools for success. To craft a strong essay, use relevant examples from academic journals, news outlets, and official reports. Demonstrate critical thinking by analyzing perspectives on a topic. Also, ensure that your ideas flow logically, using transition words and phrases. Diverse vocabulary and sentence structures will show off your language proficiency and engage the reader.

It is important to note that practice is key to success in the IELTS exam . Practice planning, drafting, and editing essays within timed conditions to improve your writing. Dedication, practice, and understanding of the strategies discussed in this article will help you to achieve higher scores . According to The British Council (2020) , candidates who implement these techniques are more likely to succeed.

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ 1: What is the key to writing high-scoring IELTS essays? The key to writing high-scoring IELTS essays is to clearly understand the essay question, plan your response, and structure your essay effectively. Additionally, make sure to use a wide range of vocabulary, demonstrate strong grammar skills, and provide evidence and examples to support your ideas.

FAQ 2: How can I improve my vocabulary for IELTS essays? You can improve your vocabulary for IELTS essays by reading extensively, especially from reputable sources such as newspapers, books, and academic articles. Make a note of unfamiliar words and their meanings, and try to use them in your own writing. Additionally, using vocabulary learning resources such as flashcards or vocabulary apps can be helpful.

FAQ 3: Are there any specific essay structures I should follow? Yes, there are several essay structures you can follow, depending on the type of essay question. The most common structures include the Introduction-Body-Conclusion structure and the Pros and Cons structure. It is important to choose a structure that suits the essay question and helps you present your ideas logically.

FAQ 4: How can I improve my grammar skills for IELTS essays? To improve your grammar skills for IELTS essays, practice writing regularly and seek feedback from native English speakers or qualified English language teachers. You can also use grammar reference books or online resources to learn about specific grammar rules and common errors. Take note of your frequent errors and work on them systematically.

FAQ 5: How long should an IELTS essay be? An IELTS essay should be between 250 and 300 words long. Writing within this word limit ensures that you have enough time to develop your ideas and demonstrate your English language proficiency. It is important to manage your time effectively during the exam to allocate enough time for planning, writing, and reviewing your essay.

FAQ 6: How can I practice for writing high-scoring IELTS essays? You can practice for writing high-scoring IELTS essays by practicing timed writing tasks using past IELTS essay questions. Familiarize yourself with the assessment criteria, and self-evaluate your essays. Additionally, seek feedback from experienced IELTS instructors or professional essay evaluators to identify areas for improvement and learn effective strategies.

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Useful Phrases for IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay

Here we have listed useful vocabulary and phrases you can use when writing an essay in IELTS Writing Task 2 . Instead of providing an extensive list of 100+ essay phrases for IELTS, we have narrowed it down to the most essential.

Keep the vocabulary list next to you while you practise, so you can get ideas for linking and expressing your views.

• Over the last century ...
• The idea that ... has its merits.
• While this is an interesting proposal and has some merit, my own view is that it would ...
• Despite these arguments, there is an equally strong case to be made that it would be ...
• There is much debate about the position. I will discuss both these ... in this essay.
• This is a complex issue and my belief is that ...
• There are a variety of potential ways of combatting this problem.
• However, in order to find a solution, it is first of all necessary to understand what has led to this happening.
• Finding the right policies is not an easy task as it is a complex problem.
• There is some dispute whether the best method of …

Stating viewpoints

• There are different viewpoints held in this discussion.
• Some people argue that ..., while others think that ...
• However, there is a large body of opinion which is opposed to …
• It is said that three-quarters of all children ...

To add more points on a topic

• There are several reasons why ...
• It can also be argued that ...
• This is certainly not an easy issue though, because ... has caused as many problems as it solves.
• ... is the only point to be taken into consideration when ...
• ... is an urgent problem that needs to be addressed.
• At the same time, a lot of publicity is given to what the public consider to be ...
• Most of the experts blame … for this problem.
• Given that … is cheap and ..., it is not surprising that ...
• My conclusion is therefore that ...
• In conclusion, I believe that while there are real merits on both sides of the argument, the moral case against forcing people to work slightly outweighs any benefit to ...
• Its benefits outweigh the drawbacks and have a positive effect on many aspects of our lives ...
• All things considered, ...
• My own personal view is that there is merit in both sides of the debate.
• Finally, ...

See also: Linking Words For IELTS Writing and Speaking

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IELTS Two-part Question Essay Sample

Vocabulary for IELTS Essay

Linking words for IELTS

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Linking structures

Using a wide range of vocabulary will help you to gain higher score at IELTS.

Don't fear: you don't have to learn all of these phrases. Just choose a few that you like and practice using them in your writing.

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IELTS Writing: Five Band 9 Words For Your Next Essay

These Band 9 words were all chosen from the Cambridge English Dictionary. This dictionary is made by Cambridge ESOL, which is responsible for the academic side of the IELTS exam .

Within this dictionary, we can see that all our Band 9 words below are classed as C2 level (CEFR) . C2 level broadly equates to Band 8 – 9.

Word 1: Appalling

In some parts of the world war, poverty and malnutrition have created bad conditions for the poor souls who live there. In some parts of the world war, poverty and malnutrition have created appalling conditions for the poor souls who live there.

Our historical past is filled with very bad acts of hatred and cruelty, much of it committed in the name of religion. Our historical past is filled with appalling acts of hatred and cruelty, much of it committed in the name of religion.

Climate change is said to be the cause of not so good weather conditions experienced in many parts of the world. These include hurricanes, floods and freezing conditions. Climate change is said to be the cause of appalling weather conditions experienced in many parts of the world. These include hurricanes, floods and freezing conditions.

Word 2: Classical

Clothes cut along normal lines tend to be more formal and will look good no matter what the current day fashion trends. Old style ballet remains popular despite the introduction of many more modern dance forms. Old and traditional style architecture is typically based on ancient Greek and Roman buildings.

Clothes cut along classical lines tend to be more formal and will look good no matter what the current day fashion trends. Classical ballet remains popular despite the introduction of many more modern dance forms. Classical architecture is typically based on ancient Greek and Roman buildings.

Word 3: Adolescent

Hormonal disturbances in teenage boys and girls have a tendency to lead to skin outbreaks. This, in turn, can damage their self-esteem. Children who are almost adults undergo many physical and emotional changes, which can be confusing for both the teenagers and their parents.

Hormonal disturbances in adolescent boys and girls have a tendency to lead to skin outbreaks. This, in turn, can damage their self-esteem. Adolescent children undergo many physical and emotional changes, which can be confusing for both the teenagers and their parents.

Word 4: Cumulative

It is vital to study not just the financial accounts for the month but to evaluate the long term effect on the annual results. Lots of detailed measures allow financial analysts to follow trends over time. It is not just a single incident but repeated sun exposure that causes skin cancer

It is vital to study not just the financial accounts for the month but to evaluate the cumulative effect on the annual results. Cumulative measures allow financial analysts to follow trends over time. It is not just a single incident but cumulative sun exposure that causes skin cancer.

Word 5: Attainable

Managers should set easy to reach targets. Otherwise, the employees will be discouraged and will not strive to achieve to meet the objectives. Dieters who set easy weight loss goals are much more likely to keep going and lose weight. The highest possible score in the exam was Band 9.

Managers should set attainable targets. Otherwise, the employees will be discouraged and will not strive to achieve to meet the objectives. Dieters who set attainable weight loss goals are much more likely to keep going and lose weight. The highest attainable score in the exam was Band 9.

Before you book your IELTS exam

• Practice these and other similar C2 words until you are comfortable using them in everyday situations. Don’t risk using them until you are certain that you can use them in context.
• Find someone to speak to. There is no substitute for practice.
• Read as widely as you can. Find interesting subjects that you can use as a basis for building your knowledge base to use as a basis for your written essay.
• Repetition is the best way to learn and remember, so practice every day for the best exam results.

For more help with your IELTS writing, take a look at our writing tutorials.

You can download or listen to the audio version here:

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You can also watch the full tutorial here:

Join us at My IELTS Classroom today for our video courses, marking service, 1-2-1 lessons and so much more…

100 IELTS Essay Topics for IELTS Writing

Let me start by saying that by far the best resource for authentic IELTS essay topics are the Cambridge 1 – 13 books. These are real past IELTS exam papers and, therefore, provide students with the highest quality questions for all parts of the test. However, what do you do if you have finished the Cambridge books? Or you struggle with one particular type of question and want a lot of that specific type of practise?

Well, until now, people have relied on questions that were “memorised” by test-takers(often incorrectly), or written by well-meaning teachers who have no specific education in test creation. As a result, many of the “IELTS questions” on the Internet are worded incorrectly. And, as a professional exam writer ( yes, I work creating academic exams for universities ), I know how damaging it can be if even one word in a question is changed.

So, today I am sharing my list of 100 IELTS writing topics. Some are taken from old exam papers, a few are from the Cambridge books, but most are from my own course .  More importantly, I can guarantee that each of these questions is as “authentic” as a question can be.  Have fun (and let me know your favourite question in the comments!) 

If you are new to IELTS, then check out my FREE  Introduction to Writing Task 2  👈 video lesson. It contains everything you need to know to get started on your IELTS journey   🚀

IELTS Discuss Both Views and Give your Own Opinion Writing Topics

• Some people think that illegal Internet downloads are having a negative effect on the music   industry . Others feel that they have little or no impact on artists. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
•   Some people think that exams are a good way of assessing a student’s level . Other people believe that they put unnecessary pressure on young learners and tell us very little about their actual ability.  Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Successful sportsmen can earn a great deal more than people in other important professions. Some people think this is fully justified while others think it is unfair. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Some people feel that there should be a fixed punishment for each type of crime . Others feel that the circumstances of an offence should be taken into account when deciding on a punishment. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Some people believe that all children should learn a foreign language  from the time they start school, while others believe it is better to wait until a child is at secondary school. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Some people believe that in the near future there will be no borders between countries , while others feel that national borders will always remain. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Some people feel that the cost of space exploration  is far too high for the benefits it brings while others argue that we space programmes should continue no matter what the cost. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Some people believe that advertising has a strong effect on a person’s decision-making process. Others feel that it has little or no real impact. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Some people believe that every human can create art . Other people think that art can only be created by people with special talents. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
• Some people feel that the media has the strongest impact on people’s lives . Others feel that it is politicians who have the most control over the way people lives. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Some people feel that the primary function of a university should be to prepare students for the working world. Others argue that the purpose of a university education is to provide knowledge for knowledge’s sake. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Some people think that the teenage years are the happiest times of most people’s lives . Others think that adult life brings more happiness in spite of greater responsibilities. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Some people prefer to spend their lives doing the same things and avoiding change. Others, however, prefer to take risks and think that change is a positive thing. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Some people think that boys and girls should attend school together . Others feel that they should be educated separately. Discuss both sides and give your own opinion.
• Some people feel that  global warming should be dealt with by governments. Others feel that it is the responsibility of individuals in society to solve the problem. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Some people think that all university students should study whatever they like . Others believe that they should only be allowed to study subjects that will be useful in the future, such as those related to science and technology. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Some people think that a sense of competition should be encouraged in children . Others believe that children who are taught to cooperate rather than compete become more useful adults. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Some people think that economic development is the only way to end poverty  while others believe that it is causing damage to the environment and so should be stopped. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• Some people think that new houses should be built in the same style as the older houses in an area . Others believe that the government should allow people to build houses in the style they want. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• Some people like to spend their leisure time with their colleagues . Others think it is better to keep their private life separate from their work life. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Want to know how the examiner will apply the band descriptors when marking your IELTS essay?

Th en download a copy of our FREE e-book, which explains how each of the four marking criteria is applied and includes the most common errors made by test-takers. Just click here for your copy.

  T o What Extent Do you Agree or Disagree Writing Topics

• University education s hould be free for all students. To what extent do you agree or disagree
• Men and women are capable of doing all jobs  equally well. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Some people believe that nowadays we have too much choice . To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Advertising that targets children  should be banned from our televisions. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Some people say it is important to keep your home and your workplace tidy , with everything organised in the correct place. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• In some countries it is common for school leavers to take a year off  between finishing school and starting university. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this practice?
• Open plan offices offer a better working environment for staff than a normal office. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Universities should accept equal numbers of male and female students  in every subject. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• The recent popularity of online shopping will result in the end of high street shops. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• International sporting events promote peace between countries. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Some people think it is a good thing for senior managers to have much higher salaries than the other workers in a company. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• People who read for pleasure in their free time have a better imagination than those who prefer to watch TV. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Some people believe that children who are given pocket money every week have less problems managing money when they become adults. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Some people believe that eventually all jobs will be done by artificially intelligent robots . What is your opinion?
• Nowadays environmental problems are too big for individual countries or people to solve. We have reached the stage where we need cooperation on an international level to protect the environment. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Some people say that  a person’s success is as a direct result of the way they were brought up by their parents. Do you agree or disagree?
• Some people think that plastic shopping bags should be banned because they contribute to land and sea pollution. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Some people who have been in prison become good citizens later, and so it is often argued that these are the best people to talk to teenagers about the dangers of committing a crime. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Some people believe that children should be taught how to manage money at school. Do you agree or disagree?
• Some people believe that in order for a hobby to be enjoyable , it needs to be difficult. Do you agree or disagree?

Looking for an IELTS school run by native speakers who have a proven track record of helping students achieve their potential in IELTS? Then come join the students at  My IELTS Classroom  who are using our unique video courses, live lessons and marking service to maximise their scores. 

Best Way IELTS Essay Topics

•   One of the biggest problems facing the world today is growing enough food to feed the ever-expanding population .  Genetically Modified foods are the best way to solve this issue . To what extent do you agree or disagree?
•   The main cause of global warming   is pollution from cars.  To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Playing computer games   only has negative effects on children.  To what extent do you agree or disagree
• The main reason for the high sale of consumer goods in today’s society is advertising .  To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Good marketing is the key to running a successful business .  To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• The best way to tackle the problem of obesity   is to educate people about healthy eating.  To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• The most important factor in job satisfaction is salary .  To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Many people use  customer reviews on the Internet to make decisions about what they  buy. A re customer reviews the most useful tool to use when making a purchase ?
• Many governments think that economic progress is their most important goal . Some people, however, think that other types of progress are equally important for a country.  Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Some people say that the only reason for learning a foreign language is in order to travel to or work in a foreign country . Others say that these are not the only reasons why someone should learn a foreign language.  Discuss both sides and give your own opinion.

When you are writing an IELTS essay, it is important to always think about how your answer will satisfy the IELTS Band descriptors. Don’t know what they are or how the examiner uses them to check your work?  Watch my free video lesson to find out how you can use the band descriptors to achieve a high score.

Cause / Problem / Solution IELTS Essay Topics

• The increase in the number of privately-owned cars is having a negative impact on both our towns and the environment .  What can individuals and the government do to reduce this problem?
• Many people play sport when they are young, but then stop when they become adults. Why do so many adults stop doing physical exercise ? What can be done to solve this problem?
• Fewer people today visit museums than in the past. Why is this? What can be done to encourage more people to visit museums in the future?
• Many animals today are being hunted to the point of extinction. What can be done to tackle this problem?
• In many countries today,  the average weight of people is increasing . What has led to this situation? What can be done to solve it?
• Global warming is one of the most serious issues facing the world today. What are some of the causes of global warming? What can governments and individuals do to solve the problem?
• The gap between the rich and poor  is growing. What difficulties does this cause? How can these problems be overcome?
• More people are stressed  today than ever before. What are the causes of this stress? What can be done to address this problem?
• Many young people today are leaving their homes in the countryside to move to cities . Why is this happening? What can be done to encourage young people to stay in rural areas?
• Many people today are choosing to stay in rented apartments rather than hotels  when they travel. What led to this change? What problems could it cause the travel industry?
• Children today spend a lot of time on social media . What potential problems could this cause and how could they be addressed?
• Many young people today will never be able to afford to buy a house . What has led to this situation? What can be done to remedy it?
• In many countries, the tradition of having family meals together is disappearing. Why is this happening? What will the effects of this be on the family and society?
• Nowadays we are producing more and more rubbish . Why do you think this is happening? What can the government do to help reduce this amount of rubbish produced?
• In many countries, the level of crime is increasing. What do you think are the main causes of crime? How can we deal with those causes?
• People today are spending more and more time outside of the home . What are the reasons for this trend? What effects is it having on individuals and society?
• In spite of the advances made in agriculture, many people around the world still go hungry . Why is this the case? What can be done about this problem?
• People today know fewer of their neighbours  than in the past. Why is this? What can be done to solve this problem?
• The quality of life in many large cities is currently becoming worse. Why is this? What measures can be introduced to tackle this issue?
• Many people have jobs that involve working shifts (i.e. working at night). What are some of the problems that shift workers might face? What can be done to solve them?

IELTS Advantages and Disadvantages Essay Topics

• Thanks to low-cost airlines , many people can travel abroad.  What advantages and disadvantages do tourists bring to the countries they visit?
• People today are able to take out loans from the bank or get a credit card very easily. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this practice?
• Many people use the Internet as their main educational resource . What are the advantages and disadvantages of this practice?
• In some countries, teenagers have part-time jobs while they are still at school. What benefits does this bring a child? Are there any drawbacks?
• Schools in some countries require their students to wear a uniform . What are the positives and negatives of this rule?

One of the most important things you should do in an IELTS essay is support your argument with relevant examples. But what are good examples for an IELTS essay ? – well, let me give you a clue: they do NOT include fake statistics and they are NOT personal! 

Outweigh Advantages and Disadvantages Essay Topics

• Being a celebrity – such as a film star or singer – brings problems as well as benefits. Do you think that being a celebrity brings more benefits or more problems?
• As a country develops, more people are able to purchase a car . Do you think that the positive for the individual outweigh the negatives for the environment?
• Many museums charge an admission fee  while others are free. Do you think that the advantages of charging admission to museums outweigh the disadvantages?
• Today, it is common to see famous sports people advertising sports products . Do the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages?
• More and more people are choosing to eat ready-made meals rather than freshly cooked food. Does this trend have more advantages than disadvantages?

Positive or Negative Development IELTS Essay Topics

•   Many parents today employ private tutors   to teach their children after school hours.  Do you think this is a positive or negative development?
• Today, more people are waiting until their thirties to get married and have children .  Do you think this is a positive or negative development?
• In recent years, many small local shops have closed   because customers travel to large shopping centres or malls to do their shopping.  Do you think this is a positive or negative development?
• Countries are becoming more and more similar   because people are able to buy the same products anywhere in the world.  Do you think this is a positive or negative development?
• Nowadays  many people communicate using social media .  Do you think this is a positive or negative development?

Most IELTS blog posts are full of advice about how to paraphrase. Me? I’m the opposite – I want to encourage people NOT to paraphrase? Why? Read my blog post on the Dangers of Paraphrasing to find out! ☠️

IELTS Direct Question Writing Topics

• Some students who perform badly at school   go on to have very successful lives as adults. What qualities are needed to do well at school? Are these the same qualities that help people succeed later in life?
• 100 years ago, it was felt that the human race was making progress in all areas of life . Nowadays, there is less certainty that this is the case. In what areas do you think that the most progress has been made so far?  In what area are more things needed to be done?
• Many people believe that globalisation is leading to the culture of individual countries being lost . What can be done to protect a society’s traditional values?
• Children often complain that history lessons are boring because they are about a past that is dead. How can schools bring history alive for pupils?
• Some people think that the government is responsible for looking after the elderly . Others believe that it should be family members. Who do you think should take responsibility?

Don’t know what a complex sentence is or how to write one? Well my friend, you are in the right place! Watch the lesson voted the #1 most useful by my students here (you really don’t need to be afraid!)

IELTS Two-Part Question Essay Topics

• More and more people today are moving from the countryside .  Why is this happening?  Do you think it is a positive or a negative development?
• People spend a major part of their adult life at work, and job satisfaction  is an important part of individual well-being. What contributes to a person feeling satisfied at work? How realistic is it for all people to feel satisfied?
• Many people have problems managing money . What skills does a person need to manage their money well? Who should teach children these skills?
• Technology has changed the way that people interact with each other. In what ways has technology changed the types of relationships that people make? Has this been a positive or negative development?
• Children have to be punished  to learn the difference between right and wrong. To what extent do you agree or disagree? What sort of punishments should parents be able to give their children?
• Thanks to developments in technology, many people today have lost basic skills such as how to repair clothes, etc. Why is this happening? Do you think that this is a negative development?
• Some people think that governments should try to reduce air traffic  by taxing it more heavily, Do you agree or disagree? What other methods could be used to reduce air traffic?
• Some people feel that schools should teach children how to become a good parent.  Do you agree or disagree with this opinion? What skills do people need to be a good parent?
• Nowadays, men’s sport is given far more attention in society than women’s sports. What are the reasons for this? Do you think this is a positive or a negative situation?
• Advances in technology mean that many people today work from home . What has led to this change? Is it a positive or negative development?

So, those were 100 IELTS essay topics you can use to practice your IELTS skills. I hope you found them useful. You can find out how to write every one of these 100 essay in My IELTS Classroom – the interactive writing course with 33-hours of lessons that will prepare you for any IELTS  question 🚀

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What is the IELTS Test?

IELTS = International English Language Testing System. It is the world’s biggest English language test with test centres in most countries. This means it is a test which accepts international English, not only British English. 

There are four parts to the IELTS test:

• IELTS Speaking – a face to face informal test with an examiner (via video call is also available for the computer based test) which lasts between 11 and 14 mins and is made up of 3 parts. All IELTS candidates take the same test.
• IELTS Listening – a 30 minute audio recording with 40 questions. All IELTS candidates take the same test.
• IELTS Reading – 3 reading passages with 40 questions which lasts for 1 hour. This test is divided into Academic and General Training papers.
• IELTS Writing – this is divided into task 1 and task 2. Task 1 Academic is a short report of a chart, graph, map table etc. Task 1 GT is a letter. Task 2 Academic & GT is a formal essay. IELTS writing lasts for 1 hour in total.

For more detailed information and tips about the test, click here: IELTS TEST FAQ . Also click on IELTS Info red button above to find out more about GT IELTS, Band Scores etc. 

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At present, there are over 300 PAGES OF FREE IELTS LESSONS & TIPS on this site. All pages are accessed lower down this page or through the RED MENU BAR at the top of the website. You will find IELTS model answers, lessons, videos, tips, topics, vocab, band score info, etc all for free to help you prepare at home for your test.

You can also find more information in the comments section of many pages. I am not able to answer all comments posted to me, but you can learn from the answers I have already provided to others.

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Watch the video to learn the essential steps to prepare successfully for your IELTS test. When you prepare for IELTS, there is no particular place to start. Just start where you want to start. This video will help make sure you cover all the vital aspects of preparation before your test.

If you prepare in the right way, you will be able to maximise your results. Having both good English and a clear understanding of the IELTS test is essential. Be clear minded and strategic in your approach and training.

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Learn 570 Essential Words for IELTS

These exercises on the  academic word list  are designed to improve your knowledge of vocabulary for the IELTS test. 

Start Learning the Words

The AWL consists of  570 word families , and these words are the most common words to be found in academic texts. 

This is why they are so useful to learn if you are studying for tests like IELTS where your level of vocabulary can affect your score.

Sublist 1 contains the most common words that are in the Academic Word List, sublist 2 contains the next most common, and so on.

The words shown on this page below are just the  headwords . If you  download the full academic word list , you can see that there are many variations of each word according to whether you are using it as a noun, verb, adjective etc.

There are a total of  60 word families  in each sublist, apart from sublist 10 which has 30.

About the Academic Word List Exercises

In order to make your learning of the words structured, each academic word list has been divided into sets of 10 words. Each set of exercises then focuses on just those 10 words.

When you are confident you know them, you can move onto the next 10.

Before you start learning them it is important to understand that  recognizing  the words and actually  using them  are two very different skills, the first one being much easier than the second.

Lets look at an example using the first word on the academic word list,  analyse :

• analytically

If you learn the word  analyse  and its meaning and are aware of the other word forms, then you may well understand the meaning of the word when you read it, whichever form it is in.

However, knowing which one to use when you are writing is a much more difficult skill and will take a lot more practice and time to master!

These academic word list exercises will help you to get to know the words, but you will need to work on your own as well. No website will be a substitute for actually practicing the words when you are writing and checking your usage.

And an important thing to do whenever you learn a new word from the academic word list or elsewhere is to learn which words it  collocates  with.

And the number one rule with vocabulary  - only use words in the test that you are confident you know how to use!

Or you are at least confident you understand its meaning and where it can be used - a few errors in word form are ok in the test if you are not looking for a top score as you will be given some credit for using less common words.

However, you may find you actually lower your band score if you try to use lots of clever vocabulary but you are not using it properly or making lots of word form errors!

This will only confuse the examiner when they read your work. Try to keep improving your vocabulary, but when it comes to the test, stick with what you know and are confident with!

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300+ Vocabulary List for IELTS + PDF (updated 2024)

In this article, we have compiled the best list of vocabulary words for the IELTS exam. A strong IELTS vocabulary is key to achieving a high score in your exam. The easiest way to improve your vocabulary is to learn synonyms for common English words.

Synonym words are awesome way to get a great score in IELTS exam. These word pairs organized for reading and writing section.

Check Also: 200+ IELTS Academic Word List & Examples and PDF Essay Writing Tips & How to Avoid Typical Mistakes  2000+ Common Phrasal Verbs List From A-Z (Free PDF) IELTS Synonyms Words List A to Z + PDF

Vocabulary Words for IELTS List 1

Here is the first list of IELTS vocabulary words with their synonyms:

Vocabulary List for IELTS 2

Here is the second list of IELTS vocabulary words with their synonyms:

Vocabulary Words for IELTS List 3

Here is the third list of IELTS vocabulary words with their synonyms:

IELTS Words with Meaning List 4

Here is the fourth list of IELTS vocabulary words with their synonyms:

IELTS WORDS LIST PDF DOWNLOAD

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IELTS Connectors for Task 1 & Task 2: Linking Words for IELTS Writing 2024

• Updated On February 6, 2024
• Published In IELTS Preparation 💻

The IELTS Exam is a globally acknowledged English language proficiency test widely accepted in many countries, including the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and others. Every year, over three million people take the IELTS exam, which is growing steadily. It comprises 4 sections- 

Table of Contents

The IELTS Writing Test is different for IELTS Academic and I ELTS General . The Academic test will contain topics suitable for anyone entering a university or professional institution. The General Training test will have topics based on general interest.

The Writing test takes 60 minutes , and there are two tasks to complete:

• Task 1 : It is recommended to spend 20 minutes on Task 1 , which requires you to write at least 150 words.
• Task 2 : This task requires at least 250 words and should take about 40 minutes. Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to your score.

The IELTS writing section is primarily evaluated based on how well the ideas are organised and connected effectively. You must learn and equip yourself with grammatical resources to score well in this section. IELTS essay linking words or connectors are a grammatical resource that shows the IELTS examiner a firm grasp of the language.

In this blog, we will understand more about connectors for Task 1 and Task 2 and how using them appropriately will boost your overall score in your IELTS Writing Test.

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Importance of Connectors in IELTS Writing Task

Linking words is a crucial grammatical tool that makes an essay more readable to the examiner. They help in sentence construction and connect two related parts of a text. Linkers can also put forth their opinions comprehensively and display excellent knowledge and a variety of vocabulary. 

Here are a few more reasons to use linkers in IELTS:

• They make the paragraph clear.
• They provide a smooth flow 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

You 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 at this moment and therefore work well in 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. 

Linking Words For Academic Writing Task 1 

In IELTS Academic Writing Task 1, you are generally given visual information. Depending upon the information provided, you must write a report of a minimum of 150 words. IELTS Connectors in Task 1 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.

Linking Words For General Writing Task 1 

In IELTS General Writing Task 1, you must write a letter responding to a given situation. Linking words for Task 1 is helpful in:

• Introducing the purpose of the letter.
• Organising your ideas coherently.
• Making clear connections between different paragraphs.
• Highlighting important information in the letter.

IELTS Essay Linking Words For Writing Task 2

The second writing task is the same for academic and general; you must write an essay based on a prompt or a statement. Linking words for task 2 are useful in:

• Transitioning between paragraphs.
• Presenting your opinion.
• Give examples and reasons.
• Explain the consequences and/or conditions of various scenarios.

Types of IELTS Connectors for Task 1 and Task 2

Examiners evaluate your tasks by assessing linkers and connectors’ accuracy, range, and flexibility. The following list highlights the category of connectors that can help you secure a good grade in the IELTS writing section:

Adding information

Providing examples, stressing and highlighting, consequences and results, causes and reasons, contrasts and concessions, providing opinion.

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

This linker is used to support your major points in the essay. These IELTS essay linking words inform the examiner that additional information is coming up. 

Some of them are mentioned below with examples.

• Furthermore – The company has decided to expand its operations to Gujrat. Furthermore , they also plan to increase their marketing efforts in the region.
• Additionally – We have hired a new designer for the project. Additionally , we have also brought in a consultant to provide us with an outside perspective.
• In addition to the regular benefits, employees are also eligible for a performance-based bonus.
• Also – The company is launching a new product line next month. Also , they plan to host a launch event to promote the new products.
• Moreover – The company’s profits have increased significantly this year. Moreover , they have also managed to reduce their operating expenses.
• And – I need to pick up some groceries after work today, and I also need to stop by the post office to mail a package.
• As well as – The project requires a team of developers as well as a team of designers to complete the work on time.

Lists are often used to present pointers in a paragraph. Proper use of listing vocabulary in essays makes it more formal and precise.

Here are a few connectors that you can use to list your paragraph.

• Firstly , I need to wake up early tomorrow to catch my flight.
• Secondly , I have to finish my presentation before the deadline.
• Thirdly , I must buy some groceries on my way home from work.
• Fourthly , I need to call my doctor to schedule an appointment.
• Lastly , I plan to spend the weekend with my family and friends.

Examples are often helpful in providing support to ideas. You must make sure to use a range of linking words to illustrate your arguments through such words.

Here are some examples of connectors for providing examples to your task. 

• For instance , many online courses, such as Duolingo and Rosetta Stone, are available for learning a new language.
• For example , there are many different types of music, such as rock, pop, jazz, and classical.
• To cite an example , many people believe that climate change is caused by human activity.
• To illustrate : To illustrate let’s say you are writing an essay about the importance of exercise. You could provide a graph that shows the correlation between exercise and improved health.
• Namely : There are four seasons in a year, namely spring, summer, fall, and winter.
• Such as : Many different types of animals live in the ocean, such as sharks, whales, and dolphins.
• In other words : The government plans to increase the taxes on luxury items. In other words , items considered non-essential and expensive will be taxed more.

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

A few of them are mentioned below with model sentences.

• Specifically : Specifically , we need to increase our response time to customer inquiries to improve our overall customer service.
• Especially : I especially love all fruits, especially strawberries and blueberries.
• In particular : I am interested in learning about the history of art, in particular , the impressionist movement.
• Particularly : I am not fond of spicy food, particularly dishes that use a lot of chilli peppers.
• Obviously , we cannot proceed with the project without proper funding.
• Clearly : The instructions provided in the manual need to be written and can be confusing.
• Of course : Of course , I would be happy to help you with your project.

These connectors are helpful when you need to explain the consequence or result of something. 

Below are examples of connectors that can be used to explain consequences and results, with sample sentences demonstrating their usage.

• As a result : He was late to the meeting as a result of heavy traffic.
• Therefore : She didn’t eat any cake, therefore she didn’t gain any weight.
• Thus : The company’s profits increased, and thus, they could expand their business.
• Consequently , The team lost the game, and consequently, they didn’t qualify for the playoffs.
• For this reason , she didn’t want to go on the rollercoaster, so she waited for her friends on the ground.
• So : He forgot his keys at home, so he had to call his wife to bring them to him.
• Hence : The weather was terrible, hence the flight was delayed.

While writing an essay, there may be instances where you would have to provide causes or reasons for a particular statement. These linkers can help do so.

Here are some examples of connectors for causes and reasons for your task. 

• Due to : Due to the heavy rainfall, the streets were flooded.
• Because : I couldn’t attend the meeting because I was feeling sick.
• Owing to the staff shortage, the company had to postpone the project deadline.
• As it was raining heavily, we decided to stay indoors and watch a movie.
• Since : Since I am allergic to seafood, I cannot eat sushi.

There is often the need to add opposite ideas to an essay. This is important in discussion essays, where one needs to provide in-depth details. 

The below-mentioned linking words will help you when you are going to introduce an opposing point.

• Nevertheless, the weather was terrible, so we decided to picnic.
• However, I studied hard for the exam and didn’t do well.
• Admittedly – Admittedly , I have not been following the news lately.
• Although – Although it was raining, we still went for a walk.
• Even though – Even though she was tired, she continued working on the project.
• Despite the fact that he was sick, he managed to complete his work on time.
• But – She wanted to go to the party but had to finish her work first.
• Still – He failed the test twice, but I would still like to mention that specifically, we need to focus on improving our customer service and not giving up.

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

Some of them are mentioned below.

• To sum up , we have seen that the company’s sales have been steadily increasing over the past year.
• To conclude , based on the evidence presented, it can be said that the defendant is guilty of the crime.
• In conclusion , to improve your overall health, it is recommended that you eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep.

You can address their opinion more confidently and concisely using these linkers.

Below is a list of some linking words for providing information.

• I believe that love is the strongest force in the universe.
• I admit that I was not paying attention during the meeting.
• In my opinion , reading is one of the best ways to relax and unwind.
• I think that exercising regularly is important for maintaining good health.

IELTS Linking Words Practice Question

One of the key skills that the test measures is the ability to use a range of linking words or phrases in writing and speaking tasks. Linking words helps to connect ideas and create coherence between sentences, paragraphs, and overall discourse. Some common examples of linking words include, nevertheless, additionally and more. Practising with linking words can help test-takers improve their writing and speaking skills and achieve better scores on the IELTS exam. Here are some linking practice questions for Writing Tasks.

IELTS Linking Words Practice Question for Writing Task 1

Here is a practice task with IELTS writing connectors that will help you understand the usage and importance of connectors in IELTS writing task 1.

These graphs show several key trends. 1. ____, in general terms, 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.

• To start with, firstly, first of all
• Nevertheless, however, but
• Nevertheless, on the other hand
• Any example connector can be used here, like, for example, for instance, and except ‘such as’ because this is the start of a sentence.
• Any comparison connector

IELTS Linking Words: Practice Question for Writing Task 2

You can practice IELTS essay linking words through this practice task.

The prompt: Parents must refrain from pressuring their children to pursue a particular career. Young people should be free to choose the professional path that they like. Do you agree or disagree with this sentence?

• _____ Young people must be free to choose, especially in their professional path. Some parents want their children to take up an exciting profession. These wishes are entirely normal and usually not harmful.
• 2. ____ It can 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 openly communicate 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. 
• Any opinion connector except ‘I agree’ or ‘I concur’ will work here. This is because it is the introductory line.
• Nevertheless, on the other hand, however, but
• Any example connector will fit here except ‘such as’ because this is the starting sentence.
• Accordingly, as a result, consequently, therefore, for that reason, etc.

In summary, using appropriate connectors in IELTS Writing can significantly enhance your essay’s readability and coherence, demonstrating your firm grasp of the language. With the help of the above mentioned categories and examples of linkers, you can effectively connect your ideas and illustrate your arguments comprehensively to score well in the IELTS Writing section. 

Remember, practice makes perfect, so practice using these connectors in your essays to succeed in your IELTS exam. Good luck!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. what factors do examiners consider to evaluate the ielts writing tasks.

A. When evaluating IELTS writing tasks, examiners consider several factors, including lexical resource, task achievement, grammar accuracy and range, coherence and cohesion. Lexical resource refers to your ability to appropriately use a wide range of vocabulary. Task achievement assesses how well you have fulfilled the task’s requirements, including the organisation of ideas and coherence. Grammar accuracy and range assess your use of correct grammar and sentence structures. Coherence and cohesion assess how well you can connect and link ideas within and between paragraphs. These factors are crucial in determining your overall writing score.

Q . What are the main topics for the IELTS essay writing task?

A. Some of the most popular topics for this task are related to academics, such as economics, education, business, family, environment, etc. The essay question in the general IELTS writing section responds to an argument on a general topic of common interest. 

Q. What happens if I need to meet the word limit of each section?

A. Writing under the word limit is a penalty, leading to a lower score. You can also be penalised for not using complete, connected sentences.  Therefore, you must always adhere to the given word limit and be mindful of each section’s time mandates.

Q. How do you score well in IELTS Writing?

A. To score well in IELTS Writing, you must improve your grammar, vocabulary, and writing skills. Practice writing essays, letters, and reports within the given time limit. Plan your writing and organise your thoughts effectively. Use a range of linking words and phrases to connect your ideas. Finally, proofread your work for any errors or mistakes before submitting it.

Q. What are the types of questions asked in IELTS Writing Task 2?

A. When it comes to writing essays, there are several different types of questions that you might encounter. Some common ones include Advantage/Disadvantage questions, which ask you to weigh the pros and cons of a particular topic or issue. Problem/Cause questions, on the other hand, ask you to analyse and explain the underlying causes of a problem or issue. Opinion essays require you to express your viewpoint on a specific topic and support it with evidence and reasoning. Other essay questions include Compare/Contrast, Discussion/Argumentative, and so on. 

Q. Can I retake IELTS writing only?

A. IELTS One Skill Retake is a recently introduced feature that allows you to enhance your scores on a specific skill without retaking the entire IELTS exam. If you wish to improve your performance on any of the four skills – Listening, Reading, Writing, or Speaking – you can redo only that skill. This feature can save you time and money as you won’t need to retake the test.

Q. Is the IELTS Writing Test the same for Academics and General?

A. No, the IELTS Writing Test is different for Academics and General. The Academic Writing Test includes two tasks assessing your ability to describe visual information and write an essay responding to an argument or problem. The General Writing Test consists of two tasks to evaluate your ability to write a letter and an essay on a topic.

Q. What is the duration of the IELTS Writing Test ?

A. The IELTS Writing Test consists of two tasks that must be completed within 60 minutes. Task 1 requires you to summarise, describe or explain a visual representation such as a graph, chart or diagram in 150 words. Task 2 requires you to write an essay responding to a given prompt in 250 words. You should spend approximately 20 minutes on Task 1 and 40 minutes on Task 2.

Q. What are some valuable tips for preparing for the IELTS Writing Test?

A. To prepare for the IELTS Writing test, it is important to practice writing regularly. Familiarise yourself with the test format and timing, and develop your skills in organising and expressing your thoughts clearly and coherently. Pay attention to grammar, spelling, and punctuation, and aim to use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures. Seek feedback from a teacher or tutor to identify areas for improvement and practice writing under test conditions.

Q. What is the importance of using connectors in the IELTS Writing Task?

A. Connectors are crucial in IELTS Writing Tasks as they help connect ideas, create coherence and cohesion, and improve the essay’s overall structure. Using connectors also helps to demonstrate a range of vocabulary and grammatical structures, which is a key criterion for scoring in IELTS Writing.

Q. How can one use linking words in IELTS writing, and what are some examples?

A. Linking words can connect different parts of the essay, such as sentences, paragraphs, and ideas. Examples of linking words include “moreover”, “however”, “in addition”, “on the other hand”, “therefore”, and “consequently”. By using linking words, the writer can create a clear and logical flow of ideas, which helps to improve the coherence and cohesion of the essay.

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Vocabulary for IELTS Essay (Writing Task 2)

Updated On Apr 19, 2023

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Vocabulary  enables every individual to express their thoughts and opinions. When a person learns a new language or takes a language proficiency examination like  IELTS , it is essential to emphasize on it. Since vocabulary or lexical resource is an evaluation criterion for the writing module, in this article, we will focus on vocabulary for IELTS essay, which is the Task 2 for IELTS Writing.

General Structure of the Essay

In IELTS, the contribution of lexical resource or vocabulary in the Speaking and Writing modules is 25% each. But before we jump into the vocabulary for IELTS essay, let us revise the structure of the essay that the candidate has to write for Task 2 .

Introduction

The introduction should contain a general statement about the subject, the paraphrased question statement, the thesis statement, and the essay’s outline.

Body Paragraphs

The body paragraphs are crucial, since this is where ideas or opinions are developed.

The points raised in the body paragraphs are summarized in the conclusion.

In order to understand the structure in a detailed way, check out the  samples  for each of the types given above.

Vocabulary for IELTS Essay 

Now that the structure of the essay is clear, check some important  vocabulary for IELTS essay that will enable the candidate to make the most of the 25% of the Lexical Resource criterion.

Connectors/Linking Words

Connectors or linking words are used in sentences to contrast ideas, add information, provide examples, summarise, and give an explanation. Other reasons why using connectors will help in increasing the writing score are:

• Highlight the test taker’s lexical capabilities and knowledge.
• Establish a connection between the parts of one or more sentences.
• Serve as a grammatical device to improve the coherence and fluency of written discourse.
• Make it easier for the reader to understand the meaning one is trying to convey.

So, here are some important connectors/linking words that candidates can use for the mentioned purpose:

For Expressing Opinion

• In my opinion…
• I strongly agree with the idea that/I strongly opine that…
• I’d like to point out that …
• I am convinced that …/I am certain that …
• As far as I’m concerned, …
• From my viewpoint,… / From my perspective …
• My own view on the matter is…
• It seems to me that…
• It appears that…

For Showing Contrast

• On the contrary …
• Alternatively…
• Nevertheless/Nonetheless …
• In spite of …/ In spite of the fact…/ Despite the fact …
• In contrast to this…

For Outlining Facts

• The fact is that …
• It is obvious that …/It is clear that …
• There is no doubt that …
• This proves that …

For Providing Examples

• For example…/For instance
• …could be a good example here.
• As an example…
• To illustrate…
• With respect to…

For Conclusion

• To sum up…
• In short…
• In a word…
• To put it simply…
• That is to say…
• To repeat in short…
• To summarise…

For more such connectors/linking words with examples, click on this  link .

Related Vocabulary to Increase your IELTS Band Score

Beside connectors, there are various other lexical resources that a candidate can use to enhance his/her writing skills for IELTS Writing Task 2.

Sometimes, students need a comprehensive activity-based workbook that can not only teach them new words but also ways to apply them in the right context. Keeping that in mind, IELTSMaterial has created a  vocabulary workbook . This master book comprises topic-specific vocabulary , related exercises, a student space to make important notes or add words they have learnt from other sources, and many more.

Apart from the ones mentioned above, given below are some important resources that an aspirant can use while preparing for  IELTS essays .

• Advanced Vocabulary  – It is a word list (A-Z) comprising words, their meanings and their usage to help the candidate score a band score of 7.5 and above.
• Topic Specific Vocabulary – IELTS essays are generally based on broad topics which are commonly repeated, like  environment ,  crime ,  government , etc. Test-takers can use these words or phrases while answering their Task 2 for IELTS.
• List of important collocations  – A collocation is a grouping of two or more frequently occurring words. Native English speakers use these combinations as they simply sound “correct”. So, incorporating collocations in writing will definitely boost your writing score.
• Synonyms and Antonyms  – Repetition of words is regarded as a faux pas in IELTS Writing (and Speaking as well). Therefore, learn  synonyms and antonyms  from various sources to avoid any kind of repetition and showing off your word power appropriately.

As vocabulary is vital for a good score in IELTS Writing and Speaking, candidates should take time to brush up their word power on a daily basis. Ways to do that is to prepare their own vocabulary list for each topic, go through various articles and fiction, follow various sources for  word of the day , buy  vocabulary specific books , etc.

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That Viral Essay Wasn’t About Age Gaps. It Was About Marrying Rich.

But both tactics are flawed if you want to have any hope of becoming yourself..

Women are wisest, a viral essay in New York magazine’s the Cut argues , to maximize their most valuable cultural assets— youth and beauty—and marry older men when they’re still very young. Doing so, 27-year-old writer Grazie Sophia Christie writes, opens up a life of ease, and gets women off of a male-defined timeline that has our professional and reproductive lives crashing irreconcilably into each other. Sure, she says, there are concessions, like one’s freedom and entire independent identity. But those are small gives in comparison to a life in which a person has no adult responsibilities, including the responsibility to become oneself.

This is all framed as rational, perhaps even feminist advice, a way for women to quit playing by men’s rules and to reject exploitative capitalist demands—a choice the writer argues is the most obviously intelligent one. That other Harvard undergraduates did not busy themselves trying to attract wealthy or soon-to-be-wealthy men seems to flummox her (taking her “high breasts, most of my eggs, plausible deniability when it came to purity, a flush ponytail, a pep in my step that had yet to run out” to the Harvard Business School library, “I could not understand why my female classmates did not join me, given their intelligence”). But it’s nothing more than a recycling of some of the oldest advice around: For women to mold themselves around more-powerful men, to never grow into independent adults, and to find happiness in a state of perpetual pre-adolescence, submission, and dependence. These are odd choices for an aspiring writer (one wonders what, exactly, a girl who never wants to grow up and has no idea who she is beyond what a man has made her into could possibly have to write about). And it’s bad advice for most human beings, at least if what most human beings seek are meaningful and happy lives.

But this is not an essay about the benefits of younger women marrying older men. It is an essay about the benefits of younger women marrying rich men. Most of the purported upsides—a paid-for apartment, paid-for vacations, lives split between Miami and London—are less about her husband’s age than his wealth. Every 20-year-old in the country could decide to marry a thirtysomething and she wouldn’t suddenly be gifted an eternal vacation.

Which is part of what makes the framing of this as an age-gap essay both strange and revealing. The benefits the writer derives from her relationship come from her partner’s money. But the things she gives up are the result of both their profound financial inequality and her relative youth. Compared to her and her peers, she writes, her husband “struck me instead as so finished, formed.” By contrast, “At 20, I had felt daunted by the project of becoming my ideal self.” The idea of having to take responsibility for her own life was profoundly unappealing, as “adulthood seemed a series of exhausting obligations.” Tying herself to an older man gave her an out, a way to skip the work of becoming an adult by allowing a father-husband to mold her to his desires. “My husband isn’t my partner,” she writes. “He’s my mentor, my lover, and, only in certain contexts, my friend. I’ll never forget it, how he showed me around our first place like he was introducing me to myself: This is the wine you’ll drink, where you’ll keep your clothes, we vacation here, this is the other language we’ll speak, you’ll learn it, and I did.”

These, by the way, are the things she says are benefits of marrying older.

The downsides are many, including a basic inability to express a full range of human emotion (“I live in an apartment whose rent he pays and that constrains the freedom with which I can ever be angry with him”) and an understanding that she owes back, in some other form, what he materially provides (the most revealing line in the essay may be when she claims that “when someone says they feel unappreciated, what they really mean is you’re in debt to them”). It is clear that part of what she has paid in exchange for a paid-for life is a total lack of any sense of self, and a tacit agreement not to pursue one. “If he ever betrayed me and I had to move on, I would survive,” she writes, “but would find in my humor, preferences, the way I make coffee or the bed nothing that he did not teach, change, mold, recompose, stamp with his initials.”

Reading Christie’s essay, I thought of another one: Joan Didion’s on self-respect , in which Didion argues that “character—the willingness to accept responsibility for one’s own life—is the source from which self-respect springs.” If we lack self-respect, “we are peculiarly in thrall to everyone we see, curiously determined to live out—since our self-image is untenable—their false notions of us.” Self-respect may not make life effortless and easy. But it means that whenever “we eventually lie down alone in that notoriously un- comfortable bed, the one we make ourselves,” at least we can fall asleep.

It can feel catty to publicly criticize another woman’s romantic choices, and doing so inevitably opens one up to accusations of jealousy or pettiness. But the stories we tell about marriage, love, partnership, and gender matter, especially when they’re told in major culture-shaping magazines. And it’s equally as condescending to say that women’s choices are off-limits for critique, especially when those choices are shared as universal advice, and especially when they neatly dovetail with resurgent conservative efforts to make women’s lives smaller and less independent. “Marry rich” is, as labor economist Kathryn Anne Edwards put it in Bloomberg, essentially the Republican plan for mothers. The model of marriage as a hierarchy with a breadwinning man on top and a younger, dependent, submissive woman meeting his needs and those of their children is not exactly a fresh or groundbreaking ideal. It’s a model that kept women trapped and miserable for centuries.

It’s also one that profoundly stunted women’s intellectual and personal growth. In her essay for the Cut, Christie seems to believe that a life of ease will abet a life freed up for creative endeavors, and happiness. But there’s little evidence that having material abundance and little adversity actually makes people happy, let alone more creatively generativ e . Having one’s basic material needs met does seem to be a prerequisite for happiness. But a meaningful life requires some sense of self, an ability to look outward rather than inward, and the intellectual and experiential layers that come with facing hardship and surmounting it.

A good and happy life is not a life in which all is easy. A good and happy life (and here I am borrowing from centuries of philosophers and scholars) is one characterized by the pursuit of meaning and knowledge, by deep connections with and service to other people (and not just to your husband and children), and by the kind of rich self-knowledge and satisfaction that comes from owning one’s choices, taking responsibility for one’s life, and doing the difficult and endless work of growing into a fully-formed person—and then evolving again. Handing everything about one’s life over to an authority figure, from the big decisions to the minute details, may seem like a path to ease for those who cannot stomach the obligations and opportunities of their own freedom. It’s really an intellectual and emotional dead end.

And what kind of man seeks out a marriage like this, in which his only job is to provide, but very much is owed? What kind of man desires, as the writer cast herself, a raw lump of clay to be molded to simply fill in whatever cracks in his life needed filling? And if the transaction is money and guidance in exchange for youth, beauty, and pliability, what happens when the young, beautiful, and pliable party inevitably ages and perhaps feels her backbone begin to harden? What happens if she has children?

The thing about using youth and beauty as a currency is that those assets depreciate pretty rapidly. There is a nearly endless supply of young and beautiful women, with more added each year. There are smaller numbers of wealthy older men, and the pool winnows down even further if one presumes, as Christie does, that many of these men want to date and marry compliant twentysomethings. If youth and beauty are what you’re exchanging for a man’s resources, you’d better make sure there’s something else there—like the basic ability to provide for yourself, or at the very least a sense of self—to back that exchange up.

It is hard to be an adult woman; it’s hard to be an adult, period. And many women in our era of unfinished feminism no doubt find plenty to envy about a life in which they don’t have to work tirelessly to barely make ends meet, don’t have to manage the needs of both children and man-children, could simply be taken care of for once. This may also explain some of the social media fascination with Trad Wives and stay-at-home girlfriends (some of that fascination is also, I suspect, simply a sexual submission fetish , but that’s another column). Fantasies of leisure reflect a real need for it, and American women would be far better off—happier, freer—if time and resources were not so often so constrained, and doled out so inequitably.

But the way out is not actually found in submission, and certainly not in electing to be carried by a man who could choose to drop you at any time. That’s not a life of ease. It’s a life of perpetual insecurity, knowing your spouse believes your value is decreasing by the day while his—an actual dollar figure—rises. A life in which one simply allows another adult to do all the deciding for them is a stunted life, one of profound smallness—even if the vacations are nice.