IELTS • Writing Band 7+ 2026-05-19

IELTS Writing Cohesion Techniques for Band 7+

Replace over-reliance on connectors with referencing, substitution, and logical sentence chaining.

What this lesson covers

Coherence and Cohesion is one of four equal criteria in IELTS writing, worth 25% of your score. It measures how smoothly a reader can follow your ideas — specifically, whether your paragraphs flow as a connected argument or read like a list of separate points. The most common problem at Band 6 is relying on “Furthermore” and “However” as the only cohesion tools. Band 7 writers use referencing, substitution, and logical sentence chaining alongside connectors.

Examples

Weak

Education is important. Education helps people get jobs. Furthermore, education helps people think critically. Furthermore, education reduces crime. Furthermore, education improves society.

Stronger

A strong education system provides the foundation for individual and collective advancement. It equips graduates with the analytical skills employers increasingly demand, and it reduces the likelihood of long-term unemployment — a social cost that falls disproportionately on those without qualifications. The downstream effects extend beyond employment: communities with higher average education levels consistently record lower crime rates and stronger civic participation.

The strong version uses “It” (referencing “education system”), a dash for elaboration (not “Furthermore”), and “The downstream effects” to chain logically to the next idea. “Furthermore” does not appear once. The ideas feel connected because each sentence builds on the previous one’s meaning.

How It Works

Core patterns

Pattern	Meaning / Use	Example
Pronoun referencing	Use "it/they/this/these" to refer back to nouns — avoids repetition	Remote work increases flexibility. It also reduces commuting costs significantly.
Lexical substitution	Replace a repeated noun with a synonym or descriptive phrase	Deforestation harms local ecosystems. This practice also accelerates global warming.
Logical chain opener	Start the next sentence with the consequence of the previous one	Tourism creates seasonal employment. This cyclical demand, however, leaves workers vulnerable in off-peak months.
Sentence connector variety	Use different connectors for the same logical relationship	Consequently / As a result / This means that / The outcome is that

Use this when

When you notice you have used “Furthermore” three or more times in one paragraph.
When two consecutive sentences repeat the same subject noun.
When you want to show the consequence of one idea before introducing the next.

Common Mistakes

Avoid	Prefer	Why
”Furthermore, Moreover, Additionally, Also” — all in one paragraph.	Use one addition connector, then substitute the next with pronoun referencing.	Using four addition connectors in a row signals you cannot link ideas through meaning — only through labels.
”This shows that it is important and affects many things."	"This pattern suggests that early intervention produces compounding long-term benefits."	"It is important” and “many things” are fillers. The cohesive reference needs to name what it points to.
Starting every sentence with the same subject.	Vary the sentence opening: start with a consequence, a condition, or a concession.	Repeating the same subject at the start of three consecutive sentences loses Coherence score even if the ideas are sound.

Practice Lab

Self-mark each task. Retry until every answer is correct.

Score: 0/3

1. Quick pick

Which sentence uses cohesion more effectively?

2. Build it

Put the sentence in the correct order.

Tap a chunk to move it between the bank and answer area.

3. Sort it

Sort each pair: the second sentence coheres with the first, or it does not?

Universities provide research funding. This investment drives innovation across entire industrial sectors.

The government raised taxes. Furthermore, taxes are important for public spending.

Plastic waste harms marine life. The pollution also enters the food chain, ultimately affecting human health.

Healthcare is expensive. Moreover, healthcare is necessary for society.

Why It Matters

Coherence and Cohesion is assessed on three things: logical sequencing of information, use of cohesive devices (not just connectors), and paragraph unity. Over-relying on “Furthermore/However” signals a limited range of cohesive devices. Referencing (“this/these/it”), substitution (synonyms), and consequence chaining demonstrate the range that examiners reward at Band 7.

Get targeted corrections and a practical improvement plan.

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