IELTS Writing coherence and cohesion: how to improve this band score
What coherence and cohesion mean in IELTS Writing, why overusing linking words lowers your score, and practical paragraphing and referencing techniques.
By English Grader study guides · AI-assisted educational content · Official sources linked below
The short answer
Coherence is logical order; cohesion is how sentences connect. Clear paragraphs and referencing matter more than lots of linking words.
Coherence vs cohesion
Coherence asks whether the essay makes sense as a whole: clear position, logical progression, one central idea per paragraph. Cohesion asks how sentences link: referencing, substitution, and linking devices.
Related guide: Write clear topic sentences
Why too many linkers hurt
Band 6 descriptors mention cohesive devices that are 'faulty or mechanical'. Starting every sentence with 'Moreover' or 'Furthermore' is a typical sign.
Mechanical → Natural
Mechanical: Firstly, cars pollute. Moreover, they are noisy. Furthermore, they cause traffic. Natural: Cars pollute the air, and this problem is made worse by the noise and congestion they create in city centres.
Techniques that work
Use these to connect ideas without repeating words.
- Referencing: this, these, such measures
- Substitution: the former / the latter
- Topic sentence + support + example
- One clear idea per paragraph
Put this into practice
Write a Task 2 essay and review the Coherence and Cohesion comments in your feedback.
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Official sources and further reading
Practice examples and study routines are illustrative advice, not official band-scored answers or predictions of exam questions.