IELTS Writing: Linking Words That Raise Your Band Score
Quick answer: Discourse markers are the small words and phrases that show how one idea connects to the next, such as however, as a result, and in contrast. In IELTS Writing they matter because a quarter of your score comes from Coherence and Cohesion. The trick is not using more of them. It is using the right one in the right place, and letting some sentences connect through meaning alone.↗ Share on X
Discourse markers are the small words and phrases that show the reader how one idea relates to the next: however, as a result, in contrast, for instance. In IELTS Writing they matter because Coherence and Cohesion is one of the four scoring criteria, and each criterion carries the same weight. That means roughly a quarter of your writing score depends on how well your ideas connect.
But here is what most candidates get wrong: the goal is not to use more linking words. Stuffing a connector into every sentence actually lowers the score. The goal is to use the right one, in the right place, and to let some sentences connect quietly through meaning.
What job is each marker doing?
Pick the Right English Tense for Daily Life Easily →
IELTS Task 2 Vocabulary: Learn Pairs, Not Word Lists →
IELTS Grammar: When to Use A, An and The in Writing →Every connector has one job. Use this table to pick the right one instead of reaching for whatever sounds impressive.
| The job | Formal options for writing | Careful with |
|---|---|---|
| Adding a point | In addition, Furthermore, Moreover, A further reason is | Using all four in one essay |
| Showing contrast | However, In contrast, On the other hand, Nevertheless | On the other hand needs a real opposite side |
| Giving a cause | Because, Since, As, Owing to | Owing to and due to take a noun, not a clause |
| Giving a result | Therefore, As a result, Consequently, This means that | Thus and hence can sound stiff |
| Giving an example | For example, For instance, Such as, A clear case of this is | Etc. does not belong in an essay |
| Ordering ideas | First, Second, Finally, The first reason is | Firstly and secondly are fine but do not mix styles |
| Admitting the other side | Although, While, Despite, Even though | Despite is followed by a noun, not a full clause |
| Concluding | In conclusion, To sum up, Overall | One conclusion marker per essay, and only at the end |
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Where do you put them, and what punctuation follows?
Placement errors cost marks even when the word choice is right. Three simple rules cover most cases.
1. However, Therefore, Moreover, In addition, As a result start a new sentence and take a comma right after them. *The city grew quickly. However, the roads did not.*
2. Although, While, Because, Since join two clauses inside one sentence. They never stand alone with a full stop before them. *Although the city grew quickly, the roads did not.*
3. Despite, In spite of, Owing to, Due to are followed by a noun or an -ing form, never a full clause. *Despite the rapid growth, the roads did not improve.* Not: *Despite the city grew quickly.*
A fourth rule that lifts writing fast: markers do not have to sit at the start. Putting one in the middle sounds more natural and shows range. *The roads, however, did not improve.*
Six mistakes that push your band down
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Complex Sentences for IELTS Writing: A Band 8 Checklist →- Starting every sentence with a connector. Three sentences in a row beginning with Moreover, Furthermore, and In addition reads like a list, not an argument.
- Using a contrast word when there is no contrast. However only works when the next idea genuinely pushes against the last one. Examiners notice immediately when it does not.
- Memorized openers with no content. Phrases like *it is an undeniable fact that* and *last but not least* fill space without adding meaning.
- Mixing spoken markers into a formal essay. Anyway, plus, and what is more belong in speaking, not in Task 2.
- Forgetting that pronouns are cohesion too. Words like this, these, such, and it link sentences without any connector at all. Using them well is a sign of higher-level writing.
- Repeating the same key noun in every sentence. Vary it: students, learners, young people, this group. That variation is part of cohesion as well.
Do Task 1 and Task 2 need different markers?
Yes, and mixing them up is common.
Task 1 describes data or a process, so you mostly need markers of comparison, time, and sequence: *in comparison, by contrast, over the same period, between 2010 and 2015, after this stage, the figure then fell.* You are connecting facts, not arguments.
Task 2 builds an argument, so you need markers of reason, result, concession, and example: *because, as a result, although, admittedly, for instance.* You are connecting opinions and evidence.
A Task 1 answer full of *therefore* and *in my opinion* is answering the wrong question.
A paragraph before and after
Before:
*Firstly, cars cause pollution. Moreover, they cause traffic. Furthermore, they are expensive. In addition, public transport is better. Therefore, governments should invest in it.*
Five sentences, five connectors, and no actual argument. Every idea is a separate island.
After:
*Private cars create two problems at once. They pollute the air in dense city centres, and they fill the roads that the same drivers then complain about. Public transport avoids both, because one bus carrying forty passengers takes up a fraction of the road space. For this reason, governments that invest in bus and rail networks tend to solve congestion and air quality together.*
The second version uses fewer connectors but reads as one connected idea. That is what the Coherence and Cohesion criterion is actually rewarding.
Ten sentence patterns you can adapt to any topic
Learning a marker in isolation does not help. Learning it inside a sentence shape does, because you can drop any topic into the shape. Copy these into your notebook and swap the content.
1. *Although X has clear benefits, it also creates a problem that is rarely discussed.*
2. *The main reason for this is that X directly affects Y.*
3. *X has risen sharply. As a result, Y has become far more difficult.*
4. *Supporters of X argue that it saves time. In contrast, critics point to the cost.*
5. *This can be seen in countries where X is already common.*
6. *Admittedly, X does not work for everyone. Even so, the overall effect is positive.*
7. *A further reason is the pressure this places on families.*
8. *Because X is expensive, many people simply cannot take part.*
9. *Despite these advantages, the policy has not been widely adopted.*
10. *Overall, the benefits of X outweigh the drawbacks, provided that Y is managed carefully.*
Notice how few of these start with a heavy connector. Several carry the link inside the sentence, which is exactly the habit that separates a mid band from a high one.
A 10-day practice drill
Ten minutes a day is enough if you do it consistently.
1. Days 1 to 3. Take any essay you have already written. Highlight every linking word. Count them. If you have more than one per sentence, delete the weakest ones and read it again.
2. Days 4 and 5. Rewrite one body paragraph using only three connectors. Force the rest of the links to come from pronouns and repeated key nouns.
3. Days 6 and 7. Practise the punctuation rules. Write five sentences with *although*, then rewrite each one using *despite*. This drills the noun-versus-clause difference.
4. Days 8 and 9. Write one Task 1 paragraph using only comparison and time markers, and one Task 2 paragraph using only reason and result markers. Keep them separate on purpose.
5. Day 10. Write a full essay under timed conditions. Then highlight the connectors again and compare the count to day 1.
Keep a single page in your notebook with the eight jobs from the table above and two markers for each. Two you can use correctly beat ten you half remember.
Your next step today
Open the last essay you wrote and underline every linking word in it. Write the number at the top of the page. Then cross out any connector where the idea would still be clear without it, and read the paragraph aloud. If it sounds smoother with fewer, you have just found the exact habit that is holding your Coherence and Cohesion score down.
FAQ
How many linking words should I use in an IELTS essay?
There is no fixed number, but a useful habit is one clear marker per paragraph plus a few inside sentences. If almost every sentence starts with a linking word, the essay sounds mechanical and the examiner notices. Let some sentences connect through meaning, pronouns, and repeated key nouns instead.
Do memorized phrases like "last but not least" help my score?
No. Overused memorized phrases add no real meaning, and examiners are trained to spot them. Use plain, accurate connectors instead: finally, a further point, another reason. Simple and correct beats fancy and forced every time.
Are linking words enough to get a high score in Coherence and Cohesion?
No. That criterion also covers paragraphing, having one clear main idea per paragraph, and the logical order of your points. An essay full of connectors but with no clear structure still scores low. Fix the structure first, then the connectors.