IELTS Writing Task 2 Conclusion: Formula, Vocabulary, and Band 9 Examples

Why the IELTS Writing Task 2 Conclusion Matters

The conclusion is the final impression your essay leaves with the examiner. Although it is typically the shortest paragraph — two sentences covering 35–45 words — it directly influences your scores on two of the four marking criteria: Task Achievement and Coherence and Cohesion. A strong conclusion signals that you have fulfilled the task, synthesised your argument, and maintained logical progression from start to finish. A weak or missing conclusion suggests incomplete task management, which Cambridge Assessment English Band Descriptors (2024) penalise from Band 6 upward.

Because Task 2 contributes two thirds of the total IELTS Writing band score and Task 1 contributes only one third, every mark saved or earned in Task 2 has an outsized effect on your overall writing result. For a full breakdown of how the weighting works, see the IELTS Writing Task 1 and Task 2 band score weighting guide.

The IELTS Writing Task 2 Conclusion Formula

The conclusion must accomplish two things and only two things: restate the main position or answer, and reinforce the key ideas without introducing anything new. Examiners at Band 8–9 consistently use a two-sentence structure, though how those sentences are worded varies by essay type. The table below shows what each sentence achieves and common phrasing patterns.

Two sentences is the ideal length for most Task 2 essay types. A three-sentence conclusion is acceptable if the third sentence genuinely adds a closing recommendation or prediction. A one-sentence conclusion risks appearing incomplete. A four-sentence-or-longer conclusion often introduces new arguments — a Task Achievement violation. IDP Education examiner guidance (2024) notes that conclusions exceeding 60 words are the single most common length error in Task 2 responses at Band 6.

What to Include and What to Avoid

Many candidates write conclusions that appear complete but contain elements that lower their score. The comparison below distinguishes what examiners reward from what they penalise.

Step-by-Step: How to Write the Conclusion in the Exam

Step 1 — Reread your introduction thesis (1 minute)

Before writing your conclusion, reread your introduction’s thesis sentence. Your conclusion must answer the same question that your introduction promised to answer. If your introduction said “this essay will argue that governments bear the primary responsibility for addressing climate change,” your conclusion must confirm or refine that position — not reverse it. A conclusion that contradicts the introduction is treated as a Task Achievement failure under Cambridge Assessment English Band Descriptors (2024).

Step 2 — Draft the first sentence: restate your position

Paraphrase your thesis using different vocabulary. If your thesis used “governments,” use “authorities” or “policymakers” in the conclusion. If your thesis used “primarily responsible,” use “ultimately bear the greatest obligation” or “must take the lead.” Paraphrasing signals lexical range and avoids the memorised-phrase penalty. British Council examiner notes (2024) specifically flag conclusions that reuse the exact wording of the introduction as evidence of limited Lexical Resource.

Step 3 — Draft the second sentence: reinforce and close

The second sentence should do one of the following: summarise the central supporting reason from your body paragraphs in one clause, make a short-term or long-term prediction about the issue, or recommend a priority action. All three approaches are legitimate and all three score well at Band 8–9. Choose based on the essay type: predictions suit cause-effect essays; recommendations suit problem-solution essays; summary clauses suit opinion and discussion essays.

Step 4 — Check for new content and word count

Read your conclusion once. Ask: “Did I introduce any fact, example, or argument that does not appear in the body paragraphs?” If the answer is yes, delete it. Then count the words. If the conclusion is under 30 words, expand the second sentence. If it is over 60 words, cut any sentence that only repeats what the body paragraphs already said.

Band 9 Sample Conclusions with Annotations

The following annotated examples cover the five main IELTS Task 2 essay types. Each demonstrates the two-sentence formula adapted to its specific task instruction. Read these alongside the IELTS Writing Task 2 essay structure guide to see how each conclusion completes the four-paragraph architecture.

Opinion essay:“To what extent do you agree that governments should ban the use of private cars in city centres?”

Conclusion:“In conclusion, the environmental and public health benefits of restricting private vehicles in urban cores make a phased ban the most defensible long-term policy. Authorities that pair such bans with adequate public transport investment will achieve the intended goals without creating undue hardship for lower-income commuters.”

Annotation: The first sentence paraphrases the thesis (“agree” → “most defensible”; “governments” → “authorities”) and names the reasons briefly without reintroducing them at length. The second sentence adds a forward-looking condition (“pair such bans with…”) that reinforces the body paragraph argument about infrastructure without introducing a new idea. Total: 44 words, both sentences, no new content.

Discussion essay:“Discuss both views on whether technology has made people less creative.”

Conclusion:“In summary, while digital tools can reduce original thinking by supplying instant answers, they simultaneously lower the barriers to creative output for people who previously lacked technical skills. On balance, the net effect on creativity depends more on how technology is used than on the technology itself.”

Annotation: Both sides are acknowledged (“while … simultaneously”), matching the discuss-both-views instruction. The final clause (“depends on how technology is used”) provides the candidate’s own position without over-committing, which is appropriate for a balanced discussion essay. At 51 words, this sits at the upper edge of the recommended range but contains no new arguments.

Problem-solution essay:“Traffic congestion in cities is a growing problem. What causes this and what can be done?”

Conclusion:“In conclusion, urban gridlock stems primarily from car-dependent planning and inadequate public transport, both of which are addressable through targeted investment and pricing policy. Governments that act on both levers simultaneously will see the most sustained reductions in congestion within a decade.”

Annotation: The two causes from Body Paragraph 1 are summarised in compressed form (“car-dependent planning and inadequate public transport”); the solutions from Body Paragraph 2 are referenced (“investment and pricing policy”). The final clause adds a prediction (“within a decade”) rather than a new solution. Total: 45 words.

Vocabulary for IELTS Writing Task 2 Conclusions

The phrases below are drawn from high-scoring Task 2 responses across multiple essay types. Vary the opener and the closing structure to avoid a formulaic conclusion that reads as a memorised template.

Opening signal phrases

• In conclusion, …
• In summary, …
• To conclude, …
• Overall, …
• To summarise, …

Restating your position

• … remains the most effective / defensible / sustainable approach.
• … outweighs the drawbacks and represents the preferable course of action.
• … is ultimately the responsibility of [policymakers / individuals / governments].
• … is best addressed through [noun phrase].
• … fundamentally comes down to [noun phrase].

Prediction and recommendation closers

• If [condition], then [outcome] is the most likely long-term result.
• [Stakeholder] that [action] will be best positioned to [benefit].
• Only by [verb + -ing] can [stakeholder] hope to [goal].
• Sustained progress requires [noun phrase] from both [A] and [B].

Phrases to avoid

• “Last but not least” — informal, overused
• “In my humble opinion” — signals a personal aside, not a conclusion
• “Both sides have valid points” — evasive in an essay where you already took a position
• “As mentioned above” — mechanical reference that adds no synthesis

Common Mistakes in IELTS Writing Task 2 Conclusions

Introducing a new argument in the conclusion

Adding a third cause, a fourth solution, or a new example in the conclusion confuses the essay structure and signals to the examiner that the body paragraphs were not planned thoroughly. Cambridge Assessment English Band Descriptors (2024) explicitly penalise responses where “new ideas are introduced in the final paragraph” under Task Achievement, typically capping the criterion at Band 5 regardless of overall essay quality. The conclusion must only synthesise what the body paragraphs already argued.

Copying the introduction thesis word-for-word

Using the same phrasing in the conclusion as in the introduction is a mechanical error that reduces your Lexical Resource score. Examiners are specifically instructed to compare the introduction and conclusion for lexical repetition. Paraphrase the thesis by replacing nouns with synonyms, changing the verb form, or reorganising the clause structure. A conclusion that uses completely different vocabulary from the introduction demonstrates the range that Band 7+ requires.

Hedging after committing to a position

An opinion essay that argues strongly throughout and then ends with “however, both sides have valid points and it is difficult to draw a definitive conclusion” is a Task Achievement failure. The examiner has been reading a one-sided essay for 250 words and expects the conclusion to confirm the same position. A hedge at the end reads as uncertainty about whether you have answered the question, not as nuance. IDP Education examiner guidance (2024) identifies position-reversal conclusions as one of the top five Task Achievement errors at Band 6.

Writing a conclusion that is too short

A one-sentence conclusion that reads “In conclusion, I agree with this statement” provides no synthesis and no closure. It leaves the examiner uncertain whether you have properly concluded the argument or simply ran out of time. Even under time pressure, write a minimum of two complete sentences: one restating position, one reinforcing with either a brief reason or a forward-looking statement. British Council IELTS preparation guidance (2024) notes that responses with one-sentence conclusions score consistently half a band lower on Coherence and Cohesion than responses with complete two-sentence closings.

Using “Finally” as a conclusion opener

“Finally” is a sequencing word that signals the last item in a list or the last point in a series of body paragraphs. Using it to open a conclusion creates ambiguity: is this a body paragraph or a conclusion? Examiners reading quickly will interpret “Finally” as a third body paragraph, which affects how they assess the four-paragraph structure under Coherence and Cohesion. Reserve “Finally” for within body paragraphs and use “In conclusion” or “In summary” to open the final paragraph.