Why Linking Words Determine Your Coherence and Cohesion Score
Coherence and Cohesion is one of the four equally weighted criteria in IELTS Writing Task 2, together accounting for 25% of your total band score. Cambridge Assessment English band descriptors (2024) specify that Band 7 requires “a range of cohesive devices used appropriately”, while Band 8 requires “a wide range used skilfully with only occasional lapses.” Linking words — also called cohesive devices or connectors — are the most visible component of this criterion, making them both a powerful lever and a common trap.
The trap is mechanical overuse. Beginning every sentence with “Firstly”, “Moreover”, and “In conclusion” signals memorised phrases rather than natural command of language. Examiner reports from both British Council (2024) and IDP Education (2024) consistently identify formulaic over-use of connectors as one of the top five writing mistakes that prevent candidates from exceeding Band 6.5 on Coherence and Cohesion. This guide will show you how to use linking words strategically — varied in function and integrated naturally — rather than as a mechanical checklist. For a fuller picture of how cohesion fits into the overall essay, see the IELTS Writing Task 2 essay structure guide.
The Four Core Functions of Linking Words
Every linking word belongs to a discourse function. Using a connector that does not match the logical relationship between your ideas is more damaging than using no connector at all — it actively misleads the examiner about the structure of your argument. The four functions below cover the vast majority of linking needs in a Task 2 essay.
| Function | When to use it | Core linking words | Example in context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Addition | Adding a related point that strengthens the same argument | Furthermore, Moreover, In addition, Additionally, Equally | “Sedentary lifestyles are a key driver of rising obesity rates. Furthermore, the widespread availability of ultra-processed foods compounds this effect.” |
| Contrast | Introducing an opposing idea, concession, or the other side of an argument | However, Nevertheless, Despite this, On the other hand, Whereas, Although | “Remote work increases individual flexibility. However, it can erode the collaborative culture that drives innovation.” |
| Cause and result | Showing that one idea logically produces or flows from another | Therefore, Consequently, As a result, Thus, For this reason, Hence | “Manufacturing jobs have declined in favour of service roles. As a result, average daily physical activity among working adults has fallen substantially.” |
| Exemplification | Introducing a specific example or illustration of the preceding point | For instance, For example, To illustrate, In particular, Such as | “Fiscal measures have proven effective at modifying consumer behaviour. For instance, the UK’s sugar tax reduced purchases of high-sugar soft drinks by 28% within three years of implementation.” |
Linking Words Organised by Discourse Function
The lists below give you a working vocabulary of linking words sorted by function. You do not need all of them — you need enough variety to avoid repetition across a 270-word essay while matching each connector to its correct logical relationship. Three to four items from each category, used accurately, is far more effective than thirty connectors used interchangeably. These words complement the broader academic phrase bank in the IELTS Writing Task 2 vocabulary guide.
Addition and extension
- Furthermore
- Moreover
- In addition
- Additionally
- Equally important
- A further [point / factor / consequence] is …
- Compounding this, …
Contrast and concession
- However
- Nevertheless
- Despite this / Despite [noun phrase]
- On the other hand
- In contrast
- Whereas [clause]
- Although / Even though [clause]
- While [clause]
Cause and result
- Therefore
- Consequently
- As a result
- Thus
- Hence
- For this reason
- This leads to …
- This has resulted in …
- Since [cause clause], [result clause]
Exemplification and illustration
- For instance
- For example
- To illustrate
- In particular
- Specifically
- A case in point is …
- This is evident in …
Summarising and concluding
- In summary
- In conclusion
- To conclude
- Overall
- On balance
- In light of the above
- Taking these factors into consideration
Choosing the Right Linking Words by Essay Type
Different essay types demand different distributions of discourse functions. A discussion essay requires heavy use of contrast connectors to present opposing views; a cause-effect essay relies primarily on cause-and-result language. Using the wrong function distribution is one way candidates inadvertently reveal that they have not fully understood the essay type — a Task Achievement and Coherence and Cohesion penalty in one.
| Essay type | Dominant function | Secondary function | Key connectors to prioritise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opinion (agree/disagree) | Cause and result | Contrast (for acknowledging the other view) | Therefore, Consequently, Although, Nevertheless |
| Discussion (both views) | Contrast | Addition (within each side) | On the other hand, However, In contrast, Furthermore |
| Problem-solution | Cause and result | Addition (stacking solutions) | Since, As a result, Therefore, In addition, A further measure |
| Advantages-disadvantages | Contrast | Addition (within advantages or disadvantages block) | However, Despite this, Furthermore, Nevertheless |
| Cause-effect | Cause and result | Addition (listing multiple effects) | Consequently, Thus, This leads to, Moreover, A further consequence |
Beyond Linking Words — Advanced Cohesion Techniques
Linking words alone do not produce Band 8 cohesion. Cambridge Assessment English marking guidance (2024) specifies that Band 8 requires cohesion that works “within and across sentences and paragraphs.” Three additional techniques operate beneath the surface of your writing to create this seamless flow.
- Reference words:Pronouns and demonstratives (“this”, “these”, “such”, “it”) refer back to a noun or concept introduced in the previous sentence. “Sedentary behaviour has increased sharply. This shiftcan be attributed largely to changes in the nature of work.” The phrase “this shift” coheres backward to the previous sentence without repeating the noun.
- Substitution:Replacing a repeated noun with a superordinate or hyponym to avoid monotony. Instead of repeating “governments” three times, alternate with “authorities”, “policymakers”, and “the state” — creating a lexical chain that also contributes to your Lexical Resource score.
- Paragraph-opening topic sentences:Each body paragraph should open with a sentence that coheres back to the thesis and forward to the paragraph’s argument. “The most significant driver of this trend is …” picks up the language of the introduction without repeating it verbatim, signalling to the examiner that the argument is progressing logically.
Band 9 Body Paragraph with Annotated Linking Words
The paragraph below comes from a model response to the prompt: “The number of people working from home has increased significantly. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this trend.” Linking words are shown in bold.
“The principal advantage of remote working is the autonomy it grants employees over their schedules. Workers who can structure their days around personal energy peaks — completing analytical tasks in the morning and administrative duties in the afternoon, for instance — tend to report higher job satisfaction and measurably greater output. Furthermore, the elimination of commuting reduces both financial outlay and daily stress, with a 2024 survey by the OECD finding that employees who stopped commuting gained an average of 45 minutes of personal time per day. As a result, many workers report improved physical and mental health outcomes. However, these benefits are unevenly distributed: whereasprofessionals in knowledge-intensive roles gain substantially, workers in entry-level or training positions may miss the informal mentoring and peer learning that occur naturally in shared office environments.”
Annotation: “Furthermore” (addition) correctly stacks a second advantage onto the first without claiming a causal relationship. “As a result” (cause-result) accurately signals that the reduction in commuting time logically produces health benefits. “However” (contrast) pivots from advantages to a nuanced disadvantage, fulfilling the task requirement to address both sides. “Whereas” (contrast) creates an intra-sentence contrast rather than starting yet another sentence with a connector — this variety is a Band 8 Coherence and Cohesion marker. Reference word “these benefits” coheres back to the previous sentence without repetition.
Common Mistakes with Linking Words in IELTS Task 2
Beginning every sentence with a connector
The most common error is treating linking words as obligatory sentence openers. A paragraph in which every sentence begins with “Firstly”, “Secondly”, “Moreover”, and “In addition” reads as a memorised list rather than a developed argument. Aim for a maximum of two or three sentence-opening connectors per body paragraph, and integrate others mid-sentence or via reference words.
Using informal connectors in a formal register
Words such as “Plus”, “Also” at the very start of a sentence, “But” as a sentence opener, and “And” used to begin a standalone sentence are considered informal in academic writing. IELTS Writing Task 2 requires a formal register throughout. Replacing “Also” with “Furthermore” or “In addition”, and “But” with “However” or “Nevertheless”, is a straightforward upgrade that signals register awareness — a component of Lexical Resource at Band 7 and above (Cambridge Assessment English, 2024).
Using a connector whose function does not match the relationship
Using “However” when there is no contrast — for instance, to introduce a second supporting reason — actively misleads the examiner. “Cars are a major source of carbon emissions. However, air travel also produces significant greenhouse gases” is grammatically correct but logically incoherent: air travel is an additional example, not a contrast. The correct connector here is “Furthermore” or “In addition.” Function-mismatch errors are one of the most reliable markers of a Coherence and Cohesion score below Band 6 (IDP Education Examiner Reports, 2024).
Forgetting to link within paragraphs
Many candidates use linking words effectively between paragraphs but write their body paragraph sentences in isolation — a sequence of assertions with no logical connective tissue. The PEEL framework (Point → Explanation → Example → Link) requires internal connectors: “This is because …”, “For instance …”, “As a result …” These intra-paragraph connectors are essential for the “within sentences” component of Coherence and Cohesion that distinguishes Band 7 from Band 6 responses.
Over-relying on “Firstly, Secondly, Finally”
This trio of connectors is not wrong, but relying on them exclusively is a Band 6.5 ceiling. They signal enumeration — a list — rather than analytical development of ideas. Band 8 responses integrate a mix of addition, cause-result, and contrast connectors to show that ideas are logically connected, not just listed in sequence. Replacing “Secondly” with “A further contributing factor is” or “Compounding this issue” signals analytical reasoning rather than mechanical counting — exactly what separates a Band 7 from a Band 8 response under Coherence and Cohesion (Cambridge Assessment English Band Descriptors, 2024).